 |
| |
Home
RAF Stations & Bases
Full list of locations
Squadrons and Units
A brief history
Aircraft types
Photographs
Memorials
Crashes
Sqn & Stn Associations
Museums
Maps
Oral History
Books
Search site
Links
Sitemap
Abbreviations
People Finder
Family history & research
About the site
FAQs
Contact us
Copyright
Updates
#RAFLincolnshire
> RAF Bases
Interactive map
Full list of locations
Alma Park
Anwick
Bardney
Barkston
Heath
Belton Park
Binbrook
Blankney Hall
Blyton
Boston Wyberton Fen
Bottesford
Bracebridge Heath
Braceby
Buckminster
Bucknall
Caistor
Cockthorne
Coleby Grange
Coningsby
Cranwell
Cuxwold
Digby
Donna Nook
Dunholme Lodge
East Halton
East Kirkby
Elsham Wolds
Faldingworth
Fiskerton
Folkingham
Freiston
Fulbeck
Gosberton
Goxhill
Grantham
Greenland Top
Grimsby
Grimsthorpe Park
Harlaxton
Hemswell
Hibaldstow
Holbeach
Humberston
Immingham
Ingham
Ingoldmels
Kelstern
Killingholme
Kirmington
Kirton in Lindsey
Langtoft
Leadenham
Lincoln West Common
Ludford Magna
Manby
Market Deeping
Market Stainton
Mere
Metheringham
Moorby
Morton Hall
New Holland
Nocton Hall
Normanby
North Coates
North Killingholme
North Witham
Norton Disney
Orby
Rauceby
Saltby
Sandtoft
Scampton
Skegness
Skellingthorpe
Skendleby
South Carlton
South Elkington
South Witham
Spilsby
Spitalgate
Stenigot
Strubby
Sturgate
Sutton Bridge
Swinderby
Swinstead
Theddlethorpe
Tydd St Mary
Waddington
Wainfleet
Waltham (Grimsby)
Wellingore
Wickenby
Wigsley
Winterton
Woodhall Spa
Updated: 12 Feb 12
Opened: 20 Aug 1943
Care and Maintenance: Nov 1945
Reopened: Aug 1954
Closed: 1958, sold in 1970
Airfield code :: ET, XK > EK
ICAO Code :: MWYB
Airfield call sign :: SILKSHEEN
Squadrons based here:
57 Sqn :: 28 Aug 1943 - Nov 1945
630 Sqn :: Nov 1943 - Jul 1945
460 Sqn RAAF :: Jul 1945 - Oct 1945
3917 Sqn USAF :: Aug 1954 - 1958
East Kirkby originally functioned as a decoy airfield. Its wooden Whitley bombers were targeted on several occasions. According to ControlTowers.co.uk East Kirkby in turn had its own decoy airfield at Sibsey, 7 miles south.
Construction of the airfield began in 1942 and the station was operational by Aug 1943. Lancaster-equipped, 57 Squadron arrived within a week.
630 Sqn formed here from B Flt of 57 Sqn in Nov 1943 and stayed for the duration of the war, flying the last operational sortie from the station, on 25 Apr 1945.
East Kirkby's worst night of aircraft losses was 21 Jun 1944 when 11 aircraft were lost in a single attack.
In Apr 1945, a Lancaster caught fire while being bombed up, resulting in a huge explosion which set off further bombs. 4 people were killed, 6 Lancaster totally destroyed, and a further 14 damaged.
460 Sqn disbanded here in Oct 1945 after a brief stay. The station went into care and maintenance the following month but was retained for trials use.
In 1954 RAF East Kirkby reopened to serve both RAF and USAF units staging operations in the Far East from here. USAF Dakotas of 3917 Air Base Sqn of 7 Strategic Air Command Air Division were based here until closure in 1958.
The Ministry of Defence finally disposed of the site in 1970. In recent years due to the work of Fred and Harold Panton, RAF East Kirkby is now home to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
RAF East Kirkby memories on the Wartime Memories Project
RAF East Kirkby on ControlTowers.co.uk
Aviation
Heritage Lincolnshire
(Tourism)
Follow RAF Lincolnshire:
powered by blueconsultancy
