RAF Sturgate
{{Short description|Former RAF station in Lincolnshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF Sturgate
90px 57px
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| location = Lincoln, Lincolnshire
| country = England
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| type = Royal Air Force station
| coordinates = {{coord|53|22|45|N|000|40|59|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| pushpin_map = Lincolnshire#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Lincolnshire
| pushpin_label = RAF Sturgate
| pushpin_label_position =
| ownership = Ministry of Defence
| operator = Royal Air Force
United States Air Force
| controlledby = RAF Bomber Command
Strategic Air Command
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| code =
| built = {{Start date|1944}}
| used = 1944-1946
1953-{{End date|1964}}
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| battles = European theatre of World War II
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| ICAO = EGCS
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| elevation = {{Convert|16|m|0}}
| r1-number = 00/00
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| r1-surface = Asphalt
| r2-number = 00/00
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| r2-surface = Asphalt
| r3-number = 00/00
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| r3-surface = Asphalt
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Royal Air Force Sturgate or more simply RAF Sturgate is a former Royal Air Force station located {{Convert|10|mi}} north west of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.
Royal Air Force use
The airfield was opened in 1944 at Royal Air Force Sturgate.[http://www.controltowers.co.uk/S/Sturgate.htm RAF Sturgate www.controltowers.co.uk] Originally used for blind flying training two operational Lancaster squadrons arrived in June 1945 but both then moved to RAF Waddington in January 1946. The station closed to flying between 1946 and 1953.
=RAF units and aircraft=
class="wikitable sortable" |
Unit
!Dates !Aircraft !Variant !Notes |
---|
No. 50 Squadron RAF
|1945-1946 |I & III |Four-engined heavy bomber.{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=41.}} |
No. 61 Squadron RAF
|1945-1946 |Avro Lancaster |II |Four-engined heavy bomber.{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=44.}} |
United States Air Force use
In 1953 the station was allocated for use by the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command and the 508th Strategic Fighter Wing operating the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. It was also used to house SAC bombers on temporary duty (TDY) from the United States. From 1959, it was used for logistical support facilities for 99th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (USAF) located at the PGM-17 Thor missile unit at nearby RAF Hemswell. The airfield was closed in 1964.
Current use
A corner of the original airfield is now used as an unlicensed aerodrome for civil use as Sturgate Airfield.
References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Jefford|1988}}|reference=Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. {{ISBN|1-84037-141-2}}.}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{USAF Bases in the UK}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{RAF stations in Lincolnshire}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sturgate}}
Category:Royal Air Force stations in Lincolnshire
Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom
Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in the United Kingdom