Thorpe Camp facts for kids
Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre Crest
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| Former name | RAF Woodhall Spa |
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| Established | 1988 |
| Location | Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, LN4 United Kingdom |
| Type | Ex-Wartime Barracks |
| Owner | Thorpe Camp Preservation Group Limited |
| Nearest car park | On site (no charge) |
Thorpe Camp, also known as the Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, is a special place that used to be a military base. It was once the barracks for RAF Woodhall Spa, a Royal Air Force station. The camp is about 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of the old RAF Woodhall Spa site, in a village called Tattershall Thorpe.
The camp was built in 1940 during World War II. It had buildings for officers, sergeants, and airmen to eat and sleep. There was also a NAAFI (a shop and canteen for military staff), a food store, and washrooms. The camp closed down in the 1960s.
By 1987, the site was empty and falling apart. The Woodland Trust bought some land nearby and planned to knock down the old buildings. But a group of people formed the Thorpe Camp Preservation Group. They wanted to save the site and turn it into a visitor centre.
In 1994, the Visitor Centre opened its doors to the public. At first, only a small part was open. Today, the entire site is a memorial to the past. The remaining buildings, like the airmen's living quarters, the NAAFI, and the food store, are now protected. The centre helps us remember the Royal Air Force and RAF Woodhall Spa. It also shows what life was like for people in Lincolnshire during the 1940s.
Contents
Discovering RAF Woodhall Spa's History
The Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre has many displays that honor RAF Woodhall Spa. You can find out about the different squadrons that were based there. A squadron is a group of military aircraft and their crews. The centre also has a special section for the Air Training Corps. This group helped train young people during and after World War II.
The Brave Squadrons of RAF Woodhall Spa
Many important squadrons were linked to RAF Woodhall Spa. Here are some of their stories:
97 Squadron: The Pathfinders
97 Squadron was first a training squadron during World War I. Later, it became one of the famous Pathfinder squadrons in April 1943. Pathfinders were special planes that flew ahead to mark targets for other bombers.
617 Squadron: The Dambusters
No. 617 Squadron is very famous. They are known as the Dambusters! In May 1943, they took part in a daring mission called Operation Chastise. They destroyed important factories and power stations in Nazi Germany. Even though 617 Squadron was based at RAF Scampton, they often used RAF Woodhall Spa for training and missions.
A very sad event happened here. Wing Commander Guy Gibson, a hero of the Dambusters, took off from RAF Woodhall Spa on his last flight. He was with Squadron Leader Jim Warwick in their Mosquito plane. Sadly, they did not return home.
619 Squadron: Heavy Bombers
No. 619 Squadron was a Heavy bomber squadron. It was formed right at RAF Woodhall Spa in April 1943. This squadron flew the powerful Avro Lancaster aircraft. They took part in many bombing raids over Nazi Germany.
627 Squadron: Another Pathfinder Group
No. 627 Squadron was also a Pathfinder squadron, just like 97 Squadron. They operated from both RAF Oakington and RAF Woodhall Spa. They flew bomber missions, did reconnaissance (looking for information), and helped mark targets for other planes.
Thorpe Camp's 1940s Weekend
Every year, Thorpe Camp hosts a special 1940s Weekend. It usually happens on the first full weekend in July. This event has become very popular in Lincolnshire!
The weekend is full of fun activities. You can enjoy live music, singing, and dancing from the 1940s era. There are also groups of people who dress up in old military and civilian clothes. They bring vintage cars and trucks from that time too. It's like stepping back in time!
Images for kids
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The gate guardian at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre
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The logo of Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre
