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#RAFLincolnshire
> RAF Bases
Interactive map
Full list of locations
Alma Park
Anwick
Bardney
Barkston
Heath
Belton Park
Binbrook
Blankney Hall
Blyton
Boston Wyberton Fen
Bottesford
Bracebridge Heath
Braceby
Buckminster
Bucknall
Caistor
Cockthorne
Coleby Grange
Coningsby
Cranwell
Cuxwold
Digby
Donna Nook
Dunholme Lodge
East Halton
East Kirkby
Elsham Wolds
Faldingworth
Fiskerton
Folkingham
Freiston
Fulbeck
Gosberton
Goxhill
Grantham
Greenland Top
Grimsby
Grimsthorpe Park
Harlaxton
Hemswell
Hibaldstow
Holbeach
Humberston
Immingham
Ingham
Ingoldmels
Kelstern
Killingholme
Kirmington
Kirton in Lindsey
Langtoft
Leadenham
Lincoln West Common
Ludford Magna
Manby
Market Deeping
Market Stainton
Mere
Metheringham
Moorby
Morton Hall
New Holland
Nocton Hall
Normanby
North Coates
North Killingholme
North Witham
Norton Disney
Orby
Rauceby
Saltby
Sandtoft
Scampton
Skegness
Skellingthorpe
Skendleby
South Carlton
South Elkington
South Witham
Spilsby
Spitalgate
Stenigot
Strubby
Sturgate
Sutton Bridge
Swinderby
Swinstead
Theddlethorpe
Tydd St Mary
Waddington
Wainfleet
Waltham (Grimsby)
Wellingore
Wickenby
Wigsley
Winterton
Woodhall Spa
Updated: 13 Feb 12
Opened: Sep 1940 as relief airfield for RAF Kirton in Lindsey, by 1942 for Kirmington, then Cranwell
Closed: 1945 (Flying ceased 1944)
Opened: 1959 (missile base)
Closed: 1963
Squadrons based here:
264 Sqn ::
15 (P) Advanced Flying Unit :: 1942
53 OTU :: 17 May 1943 -
269 (SM) Sqn :: Jul 1959 - May 1963
RAF Caistor's location, in the Lincolnshire Wolds, meant that it was unsuitable for much except a day only training role under the control of the RAFC Cranwell. In 1942 it was used by 15 (P) AFU from RAF Kirmington. It had grass runways only.
British attempts to corrupt the German Luftwaffe KNICKEBEIN radio signal, which directed bomber formations to their target, were assisted by an 'ASPIRIN' transmitter set up at Holton le Moor, near Caistor, approximately 3 km south of the airfield.
There was was also a slave station on the North-Eastern GEE chain at Caistor some time after Apr 1944 and it was later refered to as Nettleton GEE. It is not known if it was located with RAF Caistor, the ASPIRIN site or somewhere in the area competely separately. However, this site, equipped with AMES 7722, was moved to Nettleton because of poor coverage in the intended zones from its initial site at Stenigot.
Between 1959 and 1963 Caistor was a Thor missile base for 3 Thor IRBM launchers of 269 (SM) Sqn with 3 Thor IRBM launchers. Each missile was armed with a one-megaton nuclear warhead, controlled by the US Air Force under so-called dual-key arrangements. RAF Hemswell was the headquarters for the 5 Lincolnshire dispersal sites at RAF Hemswell, RAF Bardney, RAF Caistor, RAF Coleby Grange and RAF Ludford Magna.
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