RAF Manby | Education Video by World of Military

<p>Station History</p><p>Worked commenced on the airfield at Manby in the mid-1930s, as part of the first phase of the RAF Expansion. Along with the normal airfield design, Manby was to be the first airfield in Lincolnshire to have a paved runway, which for some reason was camouflaged immediately upon completion. Although the airfield was not officially opened until 1938, it was in use the year before for testing of an experimental cross-wind landing screen. The screen was made up of a steel framework which measured 50ft high and 500 yards long. The idea was to help protect landing aircraft from the harsh cross-winds the airfield suffered from with being on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. Trialling of the new screen were to take place over a two month period in August and September 1937. So a number of different aircraft types were brought in for the trials including a Fairey Battle, Armstrong Whitworth and a Bristol Blenheim. More trials were held later in year, but by February 1938, with RAF Manby about to open, the decision was made to dismantle the screen and move it elsewhere. </p><p></p><p> The airfield officially opened in August 1938 and within days had its first reside