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RAF Wellingore
Airfield Code: JW Google Earth Co-ordinates: 53° 4'40.98"N 0°31'30.00"W Runways: NE/SW = 3300ft WNW/ESE = 3150ft RAF Wellingore has its origins as a naval landing site, as far back as 1917, for the RNAS during the Great War, then known as Wellingore Heath. Pilots log books held at RAF Cranwell document a number of forced landings on the Wellingore Heath airfield. During the winter of 1939-40 a concrete peritrack and 8 hangars gave the airfield some substance. During World Word II a variety of squadrons passed through the camp. Notable people to have served at Wellingore include Group Captain Douglas Bader and Wing Commander Guy Gibson. Wg Cdr Gibson lived with his wife in nearby Navenby village. It was at Wellingore, while flying the Bristol Beaufighter night fighter with No.29 Squadron that Wg Cdr Gibson shot down his first enemy bomber, a Heinkel-111 off the coast of Skegness on 12th March 1941. Wg Cdr Gibson spent his wedding night at the Lion and Royal pub in Navenby. His crew clubbed together to buy the couple a whole fresh salmon as a wedding gift. However, their delight changed to surprise when the pub staff prepared it for their supper, cleaned, deboned, battered and served with chips. John Magee, the author of the well known "High Flight – A Pilots Prayer" was also stationed at Wellingore with No.412 Squadron RCAF. Sadly he was killed on the 11th December 1941, aged just 19 years old, whilst flying his Spitfire. "Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth No.439 Sqn RCAF formed here in January 1944. However with the air war moving away from the East Cast, Wellingore was once more to be transferred. From 29th April 1944 until closure in 1945 Wellingore served as a relief landing ground for nearby RAF Cranwell. No.2953 Squadron RAuxAF formed at Wellingore in June 1943, in the Light Anti-Aircraft role, later moving to Bolt Head and disbanded in October 1943. On 15th March 1944, No. 2898 Squadron RAuxAF moved to Wellingore. The station finally closed at the end of WWII in 1945. Post-war the station served as a camp for ex-prisoners of war from Germany and the Ukraine. The inmates were often made to work on the surrounding farmland. Wellingore finally reverted to farmland in the 1950s, being handed back to the Overton family. Today the most noticeable signs of the former airfield are the many pill boxes along Ermine Street to the East of the site, where there is also a memorial. Flying continues from the site at a grass strip at nearby Griffin's Farm. Aircraft & Squadrons
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