RAF Grimsby
Encyclopedia
RAF Grimsby was initially opened as a satellite station for RAF Binbrook
in November 1941. The station was officially named RAF Grimsby although the name of the nearby village Waltham
was used by locals and servicemen.
The station was closed some weeks prior to the surrender of Germany
and the hangars were used by No.35 MU for storage and the flying field reverted to back to agricultural use. Years later the A16 was being improved and a bypass for the village of Holton-le-Clay
cut into a large proportion of the station.
Currently a memorial to 100 Squadron stands near the B1 Hangar
, next to the northern entrance to Holton-le-Clay
. There is a memorial for 550 Squadron at the now disused station RAF North Killingholme
and 142 Squadron is said to have a memorial in North Africa.
. Out of the 30+ dispersals built only one remains to this day. It is still quite possible to see the outlines of some from the air however the vast majority have gone.
Notable surviving buildings include the Control Tower, Crew Locker and Dryer Rooms, the Pre-War, B1 and T2 hangars, however much of the station is in a state of disrepair and is also victim to fly-tipping
. Old unused farm equipment also litters the station along with various weeds and rubble, and phantoms are also said to dwell there including the body of a headless airman.
A Golf Course, Golf Driving Range and a Go-Karting track have been built on the station and a coal merchants stands on what was once the Fuel Dump. The Bomb Dump has totally disappeared and various buildings in the village of Waltham, Lincolnshire
such as accommodation huts no longer exist. The only remaining building in the village is the W.A.A.F. canteen and Kitchen which currently house the Museum of Rural Life and RAF Grimsby Exhibition at the Waltham Windmill
. This building has been extended.
RAF Binbrook
RAF Binbrook was a Bomber Command station during World War II. After the war it was amongst others the home of the Central Fighter Establishment...
in November 1941. The station was officially named RAF Grimsby although the name of the nearby village Waltham
Waltham, Lincolnshire
Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is south-west of Grimsby and is close to the villages of Scartho, Brigsley, Barnoldby-le-Beck, and Bradley...
was used by locals and servicemen.
History
Throughout the war the station was under 1 Group Bomber Command. Three squadrons served at RAF Grimsby during its operation: 142 Squadron, 100 Squadron and 550 Squadron.The station was closed some weeks prior to the surrender of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the hangars were used by No.35 MU for storage and the flying field reverted to back to agricultural use. Years later the A16 was being improved and a bypass for the village of Holton-le-Clay
Holton-le-Clay
Holton-le-Clay is a village and civil parish in the extreme north of the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, south of Grimsby on the A16...
cut into a large proportion of the station.
Currently a memorial to 100 Squadron stands near the B1 Hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
, next to the northern entrance to Holton-le-Clay
Holton-le-Clay
Holton-le-Clay is a village and civil parish in the extreme north of the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, south of Grimsby on the A16...
. There is a memorial for 550 Squadron at the now disused station RAF North Killingholme
RAF North Killingholme
RAF North Killingholme is a former Royal Air Force station in England, used during the later years of World War II. It was located just to the west of the village of North Killingholme in North Lincolnshire....
and 142 Squadron is said to have a memorial in North Africa.
Buildings
Many of the airfield buildings still survive and are currently in use by a Haulage firm and mechanics. Most of the runways have been ripped up and much of it was used to build the road that leads up to the Humber BridgeHumber Bridge
The Humber Bridge, near Kingston upon Hull, England, is a 2,220 m single-span suspension bridge, which opened to traffic on 24 June 1981. It is the fifth-largest of its type in the world...
. Out of the 30+ dispersals built only one remains to this day. It is still quite possible to see the outlines of some from the air however the vast majority have gone.
Notable surviving buildings include the Control Tower, Crew Locker and Dryer Rooms, the Pre-War, B1 and T2 hangars, however much of the station is in a state of disrepair and is also victim to fly-tipping
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is a British term for dumping waste illegally instead of in an authorised rubbish dump. It is the illegal deposit of any waste onto land, i.e...
. Old unused farm equipment also litters the station along with various weeds and rubble, and phantoms are also said to dwell there including the body of a headless airman.
A Golf Course, Golf Driving Range and a Go-Karting track have been built on the station and a coal merchants stands on what was once the Fuel Dump. The Bomb Dump has totally disappeared and various buildings in the village of Waltham, Lincolnshire
Waltham, Lincolnshire
Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is south-west of Grimsby and is close to the villages of Scartho, Brigsley, Barnoldby-le-Beck, and Bradley...
such as accommodation huts no longer exist. The only remaining building in the village is the W.A.A.F. canteen and Kitchen which currently house the Museum of Rural Life and RAF Grimsby Exhibition at the Waltham Windmill
Waltham Windmill
Waltham Windmill is a six-sailed windmill located in the village of Waltham, five miles from Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. It is renowned in the area for having all six sails still in full working capacity, being one of the very few windmills like this in the United Kingdom.-Construction:The...
. This building has been extended.