If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

RAF Wickenby was a Second World War Bomber Command station, that opened in September 1942. It was closed as a military base in June 1956, although part of the former airfield is still in civilian use.

Full description

RAF Wickenby was a Second World War military airfield, which opened in September 1942. During the war, RAF Wickenby served as a Bomber Command station, and was used by 12 and 626 Squadrons. It was closed for military flying in November 1945, and was closed completely as a military base in June 1956. The northern part of the runway has been in use as a civilian airfield since at least the 1970s (as Wickenby Airport). The southern part of the former airfield is disused, whilst the south-eastern end of the runway is taken up by a poultry farm. In 1991, a type T2 aircraft hangar and a blister hangar dating from the war years were still extant at the airfield, as were the control tower and some of the other military buildings of temporary brick and Nissen hut construction, extending some distance to the east, away from the flying field. Some of the buildings represent former military camps providing dispersed accommodation for Royal Air Force and Women's Auxilliary Air Force personnel. {1}{2}{3}{4}

<1> T.N. Hancock, 1978, Bomber County, pp.49, 57-8, 65, 68, 95, 130 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1060.

<2> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, TF0981: LI.520.8.1 (Map). SLI3613.

<3> Historic England (formerly English Heritage), 2016, Historic England records from the NRHE to HER prototype site, UID 1412001. Accessed 19/07/2016 (Digital Archive). SLI15530.

<4> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Archive, 4571 (Digital Archive). SLI14623.

Monument Types

• AIRFIELD (Second World War to 21st Century - 1942 AD to 2050 AD)

Sources and further reading

Related records

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.