Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage

The Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage project celebrates the wartime heritage of North and North East Lincolnshire’s eight World War Two airfields.

Now when you visit the airfields you can find out about their heritage from newly installed interpretation panels, as well as from the remaining buildings which have stood the test of time. Some of the airfields, like RAF Grimsby, RAF Elsham Wolds and RAF North Killingholme, also have their own museums and memorial rooms.

There are eight World War Two airfields across Northern Lincolnshire, from RAF Santoft in the west to RAF Grimsby to the east. Each of these airfields played an important role during the war and has its own unique story to tell, like RAF Goxhill which was the first British Station given over to American control, or RAF Kirton in Lindsey which was home to the famous Eagle squadrons. 

The airfields that form part of the project are: 

• RAF Elsham Wolds – a former Bomber Airfield that was home to 100, 103 and 576 Sqns. The Elsham Wolds Memorial Rooms are a treasure trove of artefacts and memorabilia and can be visited by appointment. http://rafelshamwolds.com
• RAF Goxhill – the first British airfield to be taken over by the USAAF with some hangars still standing and a memorial to American forces.
• RAF Grimsby (Waltham Airfield) – many of the original buildings still survive at this Bomber airfield that was previously home to 100, 142 and 550 Sqns. There is a collection of RAF artefacts at nearby Waltham Windmill
• RAF Hibaldstow – a large Fighter airfield that hosted a Turbinlite experiment and was the site of the famous ‘Flying WAAF’ incident, involving Margaret Horton and a Spitfire! 
• RAF Kirmington – a Bomber Command airfield that is now known as Humberside International Airport, although previously hosted 142, 153 and 166 Sqns 
• RAF Kirton in Lindsey – a permanent RAF base that lasted long after the war and has many of its original builds intact. Former home to the famous Eagle Squadrons.
• RAF North Killingholme – a Bomber airfield home to only one squadron – 550 Sqn. During WW1 a large seaplane base was located nearby but all that remains is part of the slipway. The village hall hosts a small squadron museum which can be accessed by appointment. http://www.550squadronassociation.org.uk
• RAF Sandtoft – a Bomber Command training station that was home to 1667 HCU and had so many crashes it became known locally as ‘Prangtoft’. A small flying club now operates from the site and part of the airfield is home to the world’s largest collection of trolleybuses! 

For more information about the Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Project please call Brigg Tourist Information Centre on 01652 657053 

The Northern Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Web Site is now on line here.

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