Report - RAF Kirton Lindsey - September 2014

[The Amateur Wanderer]

RAF Kirton Lindsey - September 2014

After an amazing day at the Heritage Aviation Centre, East Kirkby to see the 3 Lancasters, myself and Borolad decided to call in here for a late evening/night explore. I had attempted to visit myself a few month back with a non member but we were unsuccessful due to what I think was police training going on on site. Anyway, we had the place completely to our selves this time which was great!

So history, a bit from wiki and a little from myself.

Wiki stuff

First World War
The Royal Flying Corps and later Royal AIR FORCE airfield at Kirton in Lindsey was used during the First WORLD WAR from December 1916 to June 1919. The airfield was used by detachments of 33 Squadron from nearby Gainsborough until the squadron moved was based from June 1918, 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.

With the end of the war, the airfield was RETURNED to agricultural use.

RAF Fighter Command use
Kirton in Lindsey was OPENED on a new site in May 1940 as a Fighter Command Station covering the NE of England during World War II. Many Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a SHORT time during the Battle of Britain.

The first pilot casualty during the Battle of Britain, when Sgt Ian Clenshaw flew a dawn patrol from here on July 10 1940, and was killed in what is generally regarded as a disorientation accident.

The airfield was home of Number 71 Squadron of the RAF's Fighter Command. 71 Squadron was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the "Eagle Squadrons" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior to the American entry into the war. 71 Squadron was assigned the squadron code XR.

The squadron arrived at the station in November 1940. By January the squadron was declared combat ready and began flying convoy escort over the North Sea. On 9 April No. 71 was moved to RAF Martlesham Heath.

RAF Flying Training Command use
In May 1943, the station was transferred back to RAF control for use as a Fighter Operational Training UNIT with Spitfires of 53 OTU from Llandow, Caistor and Hibaldstow used as satellite airfields. Kirton in Lindsey remained a front-line RAF base during the Cold War and afterwards, with the following units assigned:

05/46 to /48, No.7 Service Flying Training School with Oxfords from Sutton Bridge, moved to Cottesmore.
48 to /52, Used by non-flying RAF TRAINING SCHOOLS.
52 to /57, No.2 ITS (later renamed No.1 ITS) with Tiger Moths.
57 to /60, Airfield closed and on Care and Maintenance.
60 to 12/65, Reopened with 7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School.
British Army use[edit]
In 1966, control of Kirton in Lindsey was transferred to the Royal Artillery and was renamed "Rapier Barracks".

Due to the Royal Artillery association, the Army Cadet Force detachment which is HOUSED there has the Royal Artillery cap badge. The former RAF camp was taken over by the army in 1966 and the 1st btn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers were there for 3-4 years ( going to Aden for about nine months) and then were amalgamated into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 1969/70 and left for Gibraltar in 1971 after a few tours of Northern Ireland

Return to RAF control
In 2004, the station was returned to RAF control and became the home of No. 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), a DEPLOYABLE ground-based early warning and air control radar unit having relocated from RAF Boulmer in 2004-05.

Kirton also provides accommodation and messing for personnel based at, and is administered by, RAF Scampton.

In 2011-12, the technical site was vacated and No 1 ACC moved all personnel and equipment to RAF Scampton. During the same period the Junior Ranks Mess, accommodation blocks and dental centre were all closed. The Officers' Mess, Gym and a number of Service FAMILIES Accommodation remain open as a satellite of RAF Scampton, but it was announced on 25 March 2013[4] that a DECISION had been taken to dispose of the former airfield and technical facilities.

It's also worth noting that a lot of scenes including the take off and landings in the 1955 movie 'The Dambusters' (A personal Fav) where filmed here due to the airbase resembling a wartime RAF Scampton, which had since received concrete runways and the likes.

Now, Picture time.

Firstly, I don't know if I'll get in bother for this or not, but I'll have to included this of the 3 legends from earlier on in the day!

Now, the explore!

The Control Tower.

Inside Hangar 1

Inside Hangar 2

The Fuel.

Tea at Midnight

On the top of Hangar 1! Well it just wouldn't be me if I weren't P!ss!ng about on top of something!

Cheers for reading guys!

 

[Coxieboy]

3 Lancasters!!!! Wow! I did manage to see 16 Spitfires in formation in 1999, this is awesome!

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

3 Lancasters!!!! Wow! I did manage to see 16 Spitfires in formation in 1999, this is awesome!

Now that must have been awesome, can just imagine the sound of 16 Merlins! Had to see this though, was no way I was going to miss it!!

 

[A man called Martyn]

I got to see the 2 Lancasters in the air at Duxford. Was fantastic that the Canadians were in a position to bring their Lancaster over for a visit.

 

[Heroic J]

Once Just Jane lifts off, eh?

 

[BillAnd]

had a little recce round here today.

Plenty access points, however security on site 24/7 (dog unit today)
lots and lots of tin cladding over windows and doors - so need a can open for access

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

had a little recce round here today.

Plenty access points, however security on site 24/7 (dog unit today)
lots and lots of tin cladding over windows and doors - so need a can open for access

I don't think secca's there 24/7 mate, we came close to them last time (Had to crawl to the tree line and do one)but on this explore there wasn't a soul on site, or the time before that... Keep going back, and have you wits about you, stick to the greenery!

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

Also watch out for trip wires, dopey t*at I went with first time set one off and a 4x4 turned up moments later...

Dodgy place but doable!

 

[BillAnd]

the brick walling at the main gate has had fencing put up to increase the height
but there are still a few easy access points, and poorly mended holes

 

[dave]

When i went this year there was no security but did get a visit from the police dog section who regularly use the place for training needless to say i made a quick exit via the tree line too.

 

[Dwaynepipe]

I had a mooch around here earlier this week. There was a secca van parked onsite behind the main gate but I found a way further along left of the gate. I walked around the 'dome' the dog kennels and the rifle range but couldn't access any of the buildings around there. I didn't want to go much further with secca being there.

I will deffo be making a return visit though - great site!