 |
| |
Home
RAF Stations & Bases
Full list of locations
Squadrons and Units
A brief history
Aircraft types
Photographs
Memorials
Crashes
Sqn & Stn Associations
Museums
Maps
Oral History
Books
Search site
Links
Sitemap
Abbreviations
People Finder
Family history & research
About the site
FAQs
Contact us
Copyright
Updates
#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: 23 Sep 10
Opened: Aug 1941
Closed: 1955 last military employment
Squadrons based here:
14 OTU :: - Nov 1944
USAAF airfield from 1944-1945
314th Troop Carrier Group :: Feb 1944 -
1665 HCU :: Mar 1945 -
Airfield code: SY
RAF Saltby's eastern end pushes it across the border into Lincolnshire by a few hundred metres. It was orignally built and opened as a grass airfield in 1941. In 1944 it was transformed into a standard-pattern 3-runway airfield with along with 4 T2 and one B1 hangar. Other buildings were located north of the airfield.
Towards the end of the war it became a USAAF base of the 9th AF and 314th Troop Carrier Grp moved in in Feb 1944. RAF Saltby was also a Troop Carrier airfield of the 82nd. The 82nd's Lincolnshire airfields were RAF Fulbeck, RAF Folkingham, RAF Barkston Heath and RAF Saltby.
Saltby is now used by Buckminster Gliding Club.
The Viking Way long-distance footpath follows the most north-eastern corner of the peritrack around the end of the runway.
J A Campbell recalls the phlegmatic reaction of farm workers to one of his first training sorties on the Wellington 1C from Saltby:
"Our first flying in our training aircraft, Wellington 1Cs, was done from a satellite of Cottesmore, a small station called RAF Saltby. Here we did some camera gun exercises and a lot of air firing. When returning from an air-firing session over the Wash one day, our pilots decided to give us a low-flying thrill over the Lincolnshire potato fields. These staff pilots liked to do something occasionally, as their job was a bit boring for them. They really took our two Wellingtons down to the deck, and below fifty feet. There were workers in the fields taking out early potatoes, and a few of them started throwing spuds at us. I actually saw one potato come up a bit higher than we were flying at the time."
Read more in "The airborne years", a complete 131 page book covering J A Campbell's training in Canada and the UK. His memoirs span 14 OTU at RAF Cottesmore, RAF Saltby, 1654 HCU at RAF Wigsley, training at RAF Fulbeck and then operations on 61 Sqn RAF from RAF Syerston and 463 Sqn RAAF from RAF Waddington. Download or read the entire book free of charge.
aerial photo of RAF Saltby
The US Air Forces in Lincolnshire
Flight Sim oblique shot of RAF Saltby
Aviation
Heritage Lincolnshire
(Tourism)
Follow RAF Lincolnshire:
powered by blueconsultancy
