Coleby Grange was constructed in late 1938 and became operational in 1939, although initially as a relief landing ground for the RAF Cranwell training facility. This changed quite quickly, when in early 1940, No. 253 Squadron RAF and No. 264 Squadron RAF took up residence at the airfield.
The station was destined never had concrete or tarmac runways and with three grass runways being operational during its operational life. Aircraft were left outdoors ina state of permanent flight readiness. A single Type T1 hangar was constructed but only for use during aircraft repairs. A blister type hangar and seven extended over-blister hangars were added much later.
Coleby Hall, built in 1628, was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for the duration of the war and adopted as the station’s officers’ mess. Living accommodation on the station was graded for 1,800 RAF and WAAF personnel including officers.
In May 1941 the station was transferred to No. 12 Group RAF. Coleby Grange became a satellite field of nearby RAF Digby and was thus occupied by No. 402 Squadron RCAF, No. 409 Squadron RCAF, No. 410 Squadron RCAF and No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron.
Until 1943 RAF Coleby Grange formed only part of a ring of fighter stations around Lincoln but, when the German daylight offensive wound down and for the remainder of the war Coleby Grange remained as the only local station still operating in the night fighter role across Lincolnshire.
The 425th Fighter Squadron US Army Air Force, flying Northrop P-61 Black Widows and P70 Havocs in support of the US 9th Armored Division used the airfield during the D-Day landings RAF Coleby Grange.
Immediately after the war the RAF mounted an annual series of air displays to commemorate the Battle of Britain. The first of these displays in Lincolnshire took place in September 1946 at RAF Coleby Grange.
The station was mothballed and placed on a care and maintenance basis from 1947 before being reactivated in 1958 as an IRBM missile facility.
In 1959 No 5 Missile Dispersal Site was headquartered at RAF Hemswellanmd the missiles were rotated bewtween RAF Bardney, RAF Caistor, RAF Ludford Magna and RAF Coleby Grange.
The Cuban Missile Crisis saw the UK bring its complete Thor missile force to maximum strategic alert and readiness for the ten day period during October and November 1962. On 26 October 1962 and with NATO's alert level at DEFCON 2 and the missiles were readied for launching, on a phased-hold leaving the missiles just eight minutes from launch in the vertical unfuelled condition or two minutes from launch in the fuelled position. Several Lincoln residents can remember the Coleby Grange missiles standing erect on their mobile launchers and ready to fire.
RAF Coleby Grange was decommissioned and closed in the 1960's.
Visited in the company of Lulatahula and Coverturbex
Sadly most if not all the remaining buildings have been demolished or at best reused for agricultural storage
The station was destined never had concrete or tarmac runways and with three grass runways being operational during its operational life. Aircraft were left outdoors ina state of permanent flight readiness. A single Type T1 hangar was constructed but only for use during aircraft repairs. A blister type hangar and seven extended over-blister hangars were added much later.
Coleby Hall, built in 1628, was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for the duration of the war and adopted as the station’s officers’ mess. Living accommodation on the station was graded for 1,800 RAF and WAAF personnel including officers.
In May 1941 the station was transferred to No. 12 Group RAF. Coleby Grange became a satellite field of nearby RAF Digby and was thus occupied by No. 402 Squadron RCAF, No. 409 Squadron RCAF, No. 410 Squadron RCAF and No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron.
Until 1943 RAF Coleby Grange formed only part of a ring of fighter stations around Lincoln but, when the German daylight offensive wound down and for the remainder of the war Coleby Grange remained as the only local station still operating in the night fighter role across Lincolnshire.
The 425th Fighter Squadron US Army Air Force, flying Northrop P-61 Black Widows and P70 Havocs in support of the US 9th Armored Division used the airfield during the D-Day landings RAF Coleby Grange.
Immediately after the war the RAF mounted an annual series of air displays to commemorate the Battle of Britain. The first of these displays in Lincolnshire took place in September 1946 at RAF Coleby Grange.
The station was mothballed and placed on a care and maintenance basis from 1947 before being reactivated in 1958 as an IRBM missile facility.
In 1959 No 5 Missile Dispersal Site was headquartered at RAF Hemswellanmd the missiles were rotated bewtween RAF Bardney, RAF Caistor, RAF Ludford Magna and RAF Coleby Grange.
The Cuban Missile Crisis saw the UK bring its complete Thor missile force to maximum strategic alert and readiness for the ten day period during October and November 1962. On 26 October 1962 and with NATO's alert level at DEFCON 2 and the missiles were readied for launching, on a phased-hold leaving the missiles just eight minutes from launch in the vertical unfuelled condition or two minutes from launch in the fuelled position. Several Lincoln residents can remember the Coleby Grange missiles standing erect on their mobile launchers and ready to fire.
RAF Coleby Grange was decommissioned and closed in the 1960's.
Visited in the company of Lulatahula and Coverturbex
Sadly most if not all the remaining buildings have been demolished or at best reused for agricultural storage
