This weekend I was in Lincolnshire on family business, while there, I tracked down some of the airbases and airfields that are dotted about the area. First stop was RAF East Kirkby which was home to 57 and 630 squadrons. The airfield is now privately owned and is open to the public as a museum, they have a non flying Lancaster (NX611-'Just Jane') which takes visitors on taxi runs, for the not so cheap price of £250, although it would be an unforgettable experience...I'm already saving up! Unfortunately the place was closed when I was there, but I did get a few photos through the perimeter fence. The memorial at the entrance The control tower and surrounding buildings I also came across this Nissen hut on the outskirts of East Kirkby village
RAF Coningsby was the next stop, this is still an operational base and is also home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. As we parked the car and got out, a Spitfire(PS915-Mk PRXIX) and Hurricane(LF363-Mk IIc) from the BBMF flew overhead and landed at the base. This then gave me-and countless others who were there-the chance to get some photos before the aircraft were put in to their hangar. The Lancaster from the flight was also due to land 45 minutes later, but due to time constraints, I couldn't 'hang around' to see it... Spitfire 'The Last!' Hurricane I just wish I'd had my camera at the ready when they flew over...
Great photos John! I love that spitfire! The control tower looks like the one I saw in another thread, that must have been a standard design? Anyway, thanks for sharing John!!
Although the Nissen hut and surrounding buildings were on the other side of the village from the airfield, it is possible they were once part of the base. My first thought was the huts were moved to their present location after the war, but then I began to think they may have been off-base offices or accomodation or even workshops? I think we need Martins input on this notion? I would have liked a closer look, but they now reside in someones back garden!
Lincolnshire is literally teeming with old airfields, I just wish I had more time to explore more of them when I was there.... RAF-lincolnshire.info :: the home of Royal Air Force and airfield history in Lincolnshire
Can anyone identify this aircraft that I spotted sitting in a hangar at Coningsby? Apologies for the quality of the photo, but I had to use my cameras digital zoom to get a close enough pic. A Douglas Dauntless maybe ???
I'm really bad at recognizing trainers - is it a Harvard ? The BBMF use Chipmunks for conversion training, but it isn't one of those.... It's well worth visiting East Kirkby when they are hosting one of their Lancaster NX611 taxi-runs. Very memorable indeed and worth taking a day off work to see.....
There were actually two Chipmunks in the same hangar, both appeared to be undergoing maintainance as they had their engine cowlings and other various panels removed. There are a number of taxi run days scheduled for this month at East Kirkby, I wonder if my boss will give me a day off...
You're entirely welcome, JP. They are the only warbird that is abundant here in the states. They are invariably used to play the part of Axis airplanes in airshows etc. If memory serves, the USN called them SNJ.
