RAF_Sandtoft
RAF Sandtoft
Former Royal Air Force station in England
Royal Air Force Sandtoft or more simply RAF Sandtoft is a former Royal Air Force station in North Lincolnshire between Doncaster, South Yorkshire and Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England.[1]
| RAF Sandtoft | |
|---|---|
| Sandtoft, Lincolnshire in England | |
| Coordinates | 53.561°N 0.866°W / 53.561; -0.866 |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Controlled by | RAF Flying Training Command |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 (1943) |
| In use | 1943-1957 (1957) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War Cold War |
Second World War
RAF Sandtoft opened in February 1944 as a satellite airfield to RAF Lindholme which was 3 mi (5 km) to the west.[1]
No. 1 Group RAF, RAF Bomber Command based a number of aircraft here from the No. 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, including Handley Page Halifaxes from RAF Faldingworth and Avro Lancasters.[1]
In November 1944 the airfield transferred to No. 7 Group RAF Bomber Command.[2]
The RAF station closed on 10 November 1945.[2]
Post Second World War
After the Second World War, the airfield was placed on care and maintenance and remained inactive until allocated to the United States Air Force on 1 April 1953. The station was never occupied by the USAF and returned to Air Ministry control on 8 September 1955 for disposal.
Today many of the original buildings still exist. However, much of the old RAF Station has been converted to commercial use and a section of perimeter track is maintained and used by a flying club. The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft also uses part of the site.
Citations
- Halpenny 1981, p. 163
- Halpenny 1981, p. 165
Bibliography
- Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1981). Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1852604059.