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The History of Winthorpe Airfield
Originally planned as a satellite station for RAF Swinderby, it opened in September 1940. The following month three Fairy Battles from 300 and 301 Polish squadrons at Swinderby used Winthorpe as a dispersal. In the November these squadrons reequipped with Vickers Wellington I C's. On 14th November 1940 a parachute landmine dropped by the Luftwaffe made a crater 38' across and 20' deep, but two dispersed aircraft were undamaged. During 1941 the airfield continued to be used for training, particularly when Swinderby was out of action.
In November 1941 control of the airfield passed to RAF Ossington and on 7th February 1942 it became a second satellite for RAF Syerston but there was little activity during this period. On 15th October 1942 the airfield returned toSwinderby's control and on the last day of 1942 it received a unit of its own, No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit of 5 Group from RAF Waddington and RAF Scampton. The unit operated 8 Avro Manchesters and 10 Avro Lancasters.
In March 1943 Winthorpe became a sub-station of Swinderby. A Manchester crashed on 19th May 1943 and a total of 8 Lancasters crashed at base, one was burnt out and another crashed at Balderton. During Autumn 1943 a number of Halifaxes replaced the Manchesters, the last of which flew with the unit as late as October. In the November the aircraft were changed to 37 Short Stirlings, the last Lancaster departing in January 1944. On 3rd November 1944 No. 1661 HCU passed to the control of 7 Group and the base H.Q. was renumbered 75.
After a year using Stirlings the unit began reverting back to Lancaster I and Ill's. A number of Spitfires and Hurricanes were used during 1944 for fighter affiliation training. The last Stirling crew completed training on 3rd February 1945 and during this period three Lancasters crashed, one at Langford on 24th March 1945, at Oxton on 16th April 1945 and at base on 25th May 1945. In August 1945 all the Lancasters were despatched to other units and 166 I HCU closed down on 10th September.
Ten days later control passed to Transport Command but there is no record of any further units until February 1953 when the Central Servicing Development Establishment arrived from RAF Wittering, but this unit did not have any aircraft on strength. The CSDE moved to RAF Swanton Morley in january 1958 and the airfield was reduced to inactive status the following july.
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