RAF Fulbeck | Education Video by World of Military

Station History

Fulbeck was sited three mile west of the village of Fulbeck Felton and Stragglethorpe The area was first used in 1940 as a grass-surfaced Relief Landing Ground for aircraft from Cranwell operating from Barkston Heath. It was developed into a Class 'A' bomber airfield for 5 Group, during 1942. In October that year, 5 Group's Air Bomber Training Flight arrived, although it would be December 1942 before the airfield was deemed to be operational. However no front-line squadrons were allocated to the station and it reverted back to Cranwell for night flying training. A further RAF training unit arrived in May 1943, 1506 Blind Approach Training (BAT) Flight, which stayed until August 1943 when Fulbeck was transferred to the Americans, becoming Station 488.

The airfield was initially used by the 434th TCG, who arrived on 7th October, being later replaced by the 442nd TCG who arrived between 27-29th March 1944. On 11th September, the 440th TCG arrived from Exeter to take part in Operation Market Garden.

The airfield was returned to the RAF towards the end of September 1944 and was reallocated to 5 Group. On 16th October, No.49