East Kirkby United States Air Force Strategic Air Command | Education Video by World of Military

<p>Station History</p><p>A small site at Hagnaby was first used as a 'K'-type decoy, designed to attract enemy aircraft away from nearby Coningsby and Manby. The decoy ceased operation on 27th June 1941 and approval was given in August for the construction of a Class 'A' bomber airfield with work being carried out in 1942-1943. This became RAF East Kirkby. </p><p><br></p><p> East Kirkby opened in August 1943 as an airfield in 5 Group. It had the usual three intersecting runways all linked by a perimeter track. The technical site was located to the north, just off the A155 and contained two of the three hangars - a T2 and a later B1. The second T2 was located off the eastern perimeter track. A further four T2 hangars were constructed on the technical site when East Kirkby became the parent station of 55 Base, responsible for the administration and aircraft maintenance of Spilsby and Strubby. The communal and accommodation sites were located in fields north-west of the A155, whilst the bomb stores were located to the north-east, at the site of the former decoy. </p><p><br></p><p> The Lancasters of 57 Squadron arrived from Scampton on 29th August 1943. On 15th November 1943, 'B' Fligh