Welcome to the raf elsham wolds association homepage. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of elsham wolds. Home to the most successful avro lancaster of all time ed888 m2 with 140 ops. Squadrons were part of groups and groups were part of a command. May 31, 2019 the book takes us from operational training, via wellington bombers, to squadron operations on lancasters at raf elsham wolds charlwood makes no pretentions to heroism, indeed he is unusually self effacing. It is located just to the north east of the village of elsham in north lincolnshire. Gordons operational duties begin at raf elsham wolds, lincolnshire, and no. Not much of the original airfield was left, just a single aircraft hangar, which looked like a very large nissen hut and was now painted white. An airmans recollections of raf elsham wolds during world war two. Raf elsham wold in the second world war 19391945 the. George the automatic pilot, the oxygen supply and compasses all of which were vital in.
On his return to the uk he is posted to raf lichfield, where disaster strikes as his wellington bomber comes down just short of the runway, killing the rear gunner. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The airfield was first established in december 1916, being the most northerly raf airfield between hull and lincoln. Royal air force station elsham wolds or more simply raf elsham wolds is a former royal air force. Raf elsham wolds brigg, north lincolnshire military. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. Elsham wolds airfields of britain conservation trust uk. Thus, bomber command comprised of several groups 1 group, 5 group and so on and 1 group comprised several squadrons 103 sqdn, 100 sqdn and so on. An airmans recollections of raf elsham wolds during world war two mawdsley, ted on. In july of 1941 raf elsham wolds came into practice and opened as a bomber airfield and 103 squadron were the first to move in here. Mr mawdsley produced an excellent insight into his life in the airfield which is very well written as one would expect from a gentleman of his calibre. There is also a small museum at the treatment works. We parted company sometime in the early summer of 1943 and it was a truly wonderful moment when bas and i met up again at the annual reunion of raf elsham wolds association and our previous comradeship picked up where it had left off way back then.
Some contemplated transit to the us or canada, others to set roots, mostly in scunthorpe. Elsham wolds was then home to no 21 hgcu of transport command who vacated the airfield in november 1946. Raf bomber command with hq at high wycombe was responsible for most light and medium, and all heavy, bomber units. Jimmy griffiths and he flew 30 missions from elsham wolds in ed 888ulm2 or mike squared, as she was affectionately called. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Not only do the crew deserve something better than a hole in the ground but so do the families. Elsham wolds raf museum unveils memorial to halifax crew.
The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 400. Raf elshan wolds memories on the wartime memories project. Information and photos for all my work on the 103 squadron, 576 squadron and raf elsham wolds airfield web sites have been drawn from a very long list of sources. I intend to carry on with this series of articles by firstly looking at the fate of just one single aircraft, an avro lancaster mk iii with the squadron letters pmi and the serial number jb745. Six royal canadian air force men and a 20yearold royal air force volunteer reserve rafvr were killed when the.
Aug 23, 2015 i have now written two articles about raf elsham wolds. The airbase began life during wwi when it was built to defend against zeppelin bombers. A former instrument basher remembers life on a bomber squadron in ww2. Mar 21, 2020 welcome to the raf elsham wolds association homepage. No 103 squadron operated from this airfield for the remainder of the war, using as time progressed vickers. Should you wish to leave a small donation towards the upkeep and ongoing running of the website, it is really appreciated. The project was a response to growing concern about britains recent defence heritage and about the rate at which many historically significant structures were succumbing to demolition or neglect. Jan 15, 2020 newsletter 59 all copies of the winter 2019 newsletter have been despatched, including transmittal of electronic copies by email. In 1941 the station reopened to become the home of 103 squadron bomber command and later 576 squadron. Raf elsham wolds was closed in 1947 and shortly afterwards dps displaced persons, poles and ukrainians started to squat in the buildings whilst working at the scunthorpe steelworks. Raf elsham wolds brigg, north lincolnshire military base. A former airmans experiences with 103 squadron at raf elsham wolds, linconshire 194243. Aug 19, 2015 in a previous article, i wrote of how i had visited the raf airbase where my dad, fred, had served during the second world war, raf elsham wolds in north lincolnshire.
Buy elsham wolds airfields by noel ryan ebook online at lulu. Part three i have now written two articles about raf elsham wolds. An airfield was first established at the location during world war 1 when the site was part of the fighter defence chain and home to c flight of 33 squadron. Raf elsham wolds is a former royal air force station located north east of elsham in north lincolnshire, england. A former instrument basher remembers life on a bomber squadron in ww2 by mawdsley, ted isbn. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. History it was opened on 16 may 1942 during the second world war and was home to vickers.
Raf elsham wolds is a former royal air force station in england, operating in both world war i and world war ii. Despite the fact that it was a period of bright moonlight and an earlier meteorological flight had warned that there would be no cloud cover for the bomber stream, conditions that normally would have ordered a cancellation of the mission, no such order was made. In a previous article, i wrote of how i had visited the raf airbase where my dad, fred, had served during the second world war, raf elsham wolds in north lincolnshire. Newsletter 59 all copies of the winter 2019 newsletter have been despatched, including transmittal of electronic copies by email. The mailing included a member survey, which should be returned by 31 january, and was completed around 10 days prior to christmas. Royal air force elsham wolds was situated on the lincolnshire wolds north of barnetbylewold in north lincolnshire. The impetus for project elsham wolds came from the flying photographic archive of my late uncle douglas william finlay raf, dfc and my research for the long march revisited project the team portrait of douglas, his crew and avro lancaster bomber type iii, jb152 and code pmh, has been displayed in every home i have lived in and published in various history books on raf.
The wartime memories project is run by volunteers and this website is funded by donations from our visitors. Elsham wold is a cold bleak site and the squadrons based there had many losses and accidents caused by ice and freezing fog. Royal air force faldingworth or more simply raf faldingworth is a former royal air force station used during and after the second world war. Former raf elsham wolds the wide expanse of grazing pasture on elsham wolds, lying some nine miles south of hull on the lincolnshire side of the humber, was first utilized as an airfield in 1916 when. Its very sad, and almost as though nobody gives a damn anymore. Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog the photos and videos you take with a cameraphone. I came upon the wartime memories project by chance and was so pleased to see my late husbands name. Nov 24, 2008 this flickr group was formed for photos relating to 103 sqdn and 576 sqdn and raf elsham wolds i have downloaded a selection of photos relating to the above and other contributions are most welcome. Raf wymeswold is a former royal air force station located 3.
Not much of the original airfield was left, just a single aircraft hangar, which looked like a. In the uk between 1939 and 1945, hundreds of airforce bases were hastily built to help house the vast numbers of. In the uk between 1939 and 1945, hundreds of airforce bases were hastily built to help house the vast numbers of military aircraft flying from britain to mainland europe. Aviation heritage lincolnshire tourism follow raf lincolnshire. At the time, bomber command pilots, of course, received the princely sum of. At elsham wolds, 103 squadron had the lowest losses in 1 group but they still lost 31 lancasters in the battle of berlin, with, perhaps, 217 men killed. Angel of death were taking a look at the haunted history of britains abandoned wwii airfields. A notable book concerning raf elsham wolds entitled an erks eye view of ww2 was written by the late ted mawdsley s who served at raf elsham wolds as ground crew. The garden is situated outside the memorial rooms, in front of the water treatment works, and is the site of the raf elsham wolds memorial and other plaques including one commemorating operation manna, which dropped food and other supplies over the netherlands in 1945. The airfield is situated between hoton, wymeswold and burton on the wolds, lying in the current district of charnwood. We help people distribute information and art spanning a wide range of subject matter while providing a safe, friendly. During its short history in ww1 and ww2 raf elsham wolds operated a variety of aircraft types. This volume examines the 20thcentury defence of britain as part of a series covering military archaeology in the united kingdom.
The haunted airfields of wwii britain hammer films. The site was first used by one of the used by a home defence squadron during world war i, against any air attack of north lincolnshire or humberside. Elsham wolds holds a great place in australian history and hearts. Cy, originally from british guiana, travelled to england to join the raf in 1941 and, after undergoing flying training and qualifying as a navigator, was posted in 1943 to no. It is situated 4 miles 6 km north from brigg, 1 mile 1. The royal air force, formed on april 1st 1918 from the royal flying corps and royal naval air service, was split into several main parts. Raf 103 squadron ww2 lancaster bomber cy grant history. This website is run entirely as a hobby and in my spare time, it is paid for out of my own pocket. The site was first used by one of the used by a home defence squadron during world war i, against any. The raf elsham wolds website has a comprehensive and fascinating collection approximately 40 aircrew biographies and stories from world war ii which put a fascinating human dimension on the history of the station and 103 sqn and 576 sqn. The luftwaffe night fighters numbering over 200, aided by a bright moon intercepted the bomber stream on the outward flight over france.
It was located close to the village of faldingworth in lincolnshire, england. Raf elsham wold in the second world war, the wartime memories project. Raf faldingworth wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclope. Elsham is a village and civil parish in north lincolnshire, england. Raf elsham wolds website, including photos of elsham wolds today. He was in every sense but one, the average bomber aircrewman. Lincolnshires haunted airfields weird history with. The last remaining hangar from raf elsham wolds, now in the middle of an industrial estate between the lincolnshire towns of scunthorpe and grimsby. Elsham wolds photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. However, it was not until june 1941 that elsham wolds opened as a heavy bomber station. The book takes us from operational training, via wellington bombers, to squadron operations on lancasters at raf elsham wolds charlwood makes no pretentions to heroism, indeed he is unusually self effacing. The author originally from british guiana, a qualified barrister who has also had a career as an entertainer had travelled to england to join the raf in 1941 and after undergoing flying training and qualifying as a navigator and earning an officers commission, was posted in 1943 to no.
The memorial was unveiled at elsham wolds raf museum on sunday. I have now written two articles about raf elsham wolds. Basil lowe died on 4 november 2014 and his friend ted mawdsley recalls that we first made acquaintance at raf elsham wolds in the winter of 19421943 in our capacity as instrument bashers and our job was to service the aircraft instruments. The impetus for project elsham wolds came from the flying photographic archive of my late uncle douglas william finlay raf, dfc and my research for the long march revisited project. The team portrait of douglas, his crew and avro lancaster bomber type iii, jb152 and code pmh, has been displayed in every home i have lived in and published in various history books on raf bomber command. An area just west of the first world war airfield of elsham may have been identified as a potential site for flying in the 1930s and was certainly approved for requisitioning on 19 june 1940. Royal air force station elsham wolds or more simply raf elsham wolds is a former royal air force station in england, which operated in the first world war and the second world war. Record details for george whitehead raf elsham wolds.