Royal Air Force Stations in Lincolnshire

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RAF Bottesford

Airfield Code: X3BV; Grid reference iro: SK 820 416






Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). During the war it was used primarily as a troop carrier airfield for paratroopers and as a bomber airfield before closing in 1948.
The airfield was opened as a RAF Bomber Command station in 5 Group RAF area during the autumn of 1941, with 207 Squadron moving in with its Avro Manchesters during November. However, because of continual difficulties experienced with their Rolls-Royce Vulture engines operations were frequently curtailed, but in March 1942 the squadron was able to step up its bombing raids on Germany when it became one of the first to receive the new Avro Lancaster in March 1942.
207 Sqn left in September 1942 for RAF Langar and in November Australian 467 squadron Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF, arrived in November 1942 commencing operations after new years day January 1943.

On 15 November 1943, it was occupied by the 50th Troop Carrier Wing Headquarters. It was then opened as a reception base for Douglas C-47/C-53 Skytrain groups that were scheduled to fly in from the United States. It was known as USAAF Station AAF-481 for security reasons by the USAAF during the war, and by which it was referred to instead of location. It's USAAF Station Code was "AQ".
The first USAAF group to arrive at Bottesford was 436th Troop Carrier Group a few days into the New Year from Baer Army Airfield, Indiana. There were a number of squadrons operating from Bottesford during the term the USAAF were in residency. The USAAF relinquished Bottesford to No. 5 Group Bomber Command in July 1944. Prior to 1948 when the station was sold off it was used by various training squadrons and Maintenance Units.

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