Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF Manby

Airfield Code: MY; Grid reference centred on: TF 386 867






Worked commenced on the airfield at Manby in the mid-1930s, as part of the first phase of the RAF Expansion. Manby was to be the first airfield in the county to have a paved runways, which were camouflaged immediately upon completion. Only two runways were built increasing the risk of having to land in a cross-wind. Trials were carried out with an experimental cross-wind landing screen. The screen was made up of a steel framework which measured 50ft high and 500 yards long. With the airfield being on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds the buffeting winds could cause severe problems when landing. A number of different aircraft types tested conditions trialling the screen which took place over a two month period in August and September 1937. By February 1938, the decision was made that there was little benefit and the screen was dismantled.
The station opened in August 1938, and within a few days had its first intake, No.1 Air Armament School, (AAS) formerly of RAF Eastchurch in Kent. The role of the AAS was to train Armament Officers, Air Gunners and Air Bombers and extensive use was made of the nearby bombing ranges at Donna Nook.
When war was declared on Germany in September 1939, the station was home to a variety of aircraft including Hawker Harts, Hawker Hinds, Hawker Furies, Wallace and a single Boulton Paul Overstrand. By the end of the year they had been joined by Gloster Gauntlets and several Hawker Henleys. By June 1940, Manby housed the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School. The JSBDS was made up of Royal Engineers and Royal Navy demolition parties being trained alongside their RAF counterparts. In August 1940 due to the increased workload generated by the war, twenty five more mobile bomb disposal squads were formed.
By the summer of 1941, Manby had its first officially known defence squadron, 2782, with its personnel manning 20mm cannons and Bofors guns. The defence squadrons later became known as the RAF Regiment.
July 1944 saw the very successful No.1 AAS (Air Armament School) upgraded to Empire status and the Empire Central Armament School (ECAS) was formed. In this new role, not only would they continue the training of Armament Officers, Air Gunners and Air Bombers, but also the training of Bombing Leaders, Bombing Instructors and Armament Instructors as well as running armament refresher courses. Due to the expansion new aircraft arrived on station, including Avro Lancasters, Bristol Blenheims and Vickers Wellingtons.
Post war Manby saw the the RAF Flying College formed on the 1st of July 1949. They operated a very mixed fleet of aircraft including Avro Lincolns, Vickers Valettas, de Havilland Vampires and Avro Athenas and the Handley Page Hastings.
Manby also saw the formation of the RAF Handling Squadron. The purpose of this Squadron was to assess the handling qualities of second or third models of new aircraft. The English Electric Canberra, de Havilland Sea Vampire, Grumman Avenger and Supermarine Attacker were just a few of the aircraft to have spent time with the Squadron.
By the end of 1960 the RAF Flying College had been split between two airfields. RAF Strubby was now handling jet aircraft flying as it was more suited to the aircraft, and Manby was handling piston-engined aircraft. Aircraft included the Vickers Varsities and Percival Provosts. June 1962 saw the RAFFC renamed; now becoming the RAF College of Air Warfare (CAW) and the School of Refresher Flying (SRF).
During 1965, the CAW decided to form their own display team using the Jet Provosts already under their control. The Magistrates as the team was originally called displayed for three seasons before changing their name to the Macaws. The name represents the unit that they operated from, MAnby College of Air Warfare. The newly named team had a unique colour scheme of light grey and red for their debut season in 1968. This was after having a standard silver and dayglo for the previous three seasons.
With the closure of RAF Strubby in 1972, Manby received their Dominies and moved the Varsities on to RAF Oakington. But by now Manby was also on the closure. The station officially closed on 31st March 1974.
Recently the former RAF Manby has become a thriving Industrial Estate and many of the old buildings including the control tower are still extant. Most of the C-type hangars, administration buildings, messes and barracks also still survive.

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