RAF Hibaldstow
RAF Hibaldstow, near Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire, was built with greater things in mind, but it only became a satellite airfield for RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in 1941.[1] When the runways were constructed, some of the hardcore was made from material taken from demolished bungalows on the site.
History
The airfield was commissioned on 12 May 1941 when No. 255 Squadron took up residence with their Defiant night fighters. These planes had been drawn from RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey and made one 'kill': an He 111 which was shot down near Louth on 5 June 1941.
In June 1941 the Defiants were replaced by Beaufighter IIs and on 23 September 1941 No. 253 (Hyderabad) Squadron from Skeabrea, Orkney, arrived.[2] In addition Havocs from Hunsdon Airfield in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire also came to the base.
By the start of 1943, the low risk of night attacks by the Luftwaffe led to the closure of the airbase (23 January 1943). The airbase re-opened on 9 May 1943 for No. 53 OTU and once again closed on 15 May 1945.[2] Shortly before closure WAAF Margaret Horton had an 'unexpected ride on the tail of a Spitfire' while acting as a tailweight: she was sitting on the tail of the plane, as was common practice, in order to stop it overturning while it taxied to the end of the runway, a hazard stemming from design drawbacks, strong wind and bouncy grassfield. The pilot, anxious to be airborne, forgot about her and failed to stop to allow the WAAF to jump off the tail. As soon as the plane was in the air, the pilot realised that there was something very wrong with the handling of his aircraft. He radioed the control tower to report the problem. The emergency services were called out and the pilot talked back in without being told what had happened. The aircraft landed safely with Margaret Horton still in one piece.[3]
On 6 August 1947 the station finally closed and during 1960-61 it was sold off for use as agricultural land. It was also used for Sunday markets, as a skid-pan by Lincolnshire Police and by a local parachute club. The control tower was converted to a two-storey house in 1976.
Hibaldstow Airfield Now
The airfield was taken over in 1992 as a parachute centre and has run skydiving courses there continuously since this period. As one of the biggest civilian dropzones, they have become a regular host to the British National Championships.
An Army cadet named Stephen Hilder fell 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) to his death at Hibaldstow airfield in July 2003, after the risers on parachutes had been cut.
See also
References
- ^ Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2 - Page 109
- ^ a b Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2 - Page 110
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/75/a2742275.shtml BBC - WW2 People's War - A W.A.A.F. at R.A.F. Kirton Lindsey 1944 by Mary Blood (Nee Pettit)
Main reference
- Bruce Barrymore Halpenny Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2 (ISBN 978-0850594843)