RAF Swinderby
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RAF Swinderby opened in 1940 and was one of the last stations completed under the RAF's expansion plans started in the 1930s.
Under the command of Number 1 Group. RAF Swinderby came under the auspices of RAF Bomber Command and housed numbers 300 and 301 squadrons. Mainly Polish manned initially flying the Fairey Battle.
Later squadrons would use such diverse aircraft as the Handley Page Hampden, the Vickers Wellington, Avro Manchester and finally Avro Lancasters Bombers.
The two Polish squadrons continued to operate from RAF Swinderby until July 1941 at which time the station had been passed to No. 5 Group in a general re-allocation of airfields in Bomber Command.
No. 50 Squadron was moved in from Lindholme, resuming operations with its Hampdens on July 20. But personnel and equipment for No. 455 Squadron (an RAAF unit which was being re-established in the UK to fly Hampdens) were so long in arriving that its first raid - a single sortie - did not take place until August 29/30.
The runways where finally completed in 1941.
Swinderby was then selected to become an Operational Training Station for No. 5 Group. With the formation of No.1660 Heavy Conversion Unit using Manchesters and Lancasters. However a shortage of Lancasters in the autumn of 1943 caused most to be withdrawn from the HCU and Stirlings were employed instead until the postion improved.
It was replaced at Swinderby by No. 17 OTU - initially with Wellingtons - later redesignated No. 201 Advanced Flying School being joined by No. 204 AFS using Mosquitos.
In following years, RAF Swinderby remained a Flying Training Establishment until March 1964.
In 1964 Swinderby embraced a new role, that of recruit training. A flying unit was added to the ground school in 1979 for the express purpose of prospective pilot assessment.
For over 30 years the station was the RAF's major establishment for recruit assessment and basic training. The airfield remained open for flying visitors but this activity ceased in the early 1990s. The 629 acres were put up for sale in 1995 with permission to develop the site for new homes and a business park.
Despite half the base being used for industrial purposes virtually all of the original buildings remain. a very unique site and worth seeing.
