RAF Grimsby

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.

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 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.

Throughout the war the station was under 1 Group Bomber Command. Aside from housing Lancasters the station was set to be further developed with larger dispersals which would help the station accommodate the B-29 Superfortress in the ongoing war with Japan. However after the dropping of atomic warheads on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the war came to an end and so did RAF Grimsby.

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 Bridge.

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.

After World War II the station was suggested as possible site for an airport however due to its proximity to Grimsby and that it is surrounded by several villages the Government chose the more rural RAF Kirmington. RAF Kirmington is now known as Humberside Airport, a name and airport that could have been on the site at RAF Grimsby.

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 and doesn't look like it originally did throughout the station's service however it is still clear to see its original shape.

External links

* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s8.html Official RAF history]
* [http://www.467463raafsquadrons.com/walthamairshow/index.htm RAF Grimsby Exhibition Page]
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/W-Z/Waltham.htm Information about RAF Grimsby]
* [http://www.grimsbyaircadets.co.uk 195 (GRIMSBY) Squadron ATC]