RAF Wainfleet
{{Short description|Former RAF station in Lincolnshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{infobox military test site
|name = RAF Wainfleet
|image = Tower and Targets, RAF Wainfleet - geograph.org.uk - 669903.jpg
|caption = Tower and Targets, RAF Wainfleet
|map = {{Superimpose
|base=Lincolnshire_outline_map_with_UK.png
|base_width = 260px
|float=Locator_Dot.png
|float_width=10px
|x= 235
|y= 183}}
|map_caption =
|type = NATO Air Weapons Range
|coordinates = {{coord|53.07177|0.21321|display=title}}
|nearest_town = Wainfleet, Lincolnshire
|country = UK
|area =
|operator = Defence Training Estates (East)
|status = Closed
|dates = August 1938 – June 2010
|remediation =
|subcritical_tests =
|nuclear_tests =
|thermonuclear_tests =
|other_tests =
|ICAO=EGYW
}}
RAF Wainfleet was a Royal Air Force weapons range on The Wash on the east coast of England near Wainfleet, in the civil parish of Friskney, although the north-east part of the range was in Wainfleet St Mary. Other ranges nearby include RAF Holbeach, also on The Wash, and RAF Donna Nook. It was also known as The Wash (North side) Bombing Range. It was only a few miles south-west of Gibraltar Point.{{cite news|title=RAF Wainfleet control tower for sale|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30035596|accessdate=13 January 2017|work=BBC News|date=14 November 2014}}
History
The range opened to aerial operations in August 1938; but had previously been used as a range from 1890 by the 1st Lincolnshire Artillery. However, there is evidence that the area was in use for military practice as far back as Napoleonic times when the River Steeping was navigable and Wainfleet itself was an important harbour.{{cite web|title=Public information leaflet; Defence Training Estate East|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43339/dte_info_leaflet_dteeast.pdf|website=www.gov.uk|publisher=Defence Estates|accessdate=13 January 2017|page=5|format=PDF}}
During the 1920s and 1930s it was also used by the RAF and Royal Artillery.{{sfn|Halpenny|1981|p=195}} The [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669903 range] was administered by RAF Coningsby as an Air Weapons Range within RAF Strike Command. During the Second World War, it was used by 617 Squadron to test the Stabilised Automatic Bomb Sight. Postwar, it was used by both fixed wing and rotary aircraft from NATO. On 1 April 2006 control was transferred to Defence Estates and the range was then administered by Defence Training Estates (East) from their headquarters at West Tofts Camp near Thetford.{{cite web|title=Public information leaflet; Defence Training Estate East|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43339/dte_info_leaflet_dteeast.pdf|website=www.gov.uk|publisher=Defence Estates|accessdate=13 January 2017|page=8|format=PDF}}
Due to funding cuts the range was closed for operations on 2 December 2009{{cite web|title=RAF-lincolnshire.info :: Wainfleet|url=http://www.raf-lincolnshire.info/wainfleet/wainfleet.htm|website=www.raf-lincolnshire.info|accessdate=13 January 2017}} and finally closed in July 2010.{{cite web|title=Wainfleet History – BCAR.org.uk|url=http://www.bcar.org.uk/wainfleet-history|website=www.bcar.org.uk|accessdate=13 January 2017}}
The tower and some surrounding buildings reopened as holiday accommodation in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cottages.com/cottages/raf-wainfleet-the-tower-ukc1178|title=RAF Wainfleet – The Tower (ref UKC1178) in Friskney, near Skegness, Lincolnshire {{!}} cottages.com|website=www.cottages.com|access-date=6 April 2017}}
=1981 air crash=
A USAF Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft crashed on Friday 8 May 1981 at 2.45 pm near Friskney.Lincolnshire Standard Friday 15 May 1981, page 40 25 year old First Lt Henry Louis Gagne, born on 14 February 1956, died in RAF Nocton Hall several hours later, of Gulfport, Mississippi. He was an engineering graduate of Mississippi State University.Skegness Standard Friday 15 May 1981, page 1Birmingham Mail Saturday 9 May 1981, page 8
[https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/56099 1981 A-10 crash]
=1983 air crash=
An RAF Hawker Siddeley Harrier XV742 crashed on Friday 28 October 1983.Lincolnshire Echo Saturday 29 October 1983, page 1 24 year old Flying Officer John Sewell from St Anthony's Road in Blundellsands was killed. The aircraft flew from RAF Wittering.Liverpool Echo Saturday 29 October 1983, page 1[https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/55546 1983 Harrier crash]
=1990 air crash=
On Monday 5 February 1990 at 5.30 pm, a USAF General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark aircraft crashed. One pilot was found at 7 pm by a boat from Boston. The Skegness lifeboat was looking for the other pilot.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Tuesday 6 February 1990, page 5 The pilot was found three days later strapped in the seat.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Wednesday 7 February 1990, page 28[https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/153055 1990 F-111 crash]
Operation
The site was controlled from the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/261484 Control Tower]. Targets included [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669903 old ships]. There were two [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/261494 smaller] wooden observation towers to the east nearer the shore but these were demolished in 2009. Access was via a [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669854 narrow road] called Sea Lane via the junction with the A52 at the [https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/669770 Barley Mow] at Friskney Eaudyke.
=Weapons clearance=
The site was cleared daily by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from RAF Coningsby.{{cite web|title=RAF – News and Weather|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafconingsby/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=3B83CCB9-5056-A318-A890A9EE6764C33E|website=www.raf.mod.uk|accessdate=13 January 2017}} Although the range has finally closed unrecovered ordnance and unexploded ordnance will remain for many years.
=SSSI=
The range area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest thanks to the large number of resident and migrating birds found there. The location is a major stopping point for flocks of brent geese on their way from the Arctic coast. There is also the red-legged partridge. Skegness gets its weather recorded from the automatic equipment at Wainfleet.
References
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Halpenny|1981}}|reference=Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore. Action Stations 2: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1981. {{ISBN|0-85059-484-7}}.}}
External links
- [http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/stations.cfm?selectStation=9E14E902-0CA5-88F0-C15ACA3C54AE739F RAF website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091213053422/http://www.phantomii.plus.com/rafwainfleet/wainhome.html History of the site]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100104192057/http://www.phantomii.plus.com/rafwainfleet/wainrange.html Photographic gallery]
- [http://www.challoner.com/aviation/pix/2001/wainfleet/index.html 2001 Bombing competition]
- [http://www.challoner.com/aviation/pix/wainfleet/index.html 1999 Bombing competition]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091209215124/http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/ Defence Estates]
- [http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafconingsby/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=3B83CCB9-5056-A318-A890A9EE6764C33E Abandoned seal found on the bombing range]
=Video clips=
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5G1orIcgkw Weapons burst] by an A-10 Thunderbolt II
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7_PawdOlJQ F-15]
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{RAF stations in Lincolnshire}}
{{Royal Air Force bombing ranges}}
Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Lincolnshire