| RAF Syerston | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tower in 2006 | |||
| IATA: none – ICAO: EGXY | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||
| Location | Newark-on-Trent | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 228 ft / 69 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Map | |||
|
EGXY
|
|||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 06/24 | 1,827 | 5,994 | Asphalt |
| 15/33 | 1,347 | 4,419 | Asphalt |
| 02/20 | Grass | ||
| 11/29 | Asphalt | ||
RAF Syerston (ICAO: EGXY) is a Royal Air Force station in the parish of Flintham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire. It was used as a bomber base during World War II.
Contents |
Syerston was built as part of the bomber expansion in the late thirties, but did not open until December 1, 1940. The first aircraft were Vickers Wellingtons crewed by Polish flyers. In July 1941 they were replaced by members of the RCAF flying Handley-Page Hampdens. From December 1941 until May 5, 1942, the base was closed whilst a concrete runway was built with two T2 hangars. When it re-opened, it became part of No. 5 Group. In 1942 several squadrons of Avro Lancaster aircraft arrived. In 1943 Bill Reid of 61 Squadron won a Victoria Cross on a mission flown from Syerston.
On November 17, 1943 the operational squadrons departed, and the station was used for bomber crew training, led by Captain Robert White. It became known as the Lancaster Finishing School in January 1944. From November 1943 to July 1944 there was also a Bombing and Gunnery Defence Training Flight in attendance with several Wellingtons, Spitfires, Hurricanes, plus a few Martinet tug aircraft, all employed in brushing up the skills of air gunners on air to air exercises. The LFS left on April 1, 1945, with No. 49 Squadron arriving from RAF Fulbeck later in the month who only had one operation before leaving to RAF Mepal in September.
On October 25, 1945, the base became part of Transport Command with a Heavy Conversion Unit arriving from RAF Leicester East, which stayed until January 5, 1948 when it moved to RAF Dishforth. Syerston was taken over by Flying Training Command on the 1 February 1948 when No.22 Flying School arrived from RAF Ouston which trained pilots for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). Other nearby airfields used for flying circuits were RAF Newton, RAF Wymeswold and Tollerton airfield (now Nottingham Airport). The training school became No 2 Flying Training School in 1955. In November 1953, Percival Provosts began being used, being replaced by the (Hunting Percival) Jet Provost in 1959. The flying training school was disbanded on January 16, 1970 when the need for pilots had diminished, and the station lay vacant.
On 20 September 1958, the prototype Avro Vulcan VX770 crashed during a fly past at RAF Syerston Battle of Britain At Home display.
In January 1975 the Royal Air Force Central Gliding School and 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron moved to Syerston, and have been there since, later joined by 643 VGS. 643 VGS have been at RAF Syerston since 10 Oct 1992. This has been their longest home yet, but it was only meant to be a short term stay. Most of the buildings were demolished in 1997.
From 1990 Nottingham University Gliding Club, when affiliated with the Four Counties Gliding Club, used the airfield until 2004, when both moved to RAF Barkston Heath. In 2005, Nottingham University Gliding Club affiliated themselves to Cranwell Gliding Club at RAF Cranwell, when Four Counties Gliding Club moved to RAF Wittering.