RAF Caistor

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAF Caistor

| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg

| ensign_size = 90px

| native_name =

| partof =

| location = Caistor, Lincolnshire

| nearest_town =

| country = England

| image = 250px

| alt =

| caption =

| image2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| type = RAF relief landing ground

| coordinates = {{coord|53|30|10|N|000|21|50|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Lincolnshire#UK

| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Lincolnshire

| pushpin_label = RAF Caistor

| pushpin_label_position =

| ownership = Air Ministry

| operator = Royal Air Force

| controlledby = RAF Fighter Command
* No. 9 Group RAF
* No. 81 (OTU) Group RAF{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=59}}

| open_to_public =

| site_other_label =

| site_other =

| site_area =

| code =

| built = {{Start date|1941}}

| used = 1941-{{End date|1963}}

| builder =

| materials =

| height =

| length =

| fate =

| condition =

| battles = European theatre of World War II

| events =

| past_commanders =

| garrison =

| occupants =

| designations =

| website =

| footnotes =

| IATA =

| ICAO =

| FAA =

| TC =

| LID =

| GPS =

| WMO =

| elevation = {{Convert|30|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=59}}

| r1-number = 00/00

| r1-length =

| r1-surface = Grass

| r2-number = 00/00

| r2-length =

| r2-surface = Grass

| r3-number = 00/00

| r3-length =

| r3-surface = Grass

| r4-number = 00/00

| r4-length =

| r4-surface = Grass

| h1-number =

| h1-length =

| h1-surface =

| airfield_other_label =

| airfield_other =

}}

Royal Air Force Caistor or more simply RAF Caistor is a former Royal Air Force relief landing ground located {{Convert|6.2|mi}} south east of Brigg, Lincolnshire and {{Convert|9.1|mi}} north west of Binbrook, Lincolnshire, England, the site is now used for farming.

History

=Second World War=

  • Satellite of No. 1 Air Armament School RAF (December 1942 - June 1943){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=45}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/caistor |title=Caistor |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=21 October 2012}}
  • Relief Landing Ground for No. 15 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF (June - September 1942){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=43}}
  • No. 53 Operational Training Unit RAF (1943-44){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=241}}
  • A detachment of No. 85 Squadron RAF{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
  • Sub site for No. 93 Maintenance Unit RAF (December 1948 - December 1950){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=209}}
  • Sub site for No. 233 Maintenance Unit RAF (February 1945 - ?){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=215}}
  • Relief Landing Ground for RAF College SFTS (June 1943 - March 1944){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=265}} became Relief Landing Ground for No. 17 Service Flying Training School RAF (March 1944 - February 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=155}}

=Cold War=

Current use

The site has now returned to agricultural use, and little remains of the military facilities.

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=J|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1= C.G. |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R|last2=Hamlin|first2=J|last3=Halley|first3=J|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}