Skellingthorpe Airfield History

RAF Skellingthorpe Airfield
(Map edited to show the airfield and runways between 1940-45)
Bomber Command Crest
© Crown Copyright/MOD 2010
Airfield Code:SKGoogle Earth Co-ordinates:
53°12'58.78"N  0°36'4.25"W
Runways:
02/20 & 11/29 4200ft x 150ft - 07/25 6300ft x 150ft
Station History

The casual bystander on Lincoln's Birchwood Estate would be hard pressed to recognise that they were standing on what was once a major bomber station.

Situated two miles to the south-west of Lincoln, Skellingthorpe was a bomber airfield within 5 Group, which opened in late 1941. It was provided with three runways, the main being 1650 yards with two subsidiaries at 1400 yards. There were three hangars, two T2s and a B1. The technical site was unusual at Skellingthorpe, as it was almost two sites, with the north-east end of the main runway dividing the two. Both sites had a T2 hangar, whilst the B1 hangar was located south of the airfield, near to the administration site. The bomb stores were in woodland to the west, now bisected by the A46, and the communal and accommodation sites were dispersed both north and south of the airfield.

On 26th November 1941, No.50 Squadron arrived with their Hampdens from Swinderby, whilst its runways were re-laid. It was whilst at Skellingthorpe that they re-equipped with Manchesters. Joining them, also from Swinderby, was No.455 Squadron RAAF although their personnel remained at Swinderby. The squadron moved to RAF Wigsley, Nottinghamshire, on 30th-31st May 1942. It was during this period that Flying Officer Leslie Manser of No.50 Squadron, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the Thousand Bomber raid on Cologne on the night of 30/31st May 1942.

On 20th June 1942, No.50 Squadron returned to Swinderby, having converted onto the Lancaster. Skellingthorpe then closed for upgrading to Class 'A' standard, with the extension of the main runway north-east by 350 yards and the addition of further accommodation sites.

On 16th October 1942, No.50 Squadron again returned to Skellingthorpe from Swinderby and were joined by No.61 Squadron from Syerston exactly one year later on 16th November 1943. During November 1943, Skellingthorpe became a satellite to Waddington, part of 53 Base. Both squadrons saw out the war in Europe while based at Skellingthorpe, with No.61 Squadron having a brief spell at Coningsby from 12th January - 15th April 1944. Both squadrons moved to Sturgate on 16th June 1945. Post-war the site was used by 58 MU, 91 MU and 93 MU and was finally disposed of in 1952. There was a proposal in 1948 to convert the airfield into a civil airport for Lincoln but his came to nothing.

There is an impressive memorial beside the leisure centre. It comprises of an inscribed granite column adorned with the squadron badges. A nearby section of the perimeter track has been resurfaced as part of a children's play area, decorated with the station's time line. In Skellingthorpe village is another inscribed granite memorial within a small garden, next to the Skellingthorpe Heritage room.

RAF Skellingthorpe Timeline
DateSquadronNotes
October 1941Station opened.
November 1941No.50 SqnOperating the Handley Page Hampden and Avro Manchester. The squadron left the airfield on the 20th June 1942.
November 1941No.455 (RAAF) SqnOperating the Handley Page Hampden. The squadron left the station on the 8th February 1942.
September 1942No.97 CSOperating the Avro Lancaster. The Conversion Flight left Skellingthorpe on the 16th October 1942.
September 1942No.106 CSOperating the Avro Lancaster. The Conversion Unit left the station on the 16th October 1942.
October 1942No.50 SqnOperating the Avro Lancaster. The squadron left the airfield on the 15th June 1945.
August 1943No.1485 (B) 'G' FlightOperating the Vickers Wellington and Miles Martinet. The Flight left Skellingthorpe on the 12th November 1943.
August 1943No.1506 BAT FlightOperating the Airspeed Oxford. The Beam Approach Training Flight disbanded at the station on the 2nd October 1943.
November 1943No.61 SqnOperating the Avro Lancaster. The squadron left the airfield on the 12th January 1944.
April 1944No.61 SqnOperating the Avro Lancaster. The squadron left Skellingthorpe on the 16th June 1945.
June 1945No.619 SqnOperating the Avro Lancaster. The squadron disbanded at the station on the 18th July 1945.
July 1945No.463 (RAAF) SqnOperating the Avro Lancaster. The squadron disbanded at the station on the 19th September 1945.
August 1945No.383 MUThe Maintenance Unit disbanded at the station on the 15th September 1945.
October 1945 RAF Skellingthorpe placed on Care and Maintenance.
November 1945No.58 MUThe Maintenance Unit left Skellingthorpe in April 1947.
September 1952Station closed and placed on Care and Maintenance.
September 1952No.92 MUThe Maintenance Unit left Skellingthorpe in December 1954.
January 1955RAF Skellingthorpe was fully closed.