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RAF North Killingholme
Airfield Code - NK Google Earth Co-ordinates: 53° 38'9.7"N / 0° 17'30.9"W Runways: 04/22 = 6000ft x 150 ft; 09/27 & 15/33 = 4200ft x 150 ft RAF North Killingholme is situated to the west of the village of that name on a low-lying area of farmland, and a mile from the site of the First World War seaplane base used in 1918 by the US Navy. The western boundary was the waterway known as Skitter Beck and the LNER Ulceby to Immingham line ran close to the southeast side, making it a somewhat confined site for a bomber station. Killingholme aerodrome was opened in July 1914 and was the first aerodrome in Lincolnshire, but closed at the end of WWI. The airfield was to lay unused for 24 years before work started again to upgrade it to Class A standard. Work started in August 1942 with John Laing & Son Ltd as the main contractor. The 36 hard standings were all loop type. A T2 hangar stood by the technical site, south of runway head 22, close to North Killingholme village. A second T2 was on the south-west side of the airfield, between runway heads 04 and 33. A B1 hangar was erected later for the Ministry of Aircraft Production contractor engineer's use. Bomb stores were close to Skitter Beck between runway heads 15 and 09. The camp was to the east, between the village and that of Bass Garth, and consisted of single mess, communal, WAAF sites, six domestic and sick quarters, all dispersed in farmland. Accommodation availability was put at 1939 males and 325 females. Allocated for No.1 Group, Bomber Command use, the airfield with was occupied by No.550 Squadron, which, six weeks after its formation, transferred from RAF Waltham (Grimsby) early in January 1944. No.550 squadron was to be the only squadron associated with RAF North Killingholme, the stations mud and mists being its home until the squadron was disbanded at the end of October 1945. No.550 Squadron was made up of a mixture of personnel from the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and were credited with opening the D-day attack on 5th June, 1944. During 14 months of operations from this station, No.550 Squadron flew some 190 raids with 58 Lancaster's failing to return and another four destroyed in crashes. No further use was made of this airfield by the RAF although it remained in a reasonably complete state for the next 30 years. The hangars and many of the buildings were taken over for light industry and storage, mostly associated with the nearby port of Immingham. Runways provide container parks and also support poultry houses. The airfield remains to this day, although it is in much disrepair. Aircraft & Squadron's
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