RAF Kirton in Lindsey airfield

1965 (© Ian Law)

2004 (© Robert Truman)

RAF Kirton in Lindsey airfield

Agriculture, gliding, RAF No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC)

Watch Office with Met Section 2328/39 (concrete)

Other Buildings:

Almost complete 1930s expansion era RAF Station

12/16 to 06/19, B Flight, 33 Sqn Royal Flying Corps, a Home Defence Sqn with Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s. Site then returned to agriculture.
05/40 to 04/43, Opened as a Fighter Station covering the NE of England, many Defiant and Spitfire Sqns rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain.
11/40 to 04/41, 71 Sqn with Hurricanes, this was one of three all-American pilot Eagle Sqns (71, 121 and 133). 09/42, All three Sqns were transferred to the USAAF as the 4th Fighter Group at Debden and renumbered as 334, 335 and 336 Fighter Sqns.
06/42 to 08/42, 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 8th USAAF with P-38 Lightnings.
10/42 to 12/42, 91st FS, 81st FG, USAAF with P-39 Airacobras.
05/43 to 05/45, Station transferred for use as a Fighter Operational Training Unit with Spitfires of 53 OTU from Llandow, Caistor and Hibaldstow used as satellite airfields.
05/46 to /48, No.7 Service Flying Training School with Oxfords from Sutton Bridge, moved to Cottesmore.
/48 to /52, Used by non-flying RAF Training Schools.
/52 to /57, No.2 ITS (later renamed No.1 ITS) with Tiger Moths.
/57 to /60, Airfield closed and on Care and Maintenance.
/60 to 12/65, Reopened with 7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School.
/66 to 31/03/04, Transferred to the Royal Artillery and renamed Rapier Barracks.
04/05 to present, No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton.

1965 (© Ian Law)
Lincoln Aero Club Auster G-AJAS. The clubhouse was in the Fire Tender Shed behind the Auster. Chief Flying Instructor Len Patrick was adjutant to the Lincolnshire Air Training Corps and had his office in the tower.

2004 (© Robert Truman)

RAF Kirton in Lindsey

12/1916 to 06/1919

05/40 to 12/65 (RAF airfield closure date)

06/42: P-3, 09/42: 349

3x - C Type, 4x - Blister

15 miles N of Lincoln

nRAF Kirton in Lindsey airfield

RAF Kirton in Lindsey airfield - 1st Fighter Group -

RAF Kirton in Lindsey
Airfield:		Fighter OTU
Opened:		12/1916 to 06/1919
Reopened:		05/40 to 12/65 (RAF airfield closure date)
Code:		KL
USAAF Station:		06/42: P-3, 09/42: 349
Runways:		2x - Grass
Hangars:		3x - C Type, 4x - Blister
County:		Lincolnshire
Location:		15 miles N of Lincoln
OS Ref:		SK945972
Links:
©:		Photographs © copyright as stated
Kirton in Lindsey airfield

RAF Kirton in Lindsey airfield
Airfield Today:		Agriculture, gliding, RAF No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC)
Tower Type:		Watch Office with Met Section 2328/39 (concrete)
Tower:		Disused
Other Buildings:		Almost complete 1930s expansion era RAF Station
History:		12/16 to 06/19, B Flight, 33 Sqn Royal Flying Corps, a Home Defence Sqn with Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s. Site then returned to agriculture. 05/40 to 04/43, Opened as a Fighter Station covering the NE of England, many Defiant and Spitfire Sqns rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain. 11/40 to 04/41, 71 Sqn with Hurricanes, this was one of three all-American pilot Eagle Sqns (71, 121 and 133). 09/42, All three Sqns were transferred to the USAAF as the 4th Fighter Group at Debden and renumbered as 334, 335 and 336 Fighter Sqns. 06/42 to 08/42, 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, 8th USAAF with P-38 Lightnings. 10/42 to 12/42, 91st FS, 81st FG, USAAF with P-39 Airacobras. 05/43 to 05/45, Station transferred for use as a Fighter Operational Training Unit with Spitfires of 53 OTU from Llandow, Caistor and Hibaldstow used as satellite airfields. 05/46 to /48, No.7 Service Flying Training School with Oxfords from Sutton Bridge, moved to Cottesmore. /48 to /52, Used by non-flying RAF Training Schools. /52 to /57, No.2 ITS (later renamed No.1 ITS) with Tiger Moths. /57 to /60, Airfield closed and on Care and Maintenance. /60 to 12/65, Reopened with 7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School. /66 to 31/03/04, Transferred to the Royal Artillery and renamed Rapier Barracks. 04/05 to present, No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton.
RAF Kirton in Lindsey - 1st Fighter Group -