About This File
RAF Scenery--Elsham Wolds, UK. An airfield was established at Elsham as early as December 1916 and used by C Flight of 33 squadron of the Royal Flying Corps From June 1918 to June 1919 it was also the squadron's headquarters. The site was the most northerly of three airfields, equally spaced between the cities of Hull and Lincoln for countering Zeppelin night raids. C Flight also acted as observers for the artillery batteries located at Spurn Head and Kilnsea. In the late 1930s with a new war on the horizon, extra airfields were again needed to accommodate an expansion of the RAF. Former First World War stations were surveyed for suitability, and an area just to the west of the original Elsham site was deemed to be better suited. work began in the winter of 1939-1940, and the station opened with the arrival in July 1941 of 103 Squadron. The station was equipped with a main runway 2,000 yards (1,829 m) long, and two subsidiaries of 1,600 yards (1,463 m) and 1,400 yards (1, 280 m). Three hangars (two T-2's and one J-Type) and 27 aircraft hardstands (later increased to 36) were built. Three more T-2 hangars were built in 1944. Accommodation for around 2,500 personnel was dispersed in the nearby farmland. By Terry Boissel.