Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF Kirton-in Lindsey

Airfield Code: KL; USAAF Station: 349; Grid reference centred on: SK 945 973







First used by the Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force Kirton-in Lindsey was used during the First World War from December 1916 to June 1919. The airfield was used by detachments of No.33(HD)(Home Defence) Squadron from nearby Gainsborough flying Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s. At the end of the war, the airfield was returned to agricultural use.
Opened on a new site in May 1940 as a Fighter Command Station covering the NE of England during World War II. Various Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain. The airfield was home of 71 Squadron Fighter Command which was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the "Eagle Squadrons" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior to America entering into the war. The squadron arrived at the station in November 1940. By January they were declared combat ready and began flying convoy escort over the North Sea. On 9th April 71 Squadron was moved to RAF Martlesham Heath in Suffolk and 452 and 457 Squadron RAAF, both rested here for a while before departing for Australia in the summer of 1942.
Kirton-in-Lindsey was allocated to the United States 8th Army Air Force in 1942. Between June and October 1942, the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at RAF Goxhill used the station for training with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. Then in October 1942, the 91st Fighter Squadron of the 81st Fighter Group also used the station for training. In May of 1943, the station was transferred back to RAF Fighter Command for use as a Fighter Operational Training Unit with Spitfires of 53 OTU from RAF Llandow, RAF Caistor and RAF Hibaldstow.
Throughout World War II Kirton-in-Lindsey was home to a Fighter Command Sector Operations Room, fulfilling the same filtering and command and control functions as RAF Digby's Lima Sector Ops Room.
From 1948 to 1952 the station accommodated various non-flying training schools of the RAF. 1952 to 1957, No.2 ITS (Initial Training School) an Officer Cadet Training Unit with Tiger Moths. From 1960 until December 1965, Kirton-in Lindsey hosted No.7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School.
In 1966, control of Kirton-in Lindsey was transferred to the British Army.
The 1st Battalion Royal Northumberland Fusiliers arrived in June 1966 and were immediately sent to Aden from August 1966 to June 1967. On 23 April 1968, the battalion was amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the camp was known as "St. Georges Barracks". The regiment completed tours of Northern Ireland, before departing for Gibraltar in 1971.
In 1972 the site was passed on to the Royal Artillery and the station was renamed "Rapier Barracks". In 2004 22 Regiment Royal Artillery left Kirton-in-Lindsey, to be absorbed into 39 Regiment at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland.
The station spent the next 38 years as "Rapier Barracks" under Army control before returning to RAF ownership in 2004. Kirton-in Lindsey became home to No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the Unit having relocated from RAF Boulmer in 2004-05. Kirton also provides accommodation and messing for personnel based at RAF Scampton, who administered the station. In late 2013 the airfield was put up for sale by the MoD.

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