Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF Strubby

Airfield Code: NY; Grid reference centred on TF 449 810







Strubby was built very late in WW2, a Class "A" standard bomber airfield, construction started in 1943. Lying directly south of the village of Strubby and within the area bounded by the A157, A1104 and B1373 roads. Three minor roads connecting Strubby to Beesby and Claythorpe were closed to accommodate the runways. The 36 hard standings were all loop type and hangars two type T2s on the technical site near Woodthorpe House, and a B1 on the east side.
Made redundant before it was even finished the station was placed immediately on Care and Maintenance upon its completion. The first recorded landing at the station was by an USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt which make an emergency landing on the runway before the station had been completed. It wasn’t until the 13th April 1944 that the station was officially opened.
Allocated to 5 Group. it wasn’t until the 1st May 1944, that the station got its first residents, with the arrival of 280 Squadron, 16 Group, Coastal Command. The squadron were flying the Air-Sea Rescue equipped Vickers Warwick. Bomber Command, didn't need the station so it was agreed that Coastal Command should be located there due to the airfield's close proximity to the North Sea.
On the 1st July 1944, the first Bomber Command squadrons to arrive at Strubby were 144 and 404 Squadrons (RCAF) (Royal Canadian Air Force), flying Bristol Beaufighter in the torpedo bomber role Both squadrons formed the Strubby Strike Wing and were tasked with working alongside No.280 Squadron under the control of Coastal Command. Despite some successes in sinking a number if German ships, only a few months later on 3rd September, both 144 and 404 Squadrons (RCAF) departed, with 280 Squadron also leaving three days later on the 6th September.
The station remained empty for a few weeks until 28th September when 619 Squadron arrived with Avro Lancasters from RAF Dunholme Lodge. The new squadron was pressed in to action only a few days later, embarking on operation "Gardening" (mine Laying) in Oslo fjord. 227 Squadron B Flight, were formed at the station on the 7th October 1944 and immediately attached to 619 Squadron. 619’s last operational mission of WW2 was to take part in the destruction of Hitler's Berchtesgaden on 25th April 1945. At the end of June 1945, 619 Squadron left the station to take residency at RAF Skellingthorpe.
Ground troops of Tiger Force (the proposed invasion of Japan) were moved in for kitting out, and as part of this force, 381, 382, 383 and 384 MUs (Maintenance Unit) were formed at the airfield on the 9th July 1945. With V.J. Day on 15 August 1945, by the start of September all had either left the airfield or had been disbanded.
Administration of the station was transferred to East Kirkby, which led to 40 Group Maintenance Command taking over the airfield as sub-site of 35 MU on the 20th November 1945.
Post War the station was host to a number of squadrons flying a wide variety of aircraft including the de Havilland Vampire, Gloster Meteors and piston-engined Avro Athenas, English Electric Canberras, Hawker Hunters, Jet Provosts, Vickers Varsity and Hawker Siddeley Dominies.
After long and distinguished service RAF Strubby was finally closed on the 8th September 1972.

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