RAF Manby 2019

[Stealthstar79]

RAF Manby was opened in 1938 as home to the Empire Air Armament School. Many bomb disposal techniques were invented at Manby, often a trial by fire. By June 1940, RAF Manby housed the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School. Royal Engineers and Royal Navy demolition parties being trained alongside their RAF counterparts. In August 1940, the bomb disposal workload, generated by ever-increasing enemy activity, led to the establishment of 25 mobile BD squads, increased in manpower strength from three to 25 personnel each.

RAF Strubby came under RAF Manby RAF Flying College from VJ Day until closure in 1972. The nucleus of the staff of the Empire Central Flying School was transferred to RAF Manby to open the Flying College in 1946. Manby later became the home of the College of Air Warfare, part of which was the School of Refresher Flying.

In Oct 1954 a Canberra bomber belonging to the RAF Flying College, Manby, makes the first jet flight over the North Pole.

Since the closure of the airfield, the houses have been sold to the general public and the former RAF station has been sold for commercial use. The headquarters of East Lindsey District Council are in one of the buildings on the station Tedder Hall. The disused airfield is used as a showground and also a off-road driver training and experience centre.It also has a Chieftain Tank parked in the entrance to the airfield which acts as the gate guardian for the Manby Motorplex centre.

Lindsey Airsoft also use the airfield site, holding regular milsim skirmishes and survival exercises. The hangars are used for commercial storage by Winchester Marine Ltd. In 2008 the RAF site was proposed by East Lindsey district council as a possible location for an eco-town of 5,000 homes. It appeared on a government shortlist of ten sites, however after protests from residents the council voted to withdraw the plan.

I had a really enjoyable few hours here, such a shame a fire has damaged the building. It really is impressive! A couple of years ago now, wonder if much has changed!?

 

[BikinGlynn]

I visited here around the same time, its a wreck now but you have caught it well

 

[Superdad]

Visited the site at Manby quite often back in the 80s. The local Authority had some offices there at the time, and the place was fairly well cared for, certainly folks came and went all day long. IIRC, there was a day care in one building and some other community activity (yoga?) in another. The control tower was still in good nick, windows intact, stairs still usable, and the per-track was used for carting (?) and an endless stream of learner drivers working out where the gears were.

 

[Hayman]

Visited the site at Manby quite often back in the 80s. The local Authority had some offices there at the time, and the place was fairly well cared for, certainly folks came and went all day long. IIRC, there was a day care in one building and some other community activity (yoga?) in another. The control tower was still in good nick, windows intact, stairs still usable, and the per-track was used for carting (?) and an endless stream of learner drivers working out where the gears were.

My father-in-law took my wife to an abandoned RAF airfield in Buckinghamshire for her to practise her gear-changing, etc in the family baby Austin.