Skellingthorpe
SKELLINGTHORPE: Military aerodrome
Military user: RAF Bomber Command 5 Group
50, 61, 463 (RCAF) & 619 Sqdns (Avro Lancasters)
Location: N to NW of B1190, W of Swanpool, 3nm W of Lincoln
Period of operation: 1941 to 1952
Runways: WW2: 02/20 1280x46 hard 10/28 1280x46 hard
06/24 1920x46 hard
NOTES: Here again although it really is a very minor point, I do wonder why runway 06/24 was 100 yards, (91 metres), longer than the standard runway length for this period. I suppose there was a good reason for this but can anybody now explain why this runway in particular was made just a little bit longer? Did the contractors order a bit too much material?
SOMETHING PERPLEXING
There is another peculiarity regarding the history of 619 Squadron. As so often pointed out elsewhere I am totally perplexed by the almost manic way the RAF top brass, (pretty much involving all Groups – but those mostly under total British control mind), kept moving their squadrons around.
In this case it seems almost impossible to justify any reason for doing so as the squadron operated throughout WW2 exclusively in LINCOLNSHIRE! Moving a squadron was both costly and disruptive in all sorts of ways, (therefore being counter-productive to the war effort) so the reason for doing so obviously needs to be justified and explained.
The question being: Why exactly were 619 Squadron moved from WOODHALL SPA, then to CONINGSBY, later to DUNHOLME LODGE and STRUBBY before ending up here, where they were disbanded? It all seems an utter nonsense today.
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