Lincolnshire is rich in aviation history. The county is known as Bomber County because of the role its airbases played in WWII
www.visitlincolnshire.com/aviation
has the most extensive information, news, events about Aviation in Lincolnshire. Please visit the site to plan your visits to all the local REF bases, churchyards, memorials and museums.
If you are looking for accommodation whist you are exploring Lincolnshire there are some wonderful self catering cottage just a few minutes drive from Donnanook, (35 mins from Woodhall Spa). www.cleethorpesholidays.co.uk
Donnanook
Initially Donna Nook was used as a bombing range and relief landing ground for squadrons at Armament Practice Camp at North Coates from 1927.
Donna Nook closed in 1945 but reopened as a NATO bombing range and is still in regular use. It had also served as a prisoner of war camp. It is now known as the Donna Nook / East Coast bombing range
RAF Donna Nook was the first National Nature Reserve on Ministry of Defence land in the UK, formally opened in Jul 2002 and is home to the migrating North Sea Grey Seal Colony during the winter months, attracting thousands of visitors.
A few buildings and a section of perimeter track / runway are all that survive of the former RAF Donna Nook. The name lives on in the "new" RAF Donna Nook which uses the adjacent sandflats as a NATO air weapons range.
Contact Donna Nook on 01507 358716
Binbrook and Brookenby
RAF Binbrook opened in early 1940, base to 142 sqn, with 12 sqn from Finningley in early July 1940.
After WWII Binbrook hosted the Canberra, the RAF's first jet bomber and later transfered to Figher Command in 1960, hosting sqns flying the Gloucester Javelin and the the English Electric Lightning.
RAF Binbrook was home to the Electric Lightning which celebrated its 50th anniversary in Jul/Aug 04. A squadron was on 24-hour QRA (Alert) at RAF Binbrook for many years in the all-British built fighter when the Lightning was the mainstay of British air defence from 1962 to 1988.
Two organisations preserve the Lightning and its association with RAF Binbrook: the Leicestershire-based Lightning Preservation Group and the Binbrook-based Lightning Association.
Memorabilia can still be found at The Rothwell Arms which was a favourite watering hole of RAF pilots and personel.
Immediately after closing in 1988 the movie 'Memphis Belle' was fimed at Binbrook . Then the airfield became a relief landing ground for RAF Scampton.
460 Sqn RAAF is now commemorated in a memorial stone in Binbrook.
Woodhall Spa is a delightful Spa town with tree lined avenues and a host of little shops and teashops. The Cottage Museum tells the history of the 617 Squadon The Dam Busters and has memorabilia from that amazing period of history.
SHOWS
Cleethorpes Festival of Flight was a FREE 2 day event held in June 2012 for the first time. The first of many we hope. It was the most amazing display of aerobatics Cleethorpes has ever seen. Top of the bill -The Red Arrows tearing up the sky with their red, white and blue trails ablazing. The Red Devils, helicopter aerobatics, and many more packed a 2 day itinary. The displays ctretched the full length of the promenade and beach allowing thousands of visitors to Cleethorpes a VIP view. Families brought picnics and sat on the beach, others brought their deckchairs and sat in the promenade gardens with fish and chilps. But all had the most fabulous time. As soon as a date for 2014 is issued we will add it to this page. NOT TO BE MISSED.
RAF Waddington Air Show is the RAFs biggest air show and is held in July each year. www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk
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Top 10 Aviation sites to visit in Lincolnshire
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre
RAF Coningsby
Dogdyke Road
Coningsby
LN4 4SY
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bbmf 01522 782040
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
East Kirkby Airfield
East Kirkby
Spilsby
PE234DE
01790 763207
Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre
Heath Farm
North Rauceby
Sleaford
Lincs
NG34 8QR
www.heartoflincs.com 01529 488490
RAF Digby OPS Museum
RAF Digby
Metheringham
LN4 3LH
www.airops.freeserve.co.uk 01526 327619
Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre
RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection
The Old Control Tower
Wickenby Airfield
Langworth
Lincoln
LN3 5AX
Contact email rafmm@hotmail.com
01673 885886
THE RED ARROWS
RAF Scampton Historical Museum
Lincoln
LN1 2TR
01522 683856/879137
Thorpe Camp Visitors Centre
Woodhall Spar Road
Tattershall
Thorpe
LN4 4PE
01526 342249
Grantham Museum
St Peters Hill
Grantham
DG31 6PY
01476 568783
RAF Waddington Historical Museum and Viewing Area
Lincoln
LN5 9BE
01529 414294 (Sleaford TIC)
Nato Aircraft Museum (visits by prior arrangement only)
Fen Lane,
Grainthorpe,
LN11 7JY.
01472 389394
LINCOLN CATHEDRAL
LN2 1PZ
holds the Bomber Commands Memorial Books. Over 25,000 names and also commenerative stained glass windows.