Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF North Killingholme

Airfield Code: NK; Grid reference centred on: TA 132 171







Construction of the airfield at North Killingholme started in September 1942. The site chosen is just west of the village, and was built three miles NW (TA 1609 2078) from the site of the First World War seaplane base used in 1918 by the US Navy and closed 22 February 1919.
The layout for the airfield was specified as Class"A" with three intersecting runways, and was have 36 loop type hardstandings. A T2 hangar was to be built near the technical site and a second T2 hangar was to built on the south-west side of the airfield, between the runways heads of 04 and 33. The third hangar (which was to be built at a later date) was to be a B2 type. This hangar was built for use by the Ministry of Aircraft Production contractor engineers.
RAF Killingholme opened in November 1943, and became fully operational in January 1944, when 550 Squadron moved there from RAF Waltham. The station was under the control of 1 Group, Bomber Command.
By September 1944, the squadron had increased to three flights and contained some thirty Avro Lancasters. 550 Squadron flew some 192 bombing raids with 58 Lancasters failing to return and another four destroyed in crashes during the war. In total they flew an impressive 3,582 operational sorties while stationed at North Killingholme.
The station was officially closed on 31st October 1945 but administration was passed over to Hemswell and the airfield was placed on Care and Maintenance until January 1946. With this, 35 MU used the airfield as a sub-site for external storage. RAF North Killingholme was sold off, until in 1965

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