RAF Coningsby
Image courtesy of Stewart Jack
RAF Coningsby sits within the Lincolnshire Fens and owes its origins to the pre-WWII RAF expansion scheme. Construction of the site began in late 1937, proceeding slowly as the Air Ministry requirements evolved.
RAF Coningsby airfield in the 1940s
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Eventually, they led to a bomber station comprising a grass landing ground with two of the new, largely prefabricated metal Errol ‘J’ Type hangars prescribed for third-generation permanent stations. Technical and domestic buildings, many flat-roofed, were generally small and built to a lower specification than previously.
Although the station, as part of 5 Group Bomber Command, opened on 4th November 1940, it was not until 23rd February 1941 that 106 Squadron equipped with Handley Page Hampdens arrived.
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Four of these aircraft undertook the station’s first mission on 1st – 2nd March,, attacking Cologne. On 10th March, 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron arrived, from RAF Waddington, with their Avro Manchesters.
An Avro Manchester similar to the ones operated by 97 Squadron
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Although they began bombing raids on 8th April, the type’s troublesome Rolls-Royce Vulture engines plagued the aircraft, and many losses ensued. 97 Squadron reverted to using Hampdens in July and August. In January 1942, 97 Squadron began trading their Manchesters for the vastly superior Avro Lancaster.
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Barely had the changes become effective when, on 2nd March, 97 Squadron transferred to nearby Woodhall Spa. Coningsby aircraft flew in the famous ‘Thousand Bomber’ raid on Cologne in May 1942, but from September 1942 to August 1943, offensive activities ceased while hard runways were laid.
Miscellaneous units based at Coningsby during this period included 1485 TTF formed on 30th October 1941 with Westland Lysanders.
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It became No 5 Group TTF on 7th January 1942 before leaving on 1st August 1942, by which time it was assigned Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and Vickers Wellingtons in addition to the Lysanders. No 1514 BAT Flight was also present from 22nd September 1941 until 2nd January 1944.
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In August 1943, 617 Squadron arrived from Scampton under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson.
Gibson was posted on temporary duty to Canada in early August and by the time 617 Squadron moved on 30th August, Sqn Ldr G. W. Holden DSO, DFC* MID was in command.
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The unit was soon putting their special skills into action, and on 15 – 16th September, they attacked the Dortmund-Ems canal using the Tallboy 12,000 lb high-capacity bomb, but at a high price with just three Lancasters returning from the eight dispatched. Among those lost was Sqn Ldr Holden , who had taken over command from Gibson. In January 1944, 617 Squadron moved to the satellite airfield at Woodhall Spa and transferring over in the opposite direction was 619 Squadron. On 12th January 61 Squadron arrived from Skellingthorpe with their Lancasters,
Both units took part in many major raids on enemy targets before they both departed in April 1944. No 61 Squadron went back to Skellingthorpe and 619 Squadron to Dunholme Lodge
Their move made space for a special 5 Group Target Marker force. On D-Day, 6th June 1944, 83 and 97 Squadrons were operating Lancaster Mk I/IIIs in this role.
The Marker Force crews achieved outstanding results and contributed significantly to the night bombing successes during the last fifteen months of the war in Europe. Coningsby’s last operational sorties were flown on 25th April 1945 against an oil refinery at Tonsberg in Norway.
After hostilities, 83 and 97 Squadrons remained at Coningsby, transferring to 1 Group after 5 Group’s disbandment on 15th December 1945. During July 1946, both units converted to the Avro Lincoln and, in November, relocated to Hemswell.
They were replaced by de Havilland Mosquitoes of 109 and 139 Squadrons, for whom crews were supplied by 231 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), newly formed at Coningsby, on 15th March 1947. No 231 OCU later absorbed 237 OCU which trained PR Mosquito crews. In September and July, respectively, Mosquito B.35s replaced the B.16s in 109 and 139 Squadrons
Mosquito B35s seen here at Hemswell
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Although based at Coningsby until the end of March 1950, both squadrons were frequently detached overseas.
In 1950, Boeing B-29 Washington bombers started to arrive at Coningsby
The B-29 Washington, was the largest aircraft that the RAF had operated to date, with a wingspan of over 140 feet, and a cruising speed of over 200 miles an hour, and a service ceiling of over over 30,000 feet. Also of note, the B-29 was only in service with the RAF for four years, until the English Electric Canberra came into service
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In the next two years,15, 44, 57 and 149 Squadrons were operating thirty-two of these B29 aircraft from RAF Coningsby.
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The Jet age at Coningsby
The introduction of the English Electric Canberra
A 149 Squadron Canberra
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149 Squadron became the first Squadron to re-equip with the Canberra B2 in March 1953.
The B29 was a noisy aircraft, but the Canberra with its two Avon Jet engines brought the local villages to life very quickly.
A 44 Squadron Canberra
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44 Squadron started receiving their Canberras in April 1953, followed by 15 and 57 Squadrons in May
A 40 Squadron Canberra
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Finally, 40 Squadron became operational with their own Canberras, in 1953
In due course 15 and 57 Squadrons moved to Cottesmore and 40 Squadron moved to Wittering
This left Coningsby empty of aircraft, ready for the runway upgrades.
With the work finished, Coningsby became a Canberra station once again, after a while several Squadrons of Canberras arrived, namely, 9, 12 and 57 Squadrons.
A 9 Squadron Canberra
A 12 Squadron Canberra
A 57 Squadron Canberra
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The Vulcan Era at Coningsby
After the Canberra Squadrons disbanded it was not long before Coningsby became a V-Bomber base.
In early 1962, 9 Squadron reformed with the Vulcan B2 and soon after were joined by 12 and 35 Squadrons
A 35 Squadron Vulcan
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The Vulcans were not to stay at Coningsby for long, all departing to RAF Cottesmore in November 1962, bringing to an end Coningsby’s long association with bombers.
