RAF Blyton - Lincolnshire
RAF Blyton or Bloody Blyton or Muddy Blyton was a typical war time bomber airfield both desolate and depressing. It was situated 5 miles north east of Gainsborough at the junction of the A159 and B1205 just to the north east of the village of Blyton and was built as a bomber airfield but only operated for three months in that role.
Construction started in early 1942 and the airfield opened in November of that year. It was a standard bomber airfield Class A pattern with 3 runways and surrounding perimeter track with 36 hard pan standings. Two T2 hangers and one B1 hanger were erected. The communal and accommodation sites were built on on western side of the airfield along the A159 road and was part of 1 Group Bomber Command under the control of RAF Lindholme as a satellite airfield. This was later passed to RAF Hemswell.
18 OTU B Flight were the first residents with their Wellingtons but returned to Hemswell a few months later.
1481 (B) G Flight arrived on the 26th September with Wellingtons. Whitleys and Defiants for a short stay and departed in November
The first occupants were 199 Squadron, reformed that year and equipped with Vickers Wellingtons.
Just a month after being reformed the Squadron took part in its first operation to Mannheim on the 6/7th December 1942
The Squadron left Blyton in February 1943 and were replaced by 1662 HCU ( Heavy Conversion Unit ) with 32 aircraft – Lancaster Is and Halifax I and Iis and surprisingly a few Mancasters
The function of the station then changed and as it became part of 1 Group training organisation. This was the role of Blyton for the rest of WW2. 1662 HCU remained there until disbanded in April 1945.
Lindholme near Doncaster was 11 Base HQ which was home to 1656 HCU and Blyton was a sub airfield with 1662 HCU.
In October 1943 the unit's Lancasters were assigned to the newly formed Lancaster Finishing School at Hemswell. These were replaced by Halifaxes which operated until November 1944 when more Lancasters became available for training. 1662 HCU worked hard for the rest of WW2 and suffered many accidents during this time.
On the 1st November 1944 there was a further reorganisation and Blyton was transferred to 7 Group.
To help relieve congestion in the circuit Sturgate was used as a relief landing ground after it opened in 1944.
1662 HCU disbanded just before the end of the war and the station ceased flying activities at the end of 1945. 7 Aircrew Holding Unit operated from the site for a short while and then the site was then put on a Care and Maintenance basis. 61 Maintenance Unit ( MU ) used the airfield as a relief landing ground and in September 1951 101 Flying Refresher School ( FRS ) operated Wellingtons and Meteors from the station. During February 1951 101 FRS was renamed 215 Advanced Flying School ( AFS ) flying Meteors only and remained there till May 1954. 61 MU then moved back to the airfield till it was sold in 1959
In the 1950s was one of 6 Lincolnshire airfields designated as reserve USAF bases. They never saw any active presence however.
By the late 1970s most of the buildings had been knocked down and the land returned to farming.
Blyton Park Driving Centre use the northern perimeter track for racing, practise and trials. Of the old airfield there is little left. Perhaps it is just as well.
Above - Gateway to Blyton Park Driving Centre on Kirton Rd
Above - Remains of the RAF Blyton guard house
Above - Another view of the old guard house
Compiled by David Fell Action Stations Lincolnshire and East Midlands by Bruce B Halpenny
....................
|
