 |
|
|
Home
RAF
Stations & Bases
Full list of locations
Squadrons and Units
A brief history
Aircraft
types
Forum and Bulletin Boards
Photographs
Memorials
Sqn & Stn Associations
Museums
Maps
Books
Search site
Links
Sitemap
Abbreviations
People
Finder
Family history & research
About the site
FAQs
Contact
us
> RAF Bases
Interactive map
Full list of locations
on site
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 Kirkby
Elsham Wolds
Faldingworth
Fiskerton
Folkingham
Freiston
Fulbeck
Gosberton
Goxhill
Grantham
Great Limber
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
Metheringham
Moorby
Morton Hall
New Holland
Nocton Hall
North Coates
North Killingholme
North Witham
Norton Disney
Orby
Rauceby
Saltby
Sandtoft
Scampton
Scopwick
Sibsey
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: 15 Feb 05
Opened: Aug 1914
To US Navy control: 20 Jul 1918
To British control: 6 Jan 1919
Closed: Oct 1919
Airfield code: X0KG
Squadrons based here:
228 Sqn :: Jan 1919 - Jun 1919
404 Flt, 248 Sqn :: > Aug 1918 - < 1 Dec 1918
249 Sqn :: - Oct 1919
Aircraft operated here:
In 1914 aircraft operated included the German biplane DFW (soon withdrawn due to obvious identification problems), Sopwith Spinning, Sopwith Jenny, Sopwith Schneider, Sopwith Baby, Shorts 827 and White & Thompson Bognor Bloater.
Aircraft operated during 1916 included Short float seaplanes for maritime patrols and Sopwith Scout for Zeppelin interception. Sopwith Baby were also present. A converted paddle steamer seaplane carrier, pressed into service as HMS Killingholme, was also based here.
In 1917 the Curtis H4 Small America flying boat arrived. It was followed by the H12 Large America.
In Sep 1918 sorties were flown by Avro E4133, F2A, F2C, H-16, H-12 and Shorts ac.
Other aircraft included the Short 184 (Maori III), Short 320 and Felixstowe F2, a Small America with a redesigned hull.
NAS Killingholme was sited on the Humber Estuary. It was established as Naval Air Station operated by the Royal Navy by Aug 1914 although hutted accommodation and a metalled road were not established until Dec 1914. During the early stages of the Great War it was a seaplane station; at the height of the war 46 seaplanes operated from NAS Killingholme. It took over from an earlier Naval Air Station which had been set up at the outbreak of war at Skegness. Naval Air Stations 14 and 15 were based at Killingholme.
NAS Killingholme's first operational sortie was generated on 21 Aug 1914, a routine patrol. Local Zeppelin raids from Sep 1914 at Humberstone, Owmby and Gainsborough saw Killingholme-based planes pressed into intercept duties.
Although NAS Killingholme was principally a large operational seaplane station with patrol duties to protect local oil installations, nearby ports and repell Zeppelin attacks it also served as a seaplane pilot training centre and had limited numbers of shore-based aircraft. Amongst types operated was the Sopwith Baby as early as May 1916 for anti-Zeppelin and submarine patrol work in the North Sea. Killingholme was not ideally placed as a seaplane station due to the strong tide in the Humber estuary and the high tidal range which made for difficult slipway work. At this time there were 900 servicemen and occasionally in excess of 100 aircraft on station, making Killingholme one of the leading seaplane bases. To accommodate these aircraft the Station had a massive hardstanding.
Commanded by Cdr A Longmore from 15 Jun 1916, Killingholme became a UN Navy Base from Mar 1918 to operate as a USN Seaplane Station. On 20 Jul (possibly 30 May?) 1918 it was handed over to the command of the United States Navy under Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Whiting. The US Navy did not stay long beyond the end of the Great War and NAS Killingholme was handed back to the British in Jan 1919, closing in June.
404 Flt, 248 Sqn moved to RAF North Coates before Dec 1918 and re-rolled from seaplanes to DH6.
American naval aviators flew British Short sea-planes on maritime patrol from this Killingholme. They were also equipped with the Curtiss H-16, a twin-engine tractor biplane seaplane. The first two H-16 were shipped to Killingholme on 2 Apr 1918. Specific duties for the Americans included convoy protection in the North Sea, deterring German sweepers from disturbing mine fields in the approaches to the British coast, anti-submarine warfare and long-range reconnaissance.
In Nov 1918 the coastal flights of land planes (as opposed to seaplanes) of 18 Group were concentrated at RAF Killingholme. Several of these moved to RAF North Coates prior to disbandment in Jun 1919.
The USN handed Killingholme back to the Royal Air Force on 6 Jan 1919 and 228 Sqn moved in before its disbandment, followed by 249 Sqn. RAF Killingholme was closed on 6 Jun 1919. This is a separate station to the nearby RAF North Killingholme.
The Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Patrol Squadron Shore Establishments
Extract from "Killingholme Diary: US Naval Air Station Killingholme", Cross and Cockade
The US Air Forces in Lincolnshire
About USN Naval Aircraft factoriesBlackwells Bookshop
Motor Books (Aviation)
hosted by blu3web
N5246 W0017
