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RAF Waddington

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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: 1 Oct 13

Opened: Nov 1916

Closed: 1919

Reopened: Oct 1926; rebuilt 1936; closed for runway construction May 1943

1953-55 no flying squadrons during relaying / reconstruction to modern heavy aircraft standard.

Closed: still an active RAF station

Airfield code :: WD > WA

ICAO Code :: MWXW > EGXW

Airfield call sign :: SLANGWORD, JETTY (1941)

Squadrons based here:

503 Sqn :: formed here Oct 1926 - Oct 1938

50 Sqn :: May 1937 - Jul 1940; Jan 1946 -

110 Sqn :: May 1937 - May 1939

88 Sqn :: Jun 1937 - Jul 1937

44 Sqn :: Jun 1937 - May 1943; Aug 1960 - Dec 1982

142 Sqn :: ?? - Jul 1940

9 Conversion Flt :: 8 Aug 1942 - 7 Oct 1942
44 Conversion Flt :: 1 Jan 1942 - 7 Oct 1942
combined to form 1661 HCU at RAF Skellingthorpe

207 Sqn :: Nov 1940 - Nov 1941

97 Sqn :: - Mar 1941

420 Sqn RCAF :: Dec 1941 - Aug 1942

420 Conversion Flight :: 16 May 1942 -

9 Sqn :: Aug 1942 - May 1943

463 Sqn RAAF :: Nov 1943 - Jul 1945

467 Sqn RAAF :: 12 Nov 1943 - 16 Jun 1945

617 Sqn :: Jun 1945 - Jan 1946

61 Sqn :: Jan 1946 - 1953

12 Sqn :: Jul 1946 - 1953

57 Sqn :: 1946 - 1953

100 Sqn :: 1951

21 Sqn :: 1955 - 1957

27 Sqn :: 1955 - 1957

83 Sqn :: May 1957 - ??

101 Sqn :: 1961 - 1982

8 Sqn :: - present

23 Sqn :: - 2 Oct 2009

51 Sqn :: - present

5(AC) Sqn :: - present

92(R) Sqn ::

54(R) Sqn ::

56(R) Sqn ::

230 OCU ::

13 Sqn :: Nov 2012 -

RAF Waddington opened to flying units of the Royal Flying Corps in 1916. No 27 Training Wing was succeeded by No 48 Training Depot Station in July 1918. It closed after the Great War in 1919 but was reopened in October 1926 as a training base. It was subsequently rebuilt and extended in 1936, coming under Bomber Command and 5 Gp in 1937 once works were complete. These works included construction of new C-type hangars 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron was the first to move in. Nearby Gautby served as a decoy K and Q site for Waddington during the war, with an additional Q site at Potterhanworth.

Waddington was the first station to receive the Avro Manchester heavy bomber in Nov 1940, with 207 Sqn reforming specifically for this task. The type's first operational use came on 24 Feb 1941 when 6 of the aircraft attacked Brest docks.

RAF Waddington was to lose more bomber aircraft on operations than any other Bomber Command station. Of a total 345 losses, 103 were Hampden, 15 were Manchester and 227 Lancaster.

In the early days of the Cold War, USAF bomber squadrons operated B-29 Superfortresses from RAF Waddington, alongside Scampton. In ?Jul 1946 when RAF the B-29 Stratofortresses of US Strategic Air Command arrived.

From the summer of 1953 until 1955 there were no flying squadrons present during relaying / reconstruction of the runway and support structures to cope with to modern very heavy aircraft operations.

In May 1957 Waddington became a Vulcan bomber base, hosting the first front-line squadron equipped with the type, 83 Sqn. This was joined in Aug 1960 by a re-formed 44 Sqn and over the years by a further 3 Vulcan sqns including 101 Sqn.

51 Sqn's NIMROD R1 departed for the last time in Jun 2011 and is due to be replaced in 2014 by the RC-135 RIVET JOINT.

The Viking Way long-distance footpath passes through Waddington village, 500 m west of the active station.

Airfield aerial photo of RAF Waddington from Multimap.com

On the permanent pre-war base of Waddington, near Lincoln, a new Australian squadron, 463, was being formed from “C” Flight of 467 Squadron, RAAF. Alex had the opportunity to transfer us over to the new squadron, and happily for all of us he took it. We packed up our gear and took transport over to Waddington, and warm barrack-blocks with a fine Sergeants’ Mess building a few steps away. Our new location was within walking distance of three good pubs, a fish and chip shop, a bakery and only about three miles from Lincoln town. Our first “task” after we got settled in our new quarters was to go on leave again — another six weeks had passed. - read a detailed personal history of life on 463 Sqn at Waddington, and on ops, by JA Campbell.