RAF-lincolnshire.info :: Frequently asked questions

home :: squadrons :: stations :: memorials :: aircraft :: forums :: books :: abbreviations :: search :: links :: about :: contact

Frequently asked questions

Home
RAF Stations & Bases
Aircraft types
Forum and Bulletin Boards
Search site
Links
Books
Abbreviations
People Finder
About
Contact us

> Units and Formations

Flying Squadrons
5 Sqn
6 Sqn
8 Sqn
9 Sqn
10 Sqn
11 Sqn
12 Sqn
15 Sqn
18 Sqn
21 Sqn
22 Sqn
23 Sqn
25 Sqn
27 Sqn
29 Sqn
33 Sqn
35 Sqn
39 Sqn
41 Sqn
43 Sqn
44 Sqn
46 Sqn
49 Sqn
50 Sqn
51 Sqn
54 Sqn
56 Sqn
57 Sqn
61 Sqn
64 Sqn
65 Sqn
68 Sqn
69 Sqn
70 Sqn
71 Sqn
73 Sqn
75 Sqn
81 Sqn
83 Sqn
85 Sqn
88 Sqn
90 Sqn
92 Sqn
97 Sqn
100 Sqn
101 Sqn
103 Sqn
104 Sqn
106 Sqn
109 Sqn
110 Sqn
111 Sqn
112 Sqn
113 Sqn
116 Sqn
121 Sqn
133 Sqn
136 Sqn
139 Sqn
141 Sqn
142 Sqn
143 Sqn
144 Sqn
148 Sqn
149 Sqn
150 Sqn
151 Sqn
153 Sqn
154 Sqn
166 Sqn
170 Sqn
189 Sqn
198 Sqn
199 Sqn
203 Sqn
206 Sqn
207 Sqn
209 Sqn
210 Sqn
211 Sqn
214 Sqn
222 Sqn
227 Sqn
228 Sqn
229 Sqn
235 Sqn
236 Sqn
248 Sqn
249 Sqn
251 Sqn
253 Sqn
254 Sqn
255 Sqn
256 Sqn
264 Sqn
266 Sqn
280 Sqn
288 Sqn
300 Sqn
301 Sqn
302 Sqn
303 Sqn
305 Sqn
307 Sqn
309 Sqn
310 Sqn
349 Sqn
350 Sqn
401 Sqn
402 Sqn
404 Sqn
407 Sqn
409 Sqn
410 Sqn
411 Sqn
412 Sqn
415 Sqn
416 Sqn
420 Sqn
421 Sqn
430 Sqn
438 Sqn
439 Sqn
441 Sqn
442 Sqn
443 Sqn
452 Sqn
455 Sqn
460 Sqn
463 Sqn
467 Sqn
486 Sqn
503 Sqn
504 Sqn
527 Sqn
528 Sqn
532 Sqn
538 Sqn
542 Sqn
550 Sqn
576 Sqn
601 Sqn
609 Sqn
613 Sqn
616 Sqn
617 Sqn
619 Sqn
625 Sqn
626 Sqn
627 Sqn
630 Sqn

Heavy Conversion Units
1654 HCU
1656 HCU
1660 HCU
1661 HCU
1662 HCU
1665 HCU
1667 HCU
1668 HCU
21 HGCU

Advanced Flying Schools
201 AFS

Advanced Flying Units
12 AFU
15 AFU

Flying Training Schools
1 FTS
2 FTS
3 FTS
6 FTS
7 FTS
12 FTS
1 Lancaster Finishing School
Central Flying School

Operational Training/
Conversion Units (Fighter)
6 OTU
53 OTU
56 OTU

(Bomber)
228 OCU
230 OCU

Air Armament Schools
1 AAS
2 AAS
Empire Central AS

Other schools
1 Gp Aircrew School
1 Ground Defence School
1 Air Observers School
Central Gunnery School
5 Gp Anti Air School

Other units
Bomber Command
Coastal Command
Fighter Command
HQ No 5 Group
HQ No 23 Group
1485 Gunnery Flight
2782 Defence Sqn
178 Support Unit
399 Signals Unit
Nationality based Sqns

Updated: 3 Mar 08

What are Bomber, Fighter and Coastal Commands?

Full details of the composition and chain of command within each of the Commands are on the Bomber Command, Fighter Command, Coastal Command and Training Command pages respectively.

To which Commands and Groups did Lincolnshire bases belong?

In 1939 there were 6 groups in Bomber Command. HQ No 5 Gp was based at RAF Grantham for most of WWII and commanded the bombers based in southern Lincolnshire, with No 1 Gp covering northern Lincolnshire.

Which aircraft were operated from Lincolnshire?

The small proportion of daylight attacks which were conducted initially used the Blenheim, later Boston, Ventura and Mosquito. Night bombing came into its own in early 1941. Initial ops were flown by the Wellington, Whitley and Hampden. A full list of aircraft and squadrons operating each type is on the aircraft types page.

What were the squadron codes?

In the squadron coding system, two letters were separated from a third by the roundel. For example, CG - A, where "CG" is sqn the code and "A" is the aircraft identifying letter and usually the radio call sign. This system was introduced in 1938 but many sqns adopted a second code following the outbreak of war. Both codes are listed on each sqn page where identified. A comprehensive overview for the RAF may be found on The Air War website :: click here

What is the correct method for writing squadron and formation names?

On RAF-Lincolnshire.info, squadron and formation names and numbers are always written in an abbreviated format, without the leading word "Number / No" or trailing abbreviation "th" or "st". Hence (generally!) Headquarters Number 5 Group is written HQ 5 Gp and Ninth Air Force is written 9 AF.

What state are the airfields in now?

There are still 5 operational RAF airfields in Lincolnshire: RAF Scampton, RAF Waddington, RAFC Cranwell, RAF Coningsby, RAF Barkston Heath. Some others operate privately as flying clubs, some runways have been used as foundations for agricultural or storage facilities, while others have disappeared in all but name and field boundaries. Have a look at the Multimap link on each station page, in the right hand column, to see how the airfields look from the air today. Aerial photographs can also be purchased from GetMapping. The Control Towers website also has many photographs of control towers, hangars and outbuildings at some stations.

How were bomber crews trained?

After flying training, the crew - pilot, navigator, bomb aimer, air-gunner and wireless-operator - teamed up at Operational Training Unit (6 OTU and 53 OTU were based in Lincolnshire), where the new intake was paraded in a hangar and told to form themselves into crews. OTUs were generally equipped with Wellington and trainees acquired team skills, sometimes via minor operations (dropping mines or leaflets). After OTU those destined for four-engined aircraft were sent to a Heavy Conversion Unit (eg 1654 HCU - a complete list for Lincolnshire is on the Units navigation) where the crew was joined by the flight engineer and a second air-gunner. HCU crews carried out some raids and feint attacks as part of Bomber Command's nightly onslaught on Germany. At HCU instructors converted the crew onto Halifaxes or Stirlings, and after a short course the crew was posted to an operational Squadron. Crews destined for Lancaster-equipped units did a very short course at a Lancaster Finishing School (LFS) at Syerston or 1 LFS at Hemswell before an operational posting.

What was Chain High?

Chain Home was Britain's pioneering radar defence network which helped to provide early warning of the direction and size of Luftwaffe raids on Britain. Two Lincolnshire stations, RAF Ingoldmels and RAF Stenigot, contributed to the Chain Home networks. Further details may also be found on RadarPages.co.uk :: click here.

Can you help me find out about the RAF history of my family or friends?

We have no access to individual service records or any other family historical paperwork. Please consult the pages detailing people finders, reuniting service personnel as you may well find colleagues and friends have registered with the various "reunited" websites.

Do you have access to official records?

RAF-Lincolnshire.info is not an official RAF or MOD website. It is not officially sponsored or affiliated to the RAF in any way. We do not have any special access to official military sources of information or to RAF sites in Lincolnshire. We are not able to advise, consult or assist in any formal capacity on personnel, welfare or family historical issues relating to current or deceased military personnel.

Can you help me get a flight on a Lancaster bomber?

No. This is not an official website. The remaining Lancaster are operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre.

It is possible to book taxi rides on the Lancaster bomber at East Kirkby.

Can I arrange for a fly-past for my school/ village/ re-union/ birthday/ wedding/ parade?

Please contact the Royal Air Force directly! As a private website we cannot assist you in planning for a fly-past. You should contact the local stations directly and see what they have planned for that day; Scampton for the Red Arrows and Coningsby for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Please read the below before you do:

"the Red Arrows team flies quite a few straight flypasts at fetes, garden shows, sponsored events, etc when they can be fitted in whilst in transit to or from a full display and when there is no significant deviation from the planned course. We are not permitted to carry out flypast for personal occasions such as weddings and funerals. Sometimes we do so inadvertently but these are never planned."
Red Arrows website FAQs: click here

How can I help the website develop further?

Please send us any historical anecdotes, photographs, or corrections to our content via the contact form. The site is professionally hosted on low down-time servers which cost money to maintain. You might want to contribute even as little as 20p to this site overhead.

On this page: