RAF Kirton in Lindsey
Encyclopedia
RAF Kirton in Lindsey is a Royal Air Force
airfield in Lincolnshire
. The field is located 15 miles north of Lincoln.
It hosts No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton
.
from nearby Gainsborough until the squadron moved was based from June 1918, 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.
With the end of the war, the airfield was returned to agricultural use.
. Many Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain
.
The airfield was home of Number 71 Squadron of the RAF's Fighter Command. 71 Squadron was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the "Eagle Squadrons" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior to the American entry into the war. 71 Squadron was assigned the squadron code XR.
The squadron arrived at the station in November 1940. By January the squadron was declared combat ready and began flying convoy escort over the North Sea. On 9 April No. 71 was moved to RAF Martlesham Heath
.
in 1942. It was assigned USAAF Station number 349, code "KL"
used the station for training with Lockheed P-38 Lightings. The squadron remained until October.
flying Bell P-39 Airacobras. The squadron remained until December then departed for French Morocco
as part of Twelfth Air Force.
and afterwards, with the following units assigned:
Due to the Royal Artillery
association, the Army Cadet Force
detachment which is housed there has the Royal Artillery cap badge
.
in 2004-05.
Kirton also provides accommodation and messing for personnel based at, and is administered by, RAF Scampton
.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
airfield in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. The field is located 15 miles north of Lincoln.
It hosts No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton
RAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
.
First World War
The Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force airfield at Kirton in Lindsey was used during the First World War from December 1916 to June 1919. The airfield was used by detachments of 33 SquadronNo. 33 Squadron RAF
No. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.-Current role:The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command....
from nearby Gainsborough until the squadron moved was based from June 1918, 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.
With the end of the war, the airfield was returned to agricultural use.
RAF Fighter Command use
Kirton in Lindsey was opened on a new site in May 1940 as a Fighter Command Station covering the NE of England during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Many Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
The airfield was home of Number 71 Squadron of the RAF's Fighter Command. 71 Squadron was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the "Eagle Squadrons" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior to the American entry into the war. 71 Squadron was assigned the squadron code XR.
The squadron arrived at the station in November 1940. By January the squadron was declared combat ready and began flying convoy escort over the North Sea. On 9 April No. 71 was moved to RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Martlesham Heath
RAF Martlesham Heath is a former Royal Air Force airfield in England. The field is located 1½ miles SW of Woodbridge, Suffolk.- RFC/RAF prewar use:Martlesham Heath was first used as a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I...
.
RAF units and aircraft
| Unit | Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | No. 43 Squadron RAF No. 43 Squadron RAF No. 43 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland in the air defence role until disbanded in July 2009.-In World War I:... |
Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
I | Short stay in September before the squadron moved to North Africa |
| 1941 | No. 65 Squadron RAF No. 65 Squadron RAF No. 65 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.-World War I:The squadron was first formed at Wyton on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps with a core provided from the training ground at Norwich. By the end of World War I, it had claimed over 200 victories... |
Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
IIA | February to September operating coastal patrols before moving south |
| 1940–1941 | No. 71 Squadron RAF No. 71 Squadron RAF No. 71 Squadron is a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron, the number has been used three times, once by the Royal Flying Corps for an Australian Flying Corps squadron, in the second world war as an Eagle Squadron and post-war as a fighter-bomber unit based in Royal Air Force Germany.-First World... |
Hawker Hurricane | I | Eagle Squadron Eagle squadron The Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States... |
| 1940 | No. 74 Squadron RAF No. 74 Squadron RAF No. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:... |
Supermarine Spitfire | IIA | Short stay August/September 1940 |
| 1940 | No. 85 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron RAF No. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:... |
Hawker Hurricane | I | Short stay October/November 1940 |
| 1941 | No. 121 Squadron RAF No. 121 Squadron RAF No. 121 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron that during the Second World War was one of the three Eagle Squadrons manned by American volunteers.-In World War I:... |
Hawker Hurricane | I and IIB | Eagle Squadron Eagle squadron The Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States... formed May 1941 before moving to RAF North Weald |
| 1941–1942 | No. 133 Squadron RAF No. 133 Squadron RAF 133 Squadron RAF was one of the famous Eagle squadrons formed from American volunteers serving with the RAF during World War II.-History:133 Squadron was first formed in 1918 at RAF Ternhill. It was a training unit for the Handley Page O/400, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2, that was... |
Supermarine Spitfire | IIA then VA and VB | |
| 1941 | No. 136 Squadron RAF No. 136 Squadron RAF No. 136 Squadron RAF was a short-lived RAF unit that saw no action in World War I, but upon reformation became the highest scoring unit in South East Asia Command during World War II. Shortly after the war the squadron was disbanded.-Formation in World War I:... |
Hawker Hurricane | IIA and IIB | Squadron formed August 1941 before moving to the Far East |
| 1942 | No. 169 Squadron RAF No. 169 Squadron RAF No. 169 Squadron RAF was a tactical reconnaissance and later a night intruder squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II-History:No. 169 squadron was formed on 15 June 1942 at RAF Twinwood Farm as a tactical reconnaissance squadron from 'B' flight of 613 Squadron, and took over their North... |
North American Mustang P-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts... |
I | Detachments from Doncaster |
| 1940 | No. 222 Squadron RAF No. 222 Squadron RAF -In World War I:The Squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from A squadron of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. Later, 6 April 1918 former Z Squadron of No. 2 Wing, RNAS was added to the strength. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos... |
Supermarine Spitfire | I | Two short stays |
| 1940 | No. 253 Squadron RAF No. 253 Squadron RAF RAF 253 Squadron was based at RAF Waterbeach in the two years 1955 to 1957. It flew Vampire and Venom fighter aircraft.253 squadron Nighthawks.Squadron commander wing commander FinlaysonOne Vampire T Mk 11... |
Hawker Hurricane | I | May to July |
| 1940–1941 | No. 255 Squadron RAF No. 255 Squadron RAF No. 255 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti–submarine unit in World War I and a night-fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No... |
Boulton Paul Defiant Boulton Paul Defiant The Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc... Hawker Hurricane |
I I |
|
| 1940 | No. 264 Squadron RAF No. 264 Squadron RAF No. 264 Squadron RAF also known as No 264 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service flights, No. 439 and No. 440, on 27 September 1918 at Souda Bay, Crete to perform anti-submarine patrols. It operated the Short 184 floatplanes on patrols in the... |
Boulton Paul Defiant | I | |
| 1943 | No. 302 (Polish) Squadron RAF | Supermarine Spitfire | VB | |
| 1942 1942-1943 |
No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF | Supermarine Spitfire | VB | |
| 1942 | No. 306 (Polish) Squadron RAF | Supermarine Spitfire | VB | |
| 1940 | No. 307 (Polish) RAF | Boulton Paul Defiant | I | Formed September 1940 |
| 1941–1942 | No. 409 Squadron RCAF No. 409 Squadron RCAF 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.-History:... |
Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... |
IIF | Detachment from Coleby Grange |
| 1941 | No. 452 Squadron RAAF No. 452 Squadron RAAF No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over... |
Supermarine Spitfire | I and IIA | |
| 1942 | No. 457 Squadron RAAF No. 457 Squadron RAAF No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters... |
Supermarine Spitfire | VB | Short stay before move to Australia. |
| 1942 | No. 486 Squadron RNZAF No. 486 Squadron RNZAF 486 Squadron was a fighter squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War. It was formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served in Europe under the operational command of the Royal Air Force.Second World War.... |
Hawker Hurricane | II | Formed March 1942 |
| 1940–1941 | No. 616 Squadron RAF No. 616 Squadron RAF No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:... |
Supermarine Spitfire | I |
USAAF use
Kirton in Lindsey was allocated to the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air ForceEighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in 1942. It was assigned USAAF Station number 349, code "KL"
1st Fighter Group
Beginning in June 1942, the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at RAF GoxhillRAF Goxhill
RAF Goxhill is a former Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force station in England. It is located just to the east of the village of Goxhill, on the south bank of the Humber estuary, opposite the city of Kingston upon Hull, in north Lincolnshire....
used the station for training with Lockheed P-38 Lightings. The squadron remained until October.
81st Fighter Group
In October 1942, the 91st Fighter Squadron of the 81st Fighter Group used the station for training. The squadron arrived in Europe from Muroc AAF CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
flying Bell P-39 Airacobras. The squadron remained until December then departed for French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
as part of Twelfth Air Force.
RAF Flying Training Command use
In May 1943, the station was transferred back to RAF control for use as a Fighter Operational Training Unit with Spitfires of 53 OTU from Llandow, Caistor and Hibaldstow used as satellite airfields. Kirton in Lindsey remained a front-line RAF base during the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and afterwards, with the following units assigned:
- 05/46 to /48, No.7 Service Flying Training School with Oxfords from Sutton Bridge, moved to Cottesmore.
- 48 to /52, Used by non-flying RAF Training Schools.
- 52 to /57, No.2 ITS (later renamed No.1 ITS) with Tiger Moths.
- 57 to /60, Airfield closed and on Care and Maintenance.
- 60 to 12/65, Reopened with 7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School.
British Army use
In 1966, control of Kirton in Lindsey was transferred to the Royal Artillery and was renamed "Rapier Barracks".Due to the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
association, the Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
detachment which is housed there has the Royal Artillery cap badge
Cap badge
A cap badge, also known as head badge or hat badge, is a badge worn on uniform headgear and distinguishes the wearer's nationality and/or organisation. The wearing of cap badges is a convention commonly found among military and police forces, as well as uniformed civilian groups such as the Boy...
.
Return to RAF control
In 2004, the station was returned to RAF control and now is the home of No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit having relocated from RAF BoulmerRAF Boulmer
RAF Boulmer is a Royal Air Force station near Alnwick in Northumberland and is currently home to Aerospace Surveillance and Control System Force Command, Control and Reporting Centre Boulmer, the School of Aerospace Battle Management, No...
in 2004-05.
Kirton also provides accommodation and messing for personnel based at, and is administered by, RAF Scampton
RAF Scampton
Royal Air Force Station Scampton is a Royal Air Force station situated north of Lincoln in England, near the village of Scampton, on the site of an old First World War landing field.-First World War:...
.