RAF-lincolnshire.info :: Digby - A history 1917-1978 by Sqn Ldr GI Gilson

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RAF Digby - RCAF Digby
A history : 1918 - 1978

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Alma Park
Anwick
Bardney
Barkston Heath
Belton Park
Binbrook
Blankney Hall
Blyton
Boston Wyberton Fen
Bottesford
Bracebridge Heath
Braceby
Buckminster
Bucknall
Caistor
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Coleby Grange
Coningsby
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Digby
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Theddlethorpe
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Waddington
Wainfleet
Waltham (Grimsby)
Wellingore
Wickenby
Wigsley
Winterton
Woodhall Spa

Updated: 2 Jan 08

CHAPTER 3 - THE WAR YEARS

e. 1945 - RAF Digby prepares for peace

By the beginning of 1945 the war was obviously drawing to a close, and activities on the Station reflect this. Bad weather restricted flying to routine calibration duties by aircraft of No 527 Squadron (now amalgamated with No 528 to form one Squadron). The Station diary records that dances were held and classes were started to help people prepare for peacetime. Lincoln Technical College was the centre for education for peace, a connection with Lincoln Technical College which the Station still has.

An election was held on the Station - but with a difference. This was election for Canadians — the Provincial Elections f or Alberta, and Canadians at Digby who hailed from Alberta were allowed to cast a vote on the Station.

Sports started again — at ice hockey the Station was runner—up in the Canadian overseas championships. In a more exotic sport, curling, the Station team reached the second round in the British Open Championship

In April, Group Captain Bristow assumed command of the Station, and later in May a new establishment made the Station RAF Digby again. However, the Station’s connection is shown forever in its Station Crest. The Maple Leaf which is the central motif of the badge is a perpetual reminder of the time when Digby was a Canadian Air Force Station. (See Appendix 7). All Canadians were to be posted away and most went shortly afterwards. Flying was by Nos 527 and 116 Squadrons only, on calibration duties. Finally, on 22 July 1945 the Station left Fighter Command and was handed over to Technical Training Command.

During the time in Fighter Command the Station saw many types of aircraft, many different squadrons, and many famous people. Some squadrons were here for long periods, others merely used the airfield as a relief. A list of aircraft and squadrons known to have been at Digby during the war and some of its better known residents and visitors are shown at Appendix 8.

In addition to its flying duties, Digby had been a sector station, responsible for Northern England with the Sector Operations Room located in Blankney Hall. Part of this hall was seriously damaged by fire, but fortunately the Operations Room was still able to carry out its duties from Blankney.

Bishop Kenneth Healey, of Long Sutton, was Vicar of Digby (and Bloxholm and Ashby-de-la-Launde) during the first 3 ½ years of the war, and. recalls some those times. “In spite of all the enemy bombing of Lincolnshire, the damage that I remember to have been done at RAF Digby was on 2 or 3 daylight raids, in low cloud conditions. A high proportion of the bombs dropped failed to explode: I remember the policeman calling at my Vicarage (Ashby-de—la—Launde) to consult my large scale Ordnance Map to get a correct siting on one such very large unexploded bomb for his report. “

> next

Sector Ops Room Museum

Digby crashes

Digby Oral Histories:

Digby - A History
" A history 1917 - 1978"
Foreword
Introduction
1917
1918
Inter-War Years
1919
1920
1922-23
1924
1925
1926
1927-1929
1930-1932
1933
1934-1936
1937
1938
World War II
1939
1939-1940
1941
Jan - Aug 1942
Sep 1942 - 1944
1945
Return to Training
1945 - Jan 1948
Feb - Mar 1948
Mar 1948 - 1953
A cadet remembers
The Signals Era
Jan 1955 - Dec 1961
Dec 1963 - 1978
Curent Day

1955 - the Signals Era

Digby Ops Room Museum
A brief history on Airops website

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