Lincolnshire Aviation & History

The History of Lincolnshire Aviation

Much is known about the role played by Lincolnshire’s aviation during World War II, including the famous Dambuster’s Raid made by Guy Gibson and his 617 Squadron from RAF Scampton.

What is less well known is that, by the end of World War II, Lincoln had become a world leader in aircraft production.

Lincolnshire in World War II

During World War II, Lincolnshire became known as “Bomber County” due to the fact that it was home to a large number of airfields – 49, to be exact, which was more than any other county in England.

The average distance between these airfields was 7.5 miles, with bomber stations typically taking up approximately 700 acres. The county was at the forefront of the allied air offensive and was home to 1 Group and 5 Group of the Bomber Command of the Royal Air Force.

The Lincolnshire-based bombers contributed heavily to many crucial attacks in the war against Germany, including;

• The Battle of the Barges (August 1940)
• The Augsburg Raid (April 17, 1942)
• Operation Robinson (October 17, 1942)
• Operation Millennium (May 30, 1942)
• The Dams Raid ‘Dambusters’ (May 16, 1943)
• The Battle of the Ruhr (1943-1944)
• The Numerburg Raid (March 30, 1944)
• The Battle of Berlin (1944-1945)
• The Bochum Raid (November 4, 1944)

Aside from these undertakings of the Bomber Command, Lincolnshire was witness to the action of day and night fighters, anti-shipping strike and transport, as well as flying trainings.

Modern-Day Aviation

Today, Lincolnshire is the location of the Royal Air Force Central Flying School and the Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team, “The Red Arrows”.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAF’s tribute to the aviators of World War II, is also held in the county and operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, two Chipmunks and a Dakota. The Lincolnshire County Council and Royal Air Force partnership facilitates the viewing of these historic aircraft at their base at RAF Coningsby.

In addition to this, there are various aviation museums and heritage centres throughout the county of Lincolnshire which showcase restored airfield buildings, control towers and operations rooms, among others.

For more information on this, please visit our Lincolnshire modern aviation page.

Below is a list of Lincolnshire aviation museums, visitor centres and heritage centres.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitors Centre (BBMF)    RAF BBMF Visitor’s Centre Dogdyke Road Coningsby, LN4 4SY Telephone: 01522 782040	Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre    North Rauceby Near Cranwell Sleaford, NG34 8QR Telephone: 01529 488490
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre    East Kirkby Airfield East Kirkby, near Spilsby Lincolnshire PE23 4DE Telephone: 01790 763207	Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre    Westmoor Farm, Martin Moor Metheringham, Lincoln LN4 3BQ Telephone: 01526 378270
RAF Waddington Viewing Enclosure    The Sentry Post Sleaford Road (A-15) Waddington LN5 9EG Telephone: 01522 720271	RAF Wickenby Memorial Museum    Wickenby Airfield Near Langworth, Lincoln LN3 5AX Telephone: 01673 885000
Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre    Woodhall Spa Road Tattershall Thorpe LN4 4PE Telephone: 01526 342249	Newark Air Museum    The Airfield Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY Telephone: 01636 707170
Scampton Historical Museum    RAF Scampton Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN1 2ST Telephone: 01522 730376	RAF Digby    Sector Operations Room Museum Scopwick, Lincolnshire LN4 3LH Telephone: 01526 327296
Grantham Museum    St. Peter’s Hill Grantham, Lincolnshire NG3 1PY Telephone: 01476 568783	International Bomber Command Centre    Canwick Avenue Lincoln LN4 2HQ Telephone: 01522 514755

 

RAF Lincolnshire 100th Anniversary

2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the RAF and a whole host of celebrations took place across Lincolnshire to mark the momentous occasion. For more information, visit our information page.