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RAF Spilsby
Airfield Code: SL Google Earth Co-ordinates: 53° 9'45.2"N 0°10'6.2"E Runways: 05/23 = 4200ft x 150ft 11/29 & 16/34 = 6000ft x 150ft Three miles east of Spilsby town, and taking in much of the parish of Monkthorpe, this was a Class A standard airfield built during 1942-43. Several minor roads had to be closed including that between Monkthorpe and Gunby. The runways were 05-23, 11-29 and 16-34 of which the first two were 1400 yards long and the 16-34 at 1430 yards. The 05-23 and 11-29 were both later extended to 2,000 yards although 11-29 was, for some unrecorded reason, restricted to 1400 yards use, one source stating that it was extended due to an Air Ministry clerical error. Hardstandings were 17 pans and 19 loops, but two of the pans were lost through later ground work. There were three T2 hangars, one on the technical site between runway heads 05 and 11, another south-west between runway heads 29 and 34 and a third east of runway head 16. The bomb store was off the north side between runway heads 16 and 23. The camp, to the south-west of the airfield around Monkthorpe village and the area known as Sand Hills, consisted of two communal, two WAAF, six domestic and a sick quarter’s site with maximum accommodation for 2,112 males and 222 females. Spilsby opened on 20th September 1943 as No.55 substation satellite to RAF East Kirkby in No.5 Group, Bomber Command. The first occupant of the station was No.207 Squadron, removed from RAF Langar in October 1943 to make way for USAAF occupation. There first operational sorties took place on 18th October, to Hanover, and the station was upgraded from satellite status on 24th October 1943. The squadron had Spilsby to itself for a year when it was joined by another Lancaster squadron, No.44 Squadron, which had to vacate RAF Dunholme Lodge when that airfield was transferred to No.1 Group, Bomber Command. The two squadrons were not disturbed from their base until after victory in Europe. Their combined operational loss in raids flown from this station was 85 Lancaster's. In July, No.44 Squadron, selected to form part of Tiger Force to be sent to the Far East, exchanging places with No.75 Squadron at RAF Mepal, the New Zealand manned unit disbanding at Spilsby in October that year. The dawn of the nuclear age ended the Tiger Force's role and No.75 Squadron disbanded here in October 1945, and No.207 Squadron moving to RAF Methwold the same month. This spelled the end for Spilsby, and the station closed for flying. An armament practice school was installed at the station in October, which remained for a year, after which the base was relegated to care and maintenance status. The caretaker party was withdrawn in 1947 and the airfield left unattended but it remained in a reasonably complete state until the early 1950’s. The Cold War had brought a considerable number of USAF personnel to the UK and Spilsby was one of the stations held ready for possible reception of flying units should the Cold War intensify. The Americans carried out some refurbishment and also modified the control tower but the USAF occupation was brief and they were gone by the end of the March 1958. However, the east-west runway had been extended by 1590 ft during the Korean War. No further military use was made of the airfield and most of the concrete was removed over the following two decades apart from lengths used for reinstating minor roads. The runways were torn up in the 1970s with most of the aggregate being used in the construction of the Humber Bridge. RAF Spilsby is commemorated by an Airfield Memorial just outside Great Steeping and by plaques in the All Saints Church at Great Steeping. There is also a memorial to No.207 Squadron which stands on the base of the Fire Tender shed. Aircraft & Squadrons
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