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RAF Strubby
Airfield Code: NY Google Earth Co-ordinates: 53° 18'28.02" N / 0° 10'04.78" E Runways: 03/21 = 4410ft x 150ft; 09/27 = 6000ft x 150ft; 15/33 = 4728ft x 150ft RAF Strubby was a late Class A standard airfield lying some eight miles south-east of Louth directly south of the village of Strubby and within the area bounded by the A157, A1104 and B1373 roads. Three minor roads connecting Strubby to Beesby and Claythorpe were closed soon after construction started in July 1942. The 36 hard standings were all loop type and hangars two type T2s on the technical site near Woodthorpe House, and a B1 on the east side between runway heads 27 and 33. The bomb store was beyond the north side, east of runway head 15 and west of Strubby village. Most domestic sites were dispersed in Woodthorpe parish allowing accommodation for 1999 males and 402 females. Although intended as a sub-station for RAF East Kirkby in No.5 Group, Bomber Command, being only four miles from the coast, the airfield was first assigned to Coastal Command, which brought in No.280 Squadron and its Warwicks for air-sea rescue duties early in May 1944. They were joined two months later by No.144 Squadron and No.404 Squadron , operating the Beaufighter. Coastal Command's tenure was short for in September all units moved out and the station was transferred to No.5 Group, Bomber Command. A re-allocation of stations between No.1 and No.5 Groups brought No.619 Squadron and its Lancaster's to Strubby from RAF Dunholme Lodge, which had passed to No.1 Group. A few days after its arrival, No.619 Squadron raised a 'B' Flight for re-formed No.227 Squadron and this soon moved to RAF Balderton. Commencing operations from RAF Strubby on October 8th, No.619 Squadron and was to have the station to itself for the next six months until No.227 Squadron arrived from RAF Balderton on April 5th, 1945. The last sorties from the station took place on April 25/26, 1945 to lay mines off Norway. Sixty-five Lancaster's failed to return or were destroyed in crashes during operations from Strubby, all from No.619 Squadron. Following VE-Day both units engaged in repatriating British POWs from the Continent. In June the Lancaster squadrons departed, No.619 going to Skellingthorpe and No.227 Squadron to Graveley. The station was then used for a number of ground units before being put on care and maintenance in September 1945. However, many unwanted Lancaster's continued to be stored on its runways. It was re-opened for flying in 1949 when it was designated a relief landing ground for training aircraft from RAF Manby. In the years that followed some additional work was carried out to airfield facilities, most notably a modern 'glass house' on top of the existing wartime control tower. RAF Strubby was finally closed for flying in 1972 and after a few years of stagnation was sold for agricultural use at auction in 1980. Conoco / Conoco Phillips used RAF Strubby as a helicopter base from which to ferry equipment and workers to the southern North Sea oil and gas rigs. Much of the remainder of RAF Strubby had disappeared in reclamation work in the 1980s with the runways being ripped up for hardcore. Conoco moved flying operations to Humberside International Airport at RAF Kirmington in 1999. At the end of the 'nineties' all three hangars remain but little of the runway concrete remains. The heliport for North Sea gas operations closed in 1999, the airfield now being owned by Anglian Water for a support depot. The long-surviving hangars here have been pressed into service for EU Common Agricultural Policy intervention stores for Lincolnshire's contribution to the grain mountain. RAF Strubby is active once more as a glider airfield. Strubby Gliding Club has operated from the site since 1978 and changed its name to the Lincolnshire Gliding Club in the 1990s. Woodthorpe Aquatics also retain a Hangar 1 on the airfield for their pet and fish business.The airfield is also home to Woodthorpe Kart Club which holds races every month and occupies a large section of the field and buildings. Aircraft & Squadrons
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