RAF Kirmington, Lincolnshire
Visit date: 03/02/07
NOTE: Until further details are available, the dispersed sites are simply numbered '1', '2', etc. As soon as proper identification is made, the captions will be updated. CP.
RAF Kirmington was built to the standard Class-A bomber airfield design of three concrete and tarmac-surfaced runways: 21/03 (NNE/SSW) 2500 yards (2286 meters); 27/09 (E/W) 1400 yards (1280 meters) and 32/14 (NW/SE) 1800 yards (1645 meters). From the encircling peri-track were thirty-six frying-pan type dispersals and hangarage was two T2 and a B1. The bomb dump was to the south of the airfield with the technical site to the east. Living and communal sites were to the north-east for a total of 1644 personnel, RAF and WAAF, all ranks. The station identification was 'KG'.
Built during 1941, the station was first used as a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Leconfield's 15 (Pilot's) Advanced Flying Unit (Airspeed Oxford). This ceased when the airfield was finally opened under 1 Group, Bomber Command in October, 1942. The first unit to arrive was 150 Sqn (Wellington III, coded 'JN' ) from RAF Snaith and were joined briefly by the home echelon of 142 Sqn (Wellington III, coded 'QT'), from RAF Waltham. On January 27th 1943, these two units merged to form 166 Sqn (Wellington III; Lancaster I and III, coded 'AS'). The Squadron was to remain at Kirmington throughout the War, changing their Vickers Wellingtons for Lancasters in September 1943. By this time, the 'Base' structure was well in place and Kirmington was part of 13 Base, 1 Group Bomber Command, the parent station being RAF Elsham Wolds, a few miles to the West. In October 1944, a small nucleus of twenty-seven crews from 166 Sqn re-formed 153 Sqn (Lancaster I & III, coded 'P4'), a former night-fighter unit. It only stayed at Kirmington for a week before moving to RAF Scampton.
RAF Kirmington closed in December 1945 and was placed on Care & Maintenance and finally sold off. During 1967, private operators began using the site and in 1970, Lindsay County Council bought the airfield and developed it into what is now Humberside International Airport.
Today, the technical site to the east has gone, apart from a single track and a pile of rubble. The 'new' airport facilities are on the opposite (west) side. Of the dispersed sites, little remains except for the access roads, blast shelters and hut bases amongst the beech trees and conifers. There is a reminder for the passer-by in the shape of a fine memorial to 166 Sqn alongside the road through Kirmington village. |
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Kirmington's secondary runway, the former east/west strip |
Across the road from Humberside International Airport is this track. It is a remnant of the technical site |
RAF Kirmington. All that remains of the wartime technical site - just piles of rubble. Virtually nothing of the wartime airfield site (other than the runways) recognisably exists |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn memorial, in Kirmington village |
RAF Kirmington: Memorial stone and plaque |
RAF Kirmington: Memorial plaque detail to 166 Sqn |
RAF Kirmington: Propellor blade, hub and part of the reduction gear from Lancaster ND913/A4-M2 (115 Sqn Witchford), dedicated to the crews of 166 Sqn |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn Memorial |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn Memorial detail |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn Memorial detail |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn Memorial detail |
RAF Kirmington: 166 Sqn Memorial dedication plaque detail |
Dispersed Site '1': On the outskirts of Kirmington village, a dispersed site Stanton Shelter |
Dispersed Site '1': On the same site, a latrine block |
Dispersed Site '1': On the same site, a latrine block |
Dispersed Site '1': On the same site, a latrine block |
Dispersed Site '1': A trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts |
Dispersed Site '1': One of a trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts at RAF Kirmington |
Dispersed Site '1': A trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts |
Dispersed Site '1': A trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts |
Dispersed Site '1': A trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts |
Dispersed Site '1': A trio of rather well preserved Orlit huts |
Dispersed Site '1': Orlit hut interior. The breeze block partition is a later addition. There is evidence of these huts being used as cattle sheds |
Dispersed Site '1': Light fitting |
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