| Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1952 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Type | Flying station |
| Role | Bomber Station |
| Part of | RAF Bomber Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Lincoln, England |
| Royal Air Force Ensign | |
| Equipment | Handley Page Hampden, Avro Manchester, Avro Lancaster |
The former Royal Air Force Station Skellingthorpe, more commonly known as RAF Skellingthorpe was a station of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was located in the city of Lincoln, England. It was known as Skelly by the RAF personnel serving there.
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An RAF Bomber Command Station, RAF Skellingthorpe opened in 1941 on a field previously known as Black Moor, approximately 21⁄2 miles south-east of the village of Skellingthorpe. Today that site is the area known as Birchwood. The local public house, The Black Swan, was named after the R/T call sign of the airfield.
The airfield consisted of the standard pattern of three runways, with one Type B1 and two Type T2 hangars. Nissen huts were used for accommodation.
No. 50 Squadron RAF was the first squadron based at Skellingthorpe, with the first detachment of personnel arriving shortly before the runways were complete. 50 Squadron were equipped with Hampdens. They were followed by No. 455 Squadron RAAF (also flying Hampdens), however the squadron moved to RAF Wigsley shortly afterwards. 50 Squadron's aircraft were replaced with Avro Manchester aircraft in April 1942.
In June 1942 Skellingthorpe was closed for runway extensions in order to cope with the new Avro Lancaster aircraft that 50 Squadron had converted to.
In November 1943, a second bomber squadron operating Avro Lancasters arrived at Skellingthorpe. No. 61 Squadron RAF remained at the station until February 1944, when moved to RAF Coningsby so that accommodation could be built on the Doddington Road side of the airfield at Skellingthorpe.
During the war, the tally of bombers lost or failed to return from Skellingthorpe reached 208: 15 Hampdens, six Manchesters and 187 Lancasters.
After the end of World War II, RAF Skellingthorpe was home to No. 58 Maintenance Unit RAF and salvaged crashed aircraft were stored at the base. The Birchwood Estate was built on the airfield in the 1970s, and the A46 Lincoln Bypass was built on it in 1986.
An exhibition of photographs showing the history of RAF Skellingthorpe and the Squadrons based there has been set up as part of the North Kesteven Airfield Trail. This Heritage Room is based in the Community Centre in Skellingthorpe and is open daily to the general public.
To commemorate No. 50 Squadron RAF and No. 61 Squadron RAF, a small museum has been set up in the Birchwood Community Centre in Lincoln. Included in the museum is memorabilia from the aircraft used by the squadrons, photographs and records. The 50 Squadron and 61 Squadron Books of Remembrance are also held there. Entrance is free and open to the general public daily.