RAF Skellingthorpe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RAF Skellingthorpe
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| Lincoln, Lincolnshire in England | |
 RAF Skellingthorpe
Shown within Lincolnshire
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| Coordinates | 53°12′50″N 0°36′11″W / 53.214°N 0.603°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Controlled by | RAF Bomber Command |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941-1952 |
Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe, or RAF Skellingthorpe, was a special base for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. It was located near Lincoln, England. People who worked there often called it "Skelly."
Contents
History of RAF Skellingthorpe
Building the Airfield
RAF Skellingthorpe opened in 1941. It was built on a piece of land called Black Moor, about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south-east of the village of Skellingthorpe. This base was controlled by RAF Bomber Command, which was in charge of all bomber planes.
The airfield had three main runways, which are long strips of ground where planes take off and land. It also had large buildings called hangars to store and fix aircraft. The people working at the base lived in special curved huts called Nissen huts.
Squadrons and Aircraft During the War
The first group of planes and pilots to arrive at Skellingthorpe was No. 50 Squadron RAF. They flew planes called Handley Page Hampdens. They moved in even before the runways were fully finished.
Soon after, No. 455 Squadron RAAF also arrived with Hampden planes. However, this squadron quickly moved to another base called RAF Wigsley.
In April 1942, the 50 Squadron changed their Hampdens for new planes called Avro Manchesters. Then, in June 1942, the base had to close for a short time. This was to make the runways longer and stronger. The longer runways were needed because the squadron was getting even bigger planes: the new Avro Lancaster bombers.
In November 1943, another bomber group, No. 61 Squadron RAF, came to Skellingthorpe. They also flew Avro Lancasters. They stayed until February 1944 before moving to RAF Coningsby. This move allowed more living spaces to be built at Skellingthorpe.
On July 3, 1945, No. 463 Squadron RAAF moved to RAF Skellingthorpe. They brought their Lancaster Mks I and III planes from RAF Waddington.
Remembering the Fallen Heroes
During the war, RAF Skellingthorpe saw many brave missions. Sadly, 208 bomber planes were lost or did not return from their flights. These included 15 Hampdens, 6 Manchesters, and 187 Lancasters.
In 1981, a special memorial was put up at the site. It honors the 1,984 men who died while flying from this airfield during the Second World War. A former leader of the RAF, Sir Michael Beetham, who flew Lancasters from Skellingthorpe, helped unveil this important memorial.
After the War
After the Second World War ended, RAF Skellingthorpe was used by No. 58 Maintenance Unit RAF. This unit was responsible for storing and looking after salvaged aircraft that had crashed.
What is There Now?
Today, the area where RAF Skellingthorpe once stood looks very different.
Modern Developments
In the 1970s, a housing area called the Birchwood Estate was built on the old airfield. Later, in 1986, a major road called the A46 Lincoln Bypass was also built across the site.
The area is now known as Birchwood. There's a local pub called The Black Swan. Its name comes from the old radio call sign "Black Swan" that the airfield used during the war.
Exhibitions and Museums
If you want to learn more about RAF Skellingthorpe, you can visit a special Heritage Room. It's located at the Community Centre in Skellingthorpe. This room has many photographs and displays that show the history of the base and the squadrons that were there. It's part of the North Kesteven Airfield Trail.
There is also a small public museum at the Birchwood Community Centre in Lincoln. This museum remembers the brave pilots and crews of Nos. 50 and 61 Squadrons. It has items from their aircraft, photographs, and records. The museum also holds special "Books of Remembrance" for both squadrons, listing the names of those who served.
