Manby has often featured on here but almost always confined to the Officer's Mess and Sergeants Mess buildings. Here's a few photos from around the time Manby Motorplex was being sold off.
RAF Manby was an Expansion era airfield built in the early 1930's. Operational in 1937 for various cross-wind landing trials though officially opened in 1938 with the transfer of No.1 Air Armament School from Eastchurch. No.1 Air Armament School was eventually upgraded in status and known as the Empire Central Armament School and eventually Empire Air Armament School. Throughout it's time it had trained armamment offcers, gunners etc from all over the world. The airfield also housed the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School
The first Lincolnshire military airfield to have paved runs though there were only two and in the form of a cross rather than the more common three runway A-shaped layout.
Post WW2 the 'college of knowledge' (more formally The RAF Flying College) was formed at the airfield. Though Manby had based jet aircraft it wasn't really suited to jet operations and eventually the college was split with manby handling piston engined training and RAF Strubby handling the jet training. The station shut in spring 1974 though some of the housing was retained for use by RAF Binbrook.
The airfield site was returned to agricultural and also used as a showground. Operating as Manby Motorplex various rally and motoring events were held. The rest of the technical site became an industrial estate with some office use.
Enough waffle... a few representative photos.
WW2 era unique design Watch Office (now demolished)
WW2 visual control room (Motorplex briefing room)
View across airfield
View across to Cold war era Watch office and VCR
Gallery
Sorry looking Watch office/VCR
Back across to the WW2 watch office
As you can see from the spots it's not weather proof
ATC Centre
Ambulance garage
Medical centre
Chapel
Fuel pump
Officers garages
Squash court
Dingy Stanton (near the officers mess)
RAF Manby was an Expansion era airfield built in the early 1930's. Operational in 1937 for various cross-wind landing trials though officially opened in 1938 with the transfer of No.1 Air Armament School from Eastchurch. No.1 Air Armament School was eventually upgraded in status and known as the Empire Central Armament School and eventually Empire Air Armament School. Throughout it's time it had trained armamment offcers, gunners etc from all over the world. The airfield also housed the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School
The first Lincolnshire military airfield to have paved runs though there were only two and in the form of a cross rather than the more common three runway A-shaped layout.
Post WW2 the 'college of knowledge' (more formally The RAF Flying College) was formed at the airfield. Though Manby had based jet aircraft it wasn't really suited to jet operations and eventually the college was split with manby handling piston engined training and RAF Strubby handling the jet training. The station shut in spring 1974 though some of the housing was retained for use by RAF Binbrook.
The airfield site was returned to agricultural and also used as a showground. Operating as Manby Motorplex various rally and motoring events were held. The rest of the technical site became an industrial estate with some office use.
Enough waffle... a few representative photos.
WW2 era unique design Watch Office (now demolished)
WW2 visual control room (Motorplex briefing room)
View across airfield
View across to Cold war era Watch office and VCR
Gallery
Sorry looking Watch office/VCR
Back across to the WW2 watch office
As you can see from the spots it's not weather proof
ATC Centre
Ambulance garage
Medical centre
Chapel
Fuel pump
Officers garages
Squash court
Dingy Stanton (near the officers mess)
