Lincolnshire Aviation Scar's

[Boghopper]

Lincolnshire is no different to other countys in England, in that it hold scar's from WW2. The County was home to many heavy bomber bases of the RAF, aswell a number of fighter fields. Today, many years after the war in europe ended the land still holds its past.

RAF Digby
Fighter airfield of the RAF, many Spitfire wings passed through here including Sqns of the RCAF. Still in hands of the RAF, so it not very easy to see its history.


RAF Metheringham
Lancaster heavy bomber field, home to 106 Sqn. One of the first airfields to operate the FIDO system....FOG DISPERSAL. 1st shot show one of the runways




The crumbling control tower


RAF Colby Grange
Sat airfield for waddington & cranwell, but also hosted its own Sqns. RCAF 409 Sqn & 9th Air Force based here during the buildup to D-Day. Control tower still stands.




Looking out towards the field




RAF Waddington
Hampdens at the begining, then Lancasters of 44 9 463 467 Sqns. The base is still in RAF service today.

Vulcan keeping guard


Original WW2 hangers


Petwood Hotel
Once crews of the famous 617 Sqns lodged here while flying from Woodhall Spa. Forever in RAF history


RAF Woodhall Spa
Sat airfield for Coningsby, passing through were 97 619 617 627 Sqns. Not alot left, but in a area of an old stores section can be found a little museum.


Lightning on guard




Blue Bell Inn
Famous haunt for crews of both Coningsby & Woodhall Spa


RAF Coningsby
Lancaster heavy bomber field with 106 97 617 61 Sqns. Still in use with the RAF as the main Typhoon fighter base. Little can be seen of its past.


Hardstandings for lancs




The Coningsby cemertary, not forgetting the sacrifce from these fields






Look up in the weekday anywhere in lincolnshire and you can see the modern day RAF at work still.

Cheers

Last edited by Boghopper on Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mike Bates]

Great photo's thanks for sharing!

Mike

[daveymac82c]

Hey,

Thanks for sharing your pictures. That must have been quite an experience.

Cheers,

David

[peter]

Thanks for posting, Makes a nice tribute to ww2 air force bases. Any more??

[mlenoch]

It is amazing how many of these old RAF airfields are still visible on Google-Earth. Runways, tarmacs, taxiways, etc. I was surprised to see how many had Hunters and Canberras still scattered about on the apparently abandoned airfields. (I took a virtual tour reminiscing RAF history one night till 3am! Eeek.) A similar tour of Germany also shows many abandoned airfields; most of the runways seem to have an east-western orientation; curious.
VL

[Junkyard36]

Great pics! I have always been fascinated by the remaining buildings and facilities from WWII. Good stuff - if you have any more pics, please post them.

Mike

[Stoney]

Taking off out of Gatwick on a clear winters day with snow on the ground heading for the USA, I lost count on how many old airfields I saw.

[B17news]

those are great shots. I've got some in a shoebox somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them out as well.

B

[Firebird]

most of the runways seem to have an east-western orientation; curious

Because of the predominance of the westerly gulf stream winds in Western Europe.

[Sean Curtiss]

The images reminds me the beginning (or the end) of the movie “12 O’clock High”. They give you, in a sense, a very poetic feeling about the past, of what happened there back in those days, with people fighting for liberty and oppression, lost lives, cheers and sadness. It must have been quite an experience if you felt all the energy around you and could be very touching if you can transport yourself to that era just by seeing these images…

SC.