RAF Kirton in Lindsey

Infobox Military Structure
name= Royal Air Force Station Kirton in Lindsey
Rapier Barracks
USAAF Station 349
location= Located Near Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
coordinates=coord|53|27|41|N|000|34|41|W|


caption=
type= Military Airfield
code= KL
built=1940
builder=
materials=
height=
used=1940-Present
demolished=
condition=
ownership=
controlledby=Royal Air Force
United States Army Air Forces
garrison=RAF Fighter Command
Eighth Air Force
commanders=
occupants=
battles= European Theatre of World War II
Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 - May 1945 Location map|Lincolnshire
label =
lat = 53.46
long = -0.58
caption = Map showing the location of RAF Kirton in Lindsey within Lincolnshire.
float = right
background = white
width = 200

RAF Kirton in Lindsey is a Royal Air Force airfield in England. The field is located 15 miles N of Lincoln in Lincolnshire.

It hosts No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit, parented by RAF Scampton.

First World War

The Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force airfield name Kirton in Lindsey was used during the First World War from December 1916 to June 1919. The airfield was used by detachments of 33 Squadron from nearby Gainsborough until the squadron moved was based from June 1918, 33 Squadron was a home defence squadron equipped with the Bristol Fighters and Avro 504s.

With the end of the war, the airfield was returned to agricultural use.

RAF Fighter Command use

Kirton in Lindsey was opened on a new site in May 1940 as a Fighter Command Station covering the NE of England during World War II. Many Defiant and Spitfire Squadrons rested here for a short time during the Battle of Britain.

The airfield was home of Number 71 Squadron of the RAF's Fighter Command. 71 Squadron was composed of mostly Americans and was one of the "Eagle Squadrons" of American volunteers who fought in World War II prior to the American entry into the war. 71 Squadron was assigned the squadron code XR.

The squadron arrived at the station in November 1940. By January the squadron was declared combat ready and began flying convoy escort over the North Sea. On 9 April No. 71 was moved to RAF Martlesham Heath.

RAF units and aircraft

USAAF Use

Kirton in Lindsey was allocated to the United States Army Air Force Eighth Air Force in 1942. It was assigned USAAF Station number 349, code "KL"

1st Fighter Group

Beginning in June 1942, the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group at RAF Goxhill used the station for training with Lockheed P-38 Lightings. The squadron remained until October.

81st Fighter Group

In October 1942, the 91st Fighter Squadron of the 81st Fighter Group used the station for training. The squadron arrived in Europe from Muroc AAF California flying Bell P-39 Airacobras. The squadron remained until December then departed for French Morocco as part of Twelfth Air Force.

RAF Flying Training Command use

In May 1943, the station was transferred back to RAF control for use as a Fighter Operational Training Unit with Spitfires of 53 OTU from Llandow, Caistor and Hibaldstow used as satellite airfields. Kirton in Lindsey remained a front-line RAF base during the Cold War and afterwards, with the following units assigned:

* 05/46 to /48, No.7 Service Flying Training School with Oxfords from Sutton Bridge, moved to Cottesmore.
* 48 to /52, Used by non-flying RAF Training Schools.
* 52 to /57, No.2 ITS (later renamed No.1 ITS) with Tiger Moths.
* 57 to /60, Airfield closed and on Care and Maintenance.
* 60 to 12/65, Reopened with 7 School of Technical Training and a Gliding School.

British Army use

In 1966, control of Kirton in Lindsey was transferred to the Royal Artillery and was renamed "Rapier Barracks".

Due to the Royal Artillery association, the Army Cadet Force detachment which is housed there has the Royal Artillery cap badge.

Return to RAF control

In 2004, the station was returned to RAF control and now is the home of No.1 Air Control Centre (1ACC), the RAF’s only deployable ground-based early warning and air control radar unit having relocated from RAF Boulmer in 2004-05.

Kirton also provides accommodation and messing for personnel based at, and is administered by, RAF Scampton.

See also

* List of RAF stations
* USAAF Eighth Air Force - World War II
* 1st Fighter Wing
* 81st Training Wing

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0900913096
* Freeman, Roger A. (1991) The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record. Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35708-1
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/H-K/Kirton_in_Lindsey.htm www.controltowers.co.uk Kirton in Lindsey]

External links

* [http://www.multimap.com/maps/?&t=l&
]
* [http://www.raf-lincolnshire.info/kirtonlindsey/kirtonlindsey.htm RAF Kirton in Lindsey page on RAF-Lincolnshire.info]