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Summary

The military airfield at RAF Sutton Bridge opened in 1926, but became inactive in 1946, before fully closing in 1958. It functioned as a training station for fighter aircraft for almost its entire operational life.

Full description

The military airfield at Sutton Bridge was opened in 1926, as an Armament Practice Camp training station. It initially had a relatively small grassed area for the landing field, and was in use only during the summer onths, with squadrons camping on the site for intensive training courses. Development on the site gradually added more facilities, with the airfield being renamed as the RAF's No.3 Armament Training Camp in January 1932. The airfield was fully operational by 1936, with three runways largely of grass, but supplemented in areas with steel planking and steel mesh matting. Although its main role was as a training facility, three fighter squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes were also based here during the Second World War (254, 264 and 266 Squadrons). During this time the airfield had two Bellman hangers, one ARS hanger and twelve Blister (69ft wide) hangers, with an additional 14 hard standings for aircraft. Part permanent accommodation for the personnel was provided; in December 1944 these numbered 1485 men and 379 women. As one of the RAF's main training facilities, the airfield was a prime target for German attack and was subjected to about a dozen Luftwaffe bombing raids. Training at the airfield gradually wound down after the end of the war, with the last course finishing in April 1946. The site continued to be used as a Maintenenance Unit base for several more years, until the base finally closed in 1958. {1}{2}{3}{4}[5}{6}{7}

<1> T.N. Hancock, 1978, Bomber County, pp.6, 26, 28, 35, 54, 82, 89, 127 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1060.

<2> Ron N.E. Blake, Mike Hodgson and Bill J. Taylor, 1984, The Airfields of Lincolnshire Since 1912, pp.177-9 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI10563.

<3> T.N. Hancock, 1985, Bomber County 2, pp.38, 40, 47, 49, 55 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI9536.

<4> Steve Willis and Barry Holliss, 1987, Military Airfields in the British Isles, 1939-1945, p.189, no.549 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI17285.

<5> Patrick Otter, 1996, Lincolnshire Airfields in the Second World War, pp.229-32 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI7228.

<6> Ken Delve, 2008, The Military Airfields of Britain: East Midlands, pp.277-9 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI17598.

<7> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Archive, 15011 and Non Anti-Invasion Record 1289 (Digital Archive). SLI14623.

Monument Types

• AIRFIELD (Early 20th Century to Mid 20th Century - 1926 AD to 1958 AD)
• MILITARY AIRFIELD (Early 20th Century to Mid 20th Century - 1926 AD to 1958 AD)

Associated Events

• Site Visit to Land at Sutton Bridge Power Station

Sources and further reading

Related records

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