Barkston Heath airfield | Education Video by World of Military

Station History

Barkston Heath airfield is located west of, and adjacent to, the B6043 just over one south of its junction with the A153. The airfield started life in 1936 as a grass surfaced satellite landing ground for the RAF College at Cranwell, approximately six miles to the north. When WWII broke out, the site continued to be used for training and other facilities were added, including four blister hangars. The airfield was selected as suitable for development to Class 'A' standard in 1941.

Construction to upgrade Barkston Heath as a bomber airfield began in the summer of 1943, with the provision of three concrete runways of the standard lengths. A perimeter track connected the runway heads and 50 aircraft dispersals. The airfield ultimately had seven hangars, one B1 and six T2s, four of which were erected in early 1944 and were sited across the B6043 and linked to the perimeter track by a loop system. The technical site was to the south and communal & accommodation sites were dispersed to the south. The bomb stores were located off the western perimeter track.

The airfield was allocated to 5 Group, and was parented by Swinde