RAF Skellingthorpe | Education Video by World of Military

<p>Station History</p><p>The casual bystander on Lincoln's Birchwood Estate would be hard pressed to recognise that they were standing on what was once a major bomber station. </p><p> </p><p> Situated two miles to the south-west of Lincoln, Skellingthorpe was a bomber airfield within 5 Group, which opened in late 1941. It was provided with three runways, the main being 1650 yards with two subsidiaries at 1400 yards. There were three hangars, two T2s and a B1. The technical site was unusual at Skellingthorpe, as it was almost two sites, with the north-east end of the main runway dividing the two. Both sites had a T2 hangar, whilst the B1 hangar was located south of the airfield, near to the administration site. The bomb stores were in woodland to the west, now bisected by the A46, and the communal and accommodation sites were dispersed both north and south of the airfield. </p><p><br></p><p> On 26th November 1941, No.50 Squadron arrived with their Hampdens from Swinderby, whilst its runways were re-laid. It was whilst at Skellingthorpe that they re-equipped with Manchesters. Joining them, also from Swinderby, was No.455 Squadron RAAF although their personnel remained at Swinderby. T