| In Nov 1941, 50 Squadron's Hampdens transferred from Swinderby to `Skellingthorpe. In Apr 1942, No. 50 commenced conversion to the Manchester but then its troubles began. During two months only 120 sorties were flown with the type and seven lost before it was replaced by Lancasters.
To convert to Lancasters and allow the main runway to be extended, the squadron returned to Swinderby in June 1942. 350 yards were added to the north-east end of 07-25, the work being completed by September. 50 Squadron returned in October 1942 and for a year was the sole operational unit at the station. With sufficient accommodation and facilities to take a second squadron, in November 1943 No. 61 arrived from Syerston, which was to be used for operational training. There were then 30 to 36 Lancasters regularly based at Skellingthorpe. On May 19, 1944, the deaths of two airmen and substantial damage to a hangar resulted from the detonation of three l,OOO lb bombs dislodged from a tractor-towed bomb trolley train. A total of 208 bombers failed to return or were lost in UK crashes during the operations flown from Skellingthorpe: 15 Hampdens, six Manchesters and 187 Lancasters. A proposal in 1948 to convert the airfield into a civil airport came to nothing and the main occupant until the early `fifties was No. 58 Maintenance Unit using hangars for storage. In the 1970s-80s, close proximity to Lincoln brought the site to the attention of developers resulting in the gradual encroachment of housing estates on the north-eastern side so that few visible traces of the airfield remain at the end of the century. There is a memorial to Nos. 50 and 61 Squadrons in the nearby Birchwood Community Centre. |
Memorial at Skellingthorpe 2005-08-30 14:31:20 |
Skellingthorpe memorial 2005-08-30 14:31:30 |
Village sign 2005-08-30 14:32:04 |
Village flag displaying aviation heritage 2005-08-30 14:32:32 |
Skellingthorpe Heritage room 2005-08-30 14:33:08 |
Heritage room displays 2005-08-30 14:33:55 |
Heritage room displays 2005-08-30 14:34:28 |
Heritage room displays 2005-08-30 14:34:57 |
Birchwood memorial 2005-08-30 14:43:11 |
Birchwood memorial 2005-08-30 14:43:31 |
Birchwood memorial 2005-08-30 14:43:51 |
Birchwood memorial 2005-08-30 14:44:20 |
