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Summary

RAF East Kirkby

Full description

East Kirkby originally functioned as a decoy airfield. Construction of the airfield began in 1942 and the station was operational by August 1943. Lancasters operated from the station throughout the Second World War flying the last operational sortie from the station, on 25 April 1945. The station went into care and maintenance in November 1945 but was retained for trials use. In 1954 RAF East Kirkby reopened to serve both RAF and USAF units staging operations in the Far East from here. USAF Dakotas of 3917 Air Base Squadron were based here until closure in 1958. The Ministry of Defence finally disposed of the site in 1970. RAF East Kirkby is now home to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre (PRN 48236). {1}{2}{3}{4}

Possible traces of the former airfield defences were identified in August 2012, during lidar assessment of the proposed route of a new water pipeline between Miningsby and Boston. A pattern of shallow circular depressions along the southern boundary were thought to possibly reflect the former locations of searchlight batteries or gun emplacements. {5}

<1> Otter, P, 1996, Lincolnshire Airfields in the Second World War, pp.93-8 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI7228.

<2> T.N. Hancock, 1978, Bomber County, p.115 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1060.

<3> Ron N.E. Blake, Mike Hodgson and Bill J. Taylor, 1984, The Airfields of Lincolnshire Since 1912, p.75 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI10563.

<4> Johnston, Philip Ralph, 2008, RAF-Lincolnshire.info, http://raf-lincolnshire.info/eastkirkby/eastkirkby.htm (Website). SLI11967.

<5> Archaeological Project Services, 2012, Miningsby-Boston Lidar Assessment, Map 2 (Report). SLI15219.

Monument Types

• AIRFIELD (Second World War to Late 20th Century - 1942 AD to 1970 AD)
• MILITARY AIRFIELD (Second World War to Mid 20th Century - 1943 AD to 1958 AD)
• MUSEUM (Late 20th Century to 21st Century - 1970 AD to 2050 AD)

Sources and further reading

Related records

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