Donna Nook Air Weapons Range
{{Short description|Military range in Lincolnshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Donna Nook Air Weapons Range
| ensign =
| ensign_size =
| native_name =
| partof =
| location =
| nearest_town = North Somercotes, Lincolnshire
| country = England
| image = RAF Donna Nook aerial 2014 - geograph.org.uk - 3883861.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Aerial view of Donna Nook AWR during 2014
| image2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type = Air weapons range
| coordinates = {{Coord|53|28|29|N|000|09|07|E|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| image_map =
| image_mapsize =
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Lincolnshire
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Lincolnshire
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = Donna Nook AWR
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mark =
| pushpin_marksize =
| ownership = Ministry of Defence
| operator = Defence Infrastructure Organisation
| controlledby = Defence Training Estate
| open_to_public =
| site_other_label =
| site_other =
| site_area =
| code =
| built = {{Start date|1936}} (as RAF Donna Nook)
| used = 1936 – present
| builder =
| materials =
| height =
| length =
| fate =
| condition = Operational
| battles =
| events =
| current_commander =
| past_commanders =
| garrison =
| occupants =
| designations =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Donna Nook Air Weapons Range is a Ministry of Defence air weapons range in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. The range, as well as a now defunct airfield and radar station, were previously operated by the Royal Air Force and known as RAF Donna Nook.
History
File:RAF Donna Nook.jpg used by Donna Nook whilst an RAF station]]
Donna Nook has been in continual military use since the First World War and was established as a protection point from Zeppelin airships trying to enter the Humber area.{{cite journal|last1=Owen|first1=Moira|title=Donna Nook gets the seal of approval|journal=Sanctuary|date=2012|issue=41|pages=20–21|publisher=Ministry of Defence|issn=0959-4132}}
= Second World War =
A minor airfield was operational from 1936 and used as a decoy up until 1945. The airfield was home to No. 206 Squadron RAF from August 1941 to July 1942. It also acted as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF North Coates.{{PastScape|num=1393840|desc=RAF Donna Nook|accessdate=17 May 2016}}
However, during the Second World War, RAF Donna Nook referred to a Chain Home Extremely Low (CHEL) radar station, sited a short distance away from the current establishment. This utilized a 10-cm radar set to track both low-flying intruders and German E-boats cruising offshore, and was operational in this role from 1943 to 1945. From evidence in his authorized biography it appears that it was to RAF Donna Nook that the young Sir Arthur C. Clarke was posted in 1943, shortly after an interview with Wing Commander (later Sir) Edward Jefferson, RAF, who was subsequently Director of Telecommunications for the General Post Office.{{cite book|title=Odyssey: The Authorized Biography of Arthur C. Clarke|first=Neil |last=McAleer|publisher=Gollancz|year=1992|isbn=978-0575054486}}
=Bombing range=
File:Donna Nook bombing range.jpgThe bombing range first opened up in 1926{{cite news|title=Bombing range on Humberside, Donna Nook depot|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19260929/213/0009|accessdate=16 June 2016|work=Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer|date=29 September 1926|page=9}}{{subscription required}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bcar.org.uk/donna-nook-history|title=RAF Donna Nook History|publisher=Bomber County Aviation Resource| access-date=24 November 2021}} with three bombing targets including one which was illuminated for night time bombing practice. The range closed in 1946 but was re-opened in 1976 when RAF Theddlethorpe was closed due to complaints from those living nearby.{{sfn|Halpenny|1981|p=87}} RAF Donna Nook is still used as an Air Weapons Range by UK, USAFE & NATO users and since 2008 has been administered by Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), formerly Defence Training Estates (DTE).{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43339/dte_info_leaflet_dteeast.pdf|title=Public Information Leaflet|page=5|publisher= Defence Infrastructure Organisation|access-date=24 November 2021}}
The bombing range covers an area of 885 hectares on land and 3,200 hectares at sea.{{cite web|title=Public Information Leaflet|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43339/dte_info_leaflet_dteeast.pdf|website=Defence Training Estates East|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=17 May 2016}}
=1981 air accident=
On Friday 9 January 1981 at 1.35pm, whilst practising strafing runs at Donna Nook, a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodbridge, crashed into the North Sea.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Saturday 10 January 1981, page 1
The aircraft was piloted by Major Arthur Lloyd Moxon from Huron, South Dakota, who was killed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.usafa68.org/Memorium/im25.htm|title=Art Moxon|website=www.usafa68.org}}Diss Express Friday 16 January 1981, page 3Grimsby Evening Telegraph Monday 12 January 1981, page 1Diss Express Friday 23 January 1981, page 9 His body was found three weeks later on Wednesday 28 January 1981.Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 29 January 1981, page 1{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/56107|title=Accident Fairchild-Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 77-0258, Friday 9 January 1981|website=asn.flightsafety.org}}
Natural heritage
Donna Nook is just north of North Somercotes and is also a {{convert|10|km|order=flip}} nature reserve with a large seal habitat in the early winter maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|title=Donna Nook national nature reserve|url=http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook|website=Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust|accessdate=17 May 2016}} It is the only national nature reserve in the UK on MOD land, and was opened on 18 July 2002 by Air Commodore Nigel Williams.
See also
References
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Halpenny|1981}}|reference=Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore. Action stations 2: Military airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Publishing, 1981. {{ISBN|0-85059-484-7}}.}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Air Force stations}}
{{RAF stations in Lincolnshire}}
{{Royal Air Force bombing ranges}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donna Nook}}