RAF Swinderby Remembered

Cliff Steanson revisited his old airfield on it's 50th Anniversary OPEN DAY in August 1990 and thereafter became more than interested in how it had all began.

RAF Swinderby was located to the south of Swinderby village, adjacent to the A46. Although the airfield was opened shortly after the outbreak of WWII, it was unfinished and still grass surfaced. Originally it was intended to have ‘C’ Type hangars but due to austerity measures introduced, Swinderby was provided with three ‘J’ Type hangars. The technical and living accommodation followed the expansion pattern, being grouped together east of the airfield, bisected by a public road.

Swinderby was allocated to 1 Group and in August 1940, No.300 (Mazowiecki) Squadron and 301 (Pomorski) Squadrons arrived on the twenty-second and twenty-ninth respectively. Equipped with Battles, they converted to Wellingtons later that year. The two squadrons were the first Polish-manned in the RAF and stayed at Swinderby until 18th July 1941, when they moved to Hemswell, in 1 Group. Swinderby transferred to 5 Group and on 20th July 1949, No.50 Squadron equipped with Hampdens, arrived from Lindholme, South Yorkshire. The squadron operated from Swinderby until 26th November, when the deteriorating state of the grass forced a move to Skellingthorpe, allowing the construction of concrete runways.

On 6th June 1941, No.455 Squadron RAAF was formed at Swinderby but it was not until 1st September that’s its personnel arrived. The airfield was reopened in June 1942 after the three concrete runways were laid, although initially shorter than class ‘A’ standard, they were later extended. To the north of the technical site, in addition, three T2s were provided and aircraft dispersals were increased to 36. To expand the accommodation, three dispersed sites were constructed in the countryside towards Thurlby. On 29th June, No.50 Squadron, now equipped with Lancasters, returned to resume operation. They stayed at Swinderby until 16th October, when they returned to Skellingthorpe.

Following the departure of No.50 Squadron, Swinderby was selected as a training airfield, with 1660 HCU forming there. The station transferred to 7 (Training) Group in November 1944, and the HCU remained at the airfield into 1946. Swinderby was retained by the RAF and continued in its training role, until its closure in 1993. The airfield site was put up for sale in 1995 and today comprises housing and a business park.

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