Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF Skellingthorpe

Airfield Code: SK; Grid reference centred SK 934 695







You would be hard pushed to believe there ever was a bomber station here, the whole sit has been built over and the only clue can be found on a remaining piece of taxiway in Birchwood play area at this grid reference, SK 935 697 (fourth image above).
Skellingthorpe was a bomber airfield within 5 Group, which opened in late 1941. It eventually had the Class "A" intersecting three runways, the main being 1650 yards with two subsidiaries at 1400 yards. There were three hangars, two T2s and a B1. On 26th November 1941, 50 Squadron arrived with their Hampdens from Swinderby, whilst the runways there were re-laid. It was whilst at Skellingthorpe that they re-equipped with Manchesters. Joining them for a while, also from Swinderby, were the Hampdens of 455 Squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) although their admin personnel remained at Swinderby.

June 1942, saw 50 Squadron return to Swinderby, having converted onto Lancasters. Skellingthorpe then closed for upgrading to Class 'A' standard, with the extension of the main runway north-east by 350 yards and the addition of further accommodation sites.
In October 1942, 50 Squadron again returned to Skellingthorpe from Swinderby and were joined by 61 Squadron from Syerston exactly one year later. During the following November 1943, Skellingthorpe became a satellite to Waddington, part of 53 Base.
Once the war in Europe was over both squadrons moved to Sturgate on 16th June 1945. Post-war the site was used by 58 MU, 91 MU and 93 MU and was finally disposed of in 1952. Despite a proposal to convert the airfield into a civil airport for Lincoln it never happened.

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