Kirton-in-Lindsey
*KIRTON-IN-LINDSEY: Military aerodrome later gliding site
(In WW1 also known as MANTON and also listed as KIRTON LINDSEY)
Note: First picture by the author, taken through perspex. Second picture (2017) obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: WW1: RFC/RAF Home Defence Flight Station
33 (Home Defence) Sqdn (BE.2s, FE2s later Bristol F.2Bs)
Another source says that 33 Sqdn were flying Avro 504s.
WW2: RAF Fighter Command 12 Group
*Battle of Britain RAF Sector Station
(10th July 1940) 222 Sqdn (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
(1st August 1940) 264 Sqdn had arrived with their Bolton-Paul Defiants from DUXFORD (CAMBRIDGESHIRE) and were still based here on the 1st September 1940 but 222 Sqdn and their Spitfires seem to have disappeared, at least from front-line duties?
OTHER SQUADRONS IN WW2
71 (Eagle) Sqdn (Hawker Hurricanes)
136 Sqdn (Hurricanes)
65, 133 (Eagle), 302, 306 & 317 (Polish) & 616 Sqdns (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
307 (Polish) Sqdn (Boulton Paul Defiants)
486 (RNZAF) Sqdn (Hurricanes later Hawker Typhoons)
53 OTU [Operational Training Unit] (Vickers-Supermarine Spitfires)
Post 1945: RAF Flying Training Command 23 Group
7 SFTS
Civil Flying Club: Lincoln Aero Club (1958 to 1967)
Operated by: 1980s to - : Trent Valley Gliding Club
Location: In a triangle formed by the B1398, B1400 & B1205, SSE of Kirton-in-Lindsey village, 6nm SE of Brigg
Period of operation: Military: 1916 to 1919 then 1940 to 1985?
Civil: late 1980s only? Then a gliding site
Site area: WW1: 119 acres 914 x 549 grass
Runways: WW2: N/S 1006 grass E/W 1006 grass
NOTES: Despite so much propaganda spread around liberally since, the Hawker Hurricane was most certainly the most numerous type during the ‘Battle of Britain’ and highly regarded by its pilots who flew them. It was a superior 'gun platform' to the Spitfire - and that counts for a lot when trying to shoot an enemy aircraft down.
It is a fact that the Hurricane was the 'winning' British type in the ‘Battle of Britain’ which only lasted from the 10th of July to the 31st October 1940. What is also generally ignored is that the so called 'Battle of Britain' was mostly concentrated in southern England and that a very large proportion of the RAF barely saw any combat at all! And indeed, the 'myth' of the 'Battle of Britain' was mostly a British government contrived propaganda exercise.
Hitler had indeed ordered an invasion of England, (Operation Sea Lion), and initial steps were taken before it was realised that it was a hopeless prospect and doomed to fail. It should also be borne in mind that the RAF pretty much got their strategy wrong, by basing aircraft in Kent, where they were fighting against all the odds - and being far too close to the incoming Luftwaffe forces to be fully effective.
What tends to be mostly forgotten today is that the Spitfire was capable of considerable development, which the Hurricane wasn't, and quite rightly deserves the accolade for being the best overall British fighter design throughout WW2.
"JOHNNY" JOHNSON
It appears that when 616 Sqdn were based here one of their pilots was “Johnny” Johnson who went on to be the highest scoring ace in WW2. Or at least, an ace who survived the war scoring 38 kills between June 1941 and September 1944. All the more incredible a tally because he missed taking part in the Battle of Britain and most if not all of his ‘scores’ came from fighter sweeps over occupied territory which were arguably far more dangerous sorties than those flown in the 'Battle of Britain' for a highly capable pilot. A fact that came as quite a surprise to me but pretty obvious if you think about it. In effect the roles were reversed of course, the lack of range or endurance being a big disadvantage to German Me.109 pilots attacking England in 1940. So a really quite astonishing score when realised that most of his ‘scores’ were against single-seat fighters. In other words mostly Me.109s operating in their 'home' territory!
"ZECKE" LECKRONE
Another interesting pilot who served with 616 Sqdn during the Battle of Britain period, (10th July to 31st October 1940), was the American ‘Zecke’ Leckrone. I can thoroughly recommend reading The Few by Alex Kershaw who tells the fascinating stories of these American pilots.
A NOTE OF CAUTION
Yet again a note of caution; was the WW1 airfield on exactly the same site as the WW2 aerodrome?
THE LINCOLN AERO CLUB
Whilst being based here with the support from the RAF Station Commander the Lincoln Aero Club really got going. During this period they used the Tiger Moth G-AMEZ, Hawk Trainers G-AIUE & G-ANWO, Turbi G-APFA (on loan from the PFA for four months), and the original Taylorcraft G-AIRE kept on going. Later a Beagle Terrier G-ASKJ was purchased. Additional information is from the excellent article by Glennis and Steve Elders published in the May 2006 edition of Popular Flying magazine.
They point out that, in 1959, the Tiger Moth could be hired for £3 an hour. But hold on a minute, what's that noise? It sounds like many modern PPL's weeping. By 1960 the Club had a membership of over sixty - a far cry from the eight or so at BARDNEY. Also explained is that the loan of the Turbi G-APFA for four months was due to the Taylocraft G-AIRE being away for maintenance, which sounds to me more like a very major overhaul?
Another aspect, a sign of the times perhaps in those days, was that the Tiger Moth was losing its attraction - "because members found it too cold". It was sold in 1964 for just £200. I might well be mistaken of course, but I think that weeping sound has just increased in volume?
As I write these notes, approaching 70 years of age in 2017; I can remember those times when Tiger Moths and Miles Hawk Trainers (mostly ex-RAF Magisters I think) could barely be given away. What a fantastic difference the intervening fifty years or so have made, especially for the Tiger Moth, which, due to its method of construction looks fit to keep flying nigh on forever - if engines can be obtained.
The Tiger Moth is of course exactly akin to the fabled road-sweepers brush - entirely original and in constant use - with only ten brushes and four handles being replaced.
Yet again, being based at an MoD airfield, in 1967 the Club had to move once more, and for a short period operated from an unlicensed airstrip at BLYBOROUGH HALL, before being allowed to use HEMSWELL in 1968.
In 1985 used by the Army.
NOTE: In July 2022 I was kindly contacted by Mr Dale Johnston from Robina in Queensland, Australia. He has his fathers, (David Lloyd Johnston - NZ24243), wartime diaries and these tell us that on the 16th October 1943 he was impressed by the aircraft on this Station. Which, in addition to those listed above, at that time also included Blenheims, Lancasters and Lysanders. Would anybody now know which squadrons they came from?
Terry Clark
This comment was written on: 2018-07-20 12:53:17No 2 Gliding Centre of the Air Cadet gliding organisation was formed here in the early '60s, later moving to Spitalgate in 1972.
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