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
RAF Sandtoft is located in Lincolnshire
RAF Sandtoft
RAF Sandtoft
Shown within Lincolnshire
Coordinates53°33′40″N 0°51′58″W / 53.561°N 0.866°W / 53.561; -0.866
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Flying Training Command
Site history
Built1943 (1943)
In use1943-1957 (1957)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Cold War

History edit

Second World War edit

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 edit

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.

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Halpenny 1981, p. 163
  2. ^ a b Halpenny 1981, p. 165

Bibliography edit

  • Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1981). Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Vol. 2. ISBN 978-1852604059.

External links edit