RAF Kirmington

Royal Air Force Kirmington or more simply RAF Kirmington was a Royal Air Force station located 6.2 miles (10.0 km) north east of Brigg, Lincolnshire and 11 miles (18 km) south west of Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England.

RAF Kirmington
Humberside International Airport
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationKirmington, Lincolnshire, England
Elevation AMSL72 ft / 22 m
Coordinates53°34′40″N 000°20′39″W
Map
RAF Kirmington
Location in Lincolnshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
Stained glass war memorial window in the church of St. Helen, Kirmington.
The station bell dating from 1942 is preserved in the lobby of the modern Humberside Airport, with this little plaque below it.

History

Second World War

It took its name from the village of Kirmington nearby; the most notable squadron posted there was No. 166 Squadron RAF[1] and a memorial plaque to the members of that unit is in the parish church. The airfield opened in January 1942 [2]

Squadron Equipment From To To Notes
No. 142 Squadron RAF Vickers Wellington III/X 19 December 1942 19 December 1942 Disbanded [3]
No. 150 Squadron RAF Wellington IC and III October 1942 19 December 1942 Blida, Algeria [4]
No. 153 Squadron RAF Avro Lancaster BI/BIII 7 October 1944 15 October 1944 RAF Scampton Reformed here.[5]
No. 166 Squadron RAF Wellington III/X 27 January 1943 February 1943 Disbanded [6]
Lancaster BI/BIII September 1943 18 November 1945 Disbanded [6]

Post 1945

From February 1946 the station was put on care and maintenance until relinquished by the Air Ministry to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1953.[7]

Current use

In 1970, after changing hands several times, Kirmington was selected as the best location for a regional airport serving the Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe localities and has become Humberside International Airport.[7]

References

Citations
  1. Halpenny 1981, p. 120.
  2. Lincolnshire Airfields in the 2nd World War - p152 - Patrick Otter - Countryside Books - 1996 - ISBN 978 1 85306 424 1
  3. Jefford 1988, p. 61.
  4. Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  5. Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  7. Halpenny 1981, p. 121.

Bibliography
  • Halpenny, B.B. Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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