RAF North Coates facts for kids

Quick facts for kids RAF North Coates
North Coates, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire
Aircrew and Bristol Beaufort Mk Is of No. 22 Squadron at North Coates
RAF North Coates Location in Lincolnshire
Coordinates	53°29′59.3″N 0°3′57.7″E / 53.499806°N 0.066028°E / 53.499806; 0.066028
Code	NC
Site information
Operator	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Condition	Mainly returned to agricultural use; part occupied by North Coates Flying Club
Site history
Built	1914 (1914)
In use	1916–1919 1926–1990
Fate	Sold to private ownership
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Garrison information
Occupants	See list below
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: EGYO
Elevation	17 ft (5.2 m) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 07/25 4,260 ft (1,300 m) Concrete (closed) NW/SE 4,380 ft (1,340 m) Grass (closed) 05/23 760 m (2,490 ft) Grass (current)

Royal Air Force North Coates or RAF North Coates was a military air base in Lincolnshire, England. It was located about six miles south-east of Cleethorpes, near the mouth of the Humber estuary.

This air base was very active during the First World War. It was used again from the mid-1920s. During the Second World War, from 1942 to 1945, it was home to a special group of planes called a Coastal Command Strike Wing. Later, from 1958, it became a base for Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles. RAF North Coates finally closed in 1990.

RAF North Coates in the First World War

The camp at North Coates Fitties first opened in 1914. Soldiers from the Lincolnshire Regiment were based there. In 1916, it became a landing spot for planes from the Royal Flying Corps. This was a very early version of the Royal Air Force.

Planes from No. 33 (Home Defence) Squadron used it. Their job was to fly patrols along the coast of North Lincolnshire. After the war ended in November 1918, the airfield slowly closed down. By March 1919, it was completely shut, and the land was given back to its original owner.

Between the World Wars

The site was bought again in 1926. It was used as a base for planes that needed to practice bombing at the nearby Donna Nook range. It was called No. 2 Armament Practice Camp.

From 1936 until the start of the Second World War, the base also trained people. They learned how to be observers (who spotted things from the air) and air gunners (who fired guns from planes).

RAF North Coates in the Second World War

When war was declared on September 3, 1939, the training groups moved away. New groups were formed at the airfield. These included No. 2 Recruit Training Pool and the Ground Defence Gunnery School.

In February 1940, the base became part of Coastal Command. This part of the RAF protected ships and coastlines. Squadrons like No. 235, 236, and 248 used the base. They flew Blenheim planes, which could be used as bombers or long-range fighters. Over the next two years, many different Coastal Command squadrons used North Coates. These included RAF, Fleet Air Arm (Navy planes), and Royal Canadian Air Force units. They flew various planes, such as Beaufort and Hudson bombers, Hampden and Swordfish torpedo planes, and Avro Anson reconnaissance planes.

The North Coates Strike Wing

A Beaufighter TF Mark X of No. 236 Squadron RAF based at North Coates. It shows the rocket rails and the invasion stripes painted on the plane.

In September 1942, North Coates became the home of the North Coates Strike Wing. This was a special group made up of three squadrons: 143, 236, and 254. They flew Beaufighter planes. These planes were used as heavy fighters, bombers, and "Torbeaus" (torpedo bombers). Their main job was to attack enemy ships in the North Sea.

The Strike Wing's first mission was on November 20, 1942. Beaufighters from 236 and 254 Squadrons took off to attack a group of twelve to sixteen ships. The weather was bad, and enemy Fw 190 fighters protected the ships. Only three enemy ships were damaged. Sadly, three Beaufighters were shot down, and four more were badly damaged.

After this, the Strike Wing stopped missions for a while to train hard. During this time, between late 1942 and early 1943, a new concrete runway was built.

Their second mission was on April 18, 1943. Nine "Torbeaus" from 254 Squadron, six Beaufighter bombers from 236 Squadron, and six Beaufighter heavy fighters from 143 Squadron attacked a convoy. Spitfires and Mustangs provided air cover. The Beaufighters attacked the escort ships with bombs and machine guns. The "Torbeaus" attacked the largest merchant ship. Two German minesweepers were set on fire, and a trawler was damaged. Two torpedoes hit the merchant ship, leaving it listing and on fire. This attack lasted only 15 minutes, and only a few planes had minor damage.

Another mission later that month sank two merchant ships and a trawler. Several escort ships were damaged, and only one Beaufighter was lost. In June, the Strike Wing started using RP-3 rocket projectiles. By the middle of the year, they had made the Port of Rotterdam almost unusable for enemy ships. Ship captains bringing iron ore from Sweden started asking for huge bonuses because of the danger.

By the end of 1943, the Strike Wing had sunk thirteen ships, totaling over 34,000 tons. By the end of the war in May 1945, they had sunk over 150,000 tons of shipping. They also sank two U-boats (German submarines): U-418 in June 1943 and U-2338 in May 1945. However, they lost 120 aircraft and 241 aircrew during their operations.

The RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial in Cleethorpes

• RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial - Cleethropes.jpg

  The memorial

• RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial (NE plaque) - Cleethropes.jpg

  Plaque on front

• RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial (SE plaque) - Cleethropes.jpg

  Plaque on left side

• RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial (SW plaque) - Cleethropes.jpg

  Plaque on back

• RAF North Coates Strike Wing War Memorial (NW plaque) - Cleethropes.jpg

  Plaque on right side

After the War

North Coates closed in August 1946. It became a storage site for aircraft parts. In January 1947, it became No. 1 Initial Training School. However, the base was very isolated during the severe winter of 1947. Because of this, the Officer Cadets (trainees) were soon moved.

In May 1948, it became home to the School of Explosives Inspection. It also housed No. 5131 Bomb Disposal Wing. In January 1953, the airfield was flooded during the North Sea flood. It was temporarily abandoned because the water was about three feet deep.

In August 1953, the base became home to No. 54 Maintenance Unit. Their job was to break down old and crashed aircraft for spare parts. Between 1955 and 1957, "B" Flight of No. 275 (Air Sea Rescue) Squadron used the base. They flew Bristol Sycamore HR.14 helicopters to rescue people.

A Bloodhound Mk II SAM missile, which was used by No. 85 Squadron.

In April 1956, North Coates was chosen to be the RAF's first base for Surface to Air Guided Weapons. These were Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles. Forty-eight of these missiles were kept there. Work began in July 1956 to build the missile facilities. This included missile pads, a control center, and repair hangars.

The Bloodhound missiles stayed at North Coates until mid-1990. The base finally closed in December 1990. The site was then sold to private owners.

In April 1992, the entire airfield and buildings were sold. Over the next eight years, the houses were sold. New uses were found for many buildings, like the Station HQ and accommodation blocks. In 1999, the airfield and related land were sold to a local farmer. He turned most of the airfield back into farmland. The concrete runway and taxiways were removed. One hangar is still used by the North Coates Flying Club. They have a grass airstrip where the old runway used to be.

In May 2020, a plane wreck was found on Cleethorpes beach. It is believed to be a Beaufighter plane, JM333, from No. 254 Squadron. The plane had to land in the sea on April 21, 1944, shortly after taking off from North Coates. Both engines had failed, but the crew survived without injury.

Squadrons that used the base

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations