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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: 7 Oct 13
Radar was developed at Orford Ness amidst high security. By 1939 Chain Home coverage stretched from the Isle of Wight to the Scottish border at Berwick.
Chain Home was the name given to a network (chain) of early coastal radar stations. Although rudimentary in capabilities when compared with today's modern 3D systems, Chain Home was the only early warning radar network in operation when created. The stations were set up at roughly 50 mile intervals along the coast on high ground and provided early warning of enemy aircraft at up to 100 miles. System limitations at low altitude meant that an additional system, Chain Home Low, was developed. This was present at RAF Humberston and, in a variant known as COL, at RAF Skendleby.
Chain Home provided Fighter Command with the early warning it required of enemy fighter or bomber aircraft approaching the British coastline. Chain Home provided a key capability which allowed the development of Ground Controlled Intercept and aided the RAF to win the Battle of Britain.
After 1945 Chain Home was largely withdrawn from operation and put on care and maintenance. This was due to national power shortages and left only the GCI stations remained active and even these generally in daylight hours. However the chain was reactivated approximately twice monthly for Bomber Command's so-called Bullseye exercises. During a Bullseyes large formations of bomber aircraft were detailed to fly south from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire bases to the coast and then out across the North Sea towards the Netherlands. GCI was then tasked to direct fighter aircraft onto the bombers in a rear hemisphere intercept (ie from behind).
In the post-war era, Britain's air defences continued to rely upon the Chain Home (CH) radar system for air defence. Later more advanced systems such as ROTOR took Chain Home's place - ROTOR called on Langtoft and Skendleby for GCI and Stenigot as a Chain Home site.
Lincolnshire sites associated with Chain Home include RAF Stenigot, RAF Skendleby, RAF Ingoldmels and RAF Humberston.
- Stenigot
overview
- Chain
Home and Ace High at Stenigot
-
photos of RAF Stenigot Page
1 :: Page
2 :: Training
Chain Home explained on RadarPages.co.uk
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