RAF Kirton in Lindsey Airfield

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). 9/42, 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 31/3/04, 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.

Kirton in Lindsey airfield
Airfield Today:		Agriculture, gliding, RAF Regiment
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). 9/42, 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 31/3/04, 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 Station
Airfield:		Fighter OTU
Opened:		12/1916 to 06/1919
Reopened:		05/40 to 12/65 (RAF airfield closure date)
Code:		KL
USAAF Station:		349
Runways:		2 Grass
Hangars:		3x - C Type, 4x - Blister
County:		Lincolnshire
Location:		15 miles N of Lincoln
OS Ref:		SK945972
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©:		Photographs © as stated
Kirton in Lindsey airfield