RAF Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe, Newark Air Museum.
This is from a visit I did on 08 November 2005.

Newark Air Museum.

From their website.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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High wood was the early bomb store. Possibly the few photos of RAF Winthorpe that I took are really all that is left of the site. It has been systematically removed over the years for a show ground, roads and factories. Somebody at the museum told me that 'One day the control tower was standing and the next the road builders or farmer had pulled it down' and that was it.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Watch Office for Night Fighter Stations, 12096/41
September 1940 to February 1942, Satellite to Swinderby (then Syerston) with No. 300 and 301 Polish Squadrons with Fairey Battles and Vickers Wellingtons, then No. 455 Squadron Handley Page Hampdens.
1942, Closed for most of the year when it was rebuilt with concrete runways. After construction it was found that the main runway take-off was over a vital roller bearing factory.
October 1942 to August 1945, Again Satellite for Swinderby with No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit with Avro Manchesters and Lancasters, later Halifaxes and Stirlings, finally Lancasters.
August 1945 to July 1947, Transferred to Transport Command and used as a Drop Zone. Then used by No. 1331 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit with Halifaxes.
Transferred to Maintenance Command until closure. (Control Towers).

2 x T2 hangars.

1 x B1 repair shed's

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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The museum has tried to amend the developers. Although they have not managed to use any of the original buildings, they have brought in some old RAF hutting and merge them into the museum.
History: RAF Winthorpe opened in 1940 with No's 300 & 301 (Polish) squadrons RAF. They were based at RAF Swinderby and used Winthorpe as a satellite. No's 300 &301 (Polish) squadron were the first users.
Swinderby had a small satellite aerodrome called Winthorpe, just east of Newark. Half of No. 301 Squadron stationed there and buses, official and private cars, maintained communication between the two aerodromes. Bombers were housed near the Newark-Lincoln road.

No. 300 (Polish) squadrons RAF.

No. 301 (Polish) squadrons RAF.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Part of the old east west runway still being used by the gliding school, but for how long?
History: No's 300 and 301 (Polish) squadrons were equipped with Fairy Battles.

They flew bombing missions on northern France during the Dunkirk Battles.

Fairey Battle.

Fairey Battle.

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Frying Pan Dispersal
History: In October No. 301 (Polish) Squadron RAF re-equipped with Wellington's.

 

 

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Part of an Aircraft Dispersal
The whole museum site is built on a bomber dispersal, with several large frying pan concrete pads. The wooden hut looking in very good condition and used by the staff.
History : No. 455 Squadron arrived. The Squadron was equipped with Hampden bombers and commenced mine laying operations in French Coastal waters.

Cockpit.

Hampden bombers

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Avro Vulcan
Several of the last flying Vulcan's were flown out of service into museum airfields by the RAF.
History: 1942 closed for most of the year when it was rebuilt with concrete runways. After construction it was found that the main runway takeoff was over a vital roller bearing factory!
October 1942 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit arrived flying Manchester's, Halifax's, Sterling's and Lancaster's.

Avro Manchester.

Handley Page Halifax.

Short Sterling.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Vulcan XM594.

Quick Reaction Alert QRA.

Fast take off.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Bomb load.

Blue Steel.

Blue Steel.

Blue Steel.

Bombs,

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Two interesting Meteors one early and one later type which was used as a night fighter with its very own nose.
History : August 1945 to July 1947 it was transferred to Transport Command and used as a Drop Zone, then 1331 Heavy Transport Conversion Unit arrived with Halifax's

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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One of if not the best post war jet bomber of its time English Electric Canberra..

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Sea Vixen was the backbone of the Fleet Air Arm for many years.

Inset : the navigator sat behind of the pilot with a small window to the side and a roof light above.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Avro Shackleton looking splendid four Rolls-Royce Griffon's and two Vipers.

Bomb aimers compartment.

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Viper.

Viper in the rear of the engine compartment.

They used to carry two 20mm cannons in the nose.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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This model is a training model and not transport, note the radar dome & the bomb aimer's window under the nose. An old favorite of mine, I can remember several Handley Page Hastings and a couple of Beverly's making a parachute drop over RAF Netheravon.

Beverley.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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English Electric Lightning still I think was the fastest operational fighter with fantastic acceleration and an equal fuel consumption.
Blackburn Buccaneer the unsung hero of the British military scene. The RAF discarded it. The Navy took it on, where its role became a major part of our maritime defence. Then the aircraft carriers were scrapped and the Air force managed to find a small role. Along comes Gulf War 1 and literally out of mothballs the Buccaneer is a Hero again.

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Old tyre, newer undercarriage and a Stanton Shelter

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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The engine shed is in an old Nissan hut that has been rebuilt here and now houses many jet and piston engines.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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The Avro Anson probably with the Airspeed Oxford were the backbone of the RAF's Training Command, although early in the war it was used by Coastal Command in the antisubmarine role

 

 

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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FZG - 76
VERGELTUNGSWAFFE
1. (v1).
The first prototype was built by the Fieselerwerke GmbH. Under the designation Fi103. Piloted versions were test flown before service use, one such pilot being the famous woman flier Hanna Reitch. The production version differed in that it carried about 1870lbs of high explosive in the nose and 150galls. of fuel, which was used at the rate of 1 gall. per mile. First used operationally in mid June 1944. Launched from a ramp by compressed air (steam) the 600lb thrust Argus As 014 pulse jet accelerated the bomb to a typical speed of 360mph. at 2500ft.
Length: 25ft. 4ins.
Span: 16ft.
Weight: 4750lbs

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Lancaster remains, mostly turrets.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Link trainer every airfield would have had at least one.

 

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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Air photo in the museum showing the layout.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe plan, I have tried to take out as much of the reflection on the glass panel.

Now you must go and visit Newark Air Museum 

On this map can be seen:
RAF Winthorpe.
RAF Fulbeck.
RAF Balderton.
RAF Syerston.
RAF Tollerton.
RAF Orston.
RAF Langar.
RAF Grantham.
RAF Barkston Heath.
Also in the area was:
RAF Ossington.
RAF Waddington.
RAF Coleby Grange
RAF Digby.
RAF Wellingore.
RAF Cranwell.
RAF Harlaxton.
RAF Newton.

RAF Winthorpe

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RAF Winthorpe

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© 2013 Richard Drew