The village is a documented settlement in the domesday book of 1086. In our latest ww2 nation journal post, we take a look at our photo highlights from. Metheringham airfield visitor centre 2021 all you need to know. Having a main runway, aligned almost due northsouth of 2000 yards with two. View all restaurants near metheringham airfield visitor centre on tripadvisor. Raf metheringham was a standard bomber airfield and was given only. Local democracy it was during a mission over schweinfurt in april 1944 that he voluntarily climbed out of the aircraft and along a wing to put out a fire after a.
Walk along the edge of the field keeping the ancient hedgerow to your left. Raf metheringham opened as a bomber airfield within 5 group in october 1943 home to 106 sqd, which arrived with its lancasters from syerston. Our theme for school visits is put yourself in their shoes, in which we focus on individual stories of the personnel involved at metheringham airfield. It is run by the friends of metheringham airfield foma, a volunteerrun charity no. The latest refurbishment of the museum introduces the theme of put yourself in their shoes. Bomb aimers briefing, target photo, and log book entry for the operation to attack the.
Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Raf metheringhams phantom lady the most haunted airfield. A project has been ongoing since 2011 to rebuild and reinstate metheringham s original air traffic tower by november 20 to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the airfield s opening. The figure of a young woman named catherine bystock, a member of the waaf, who had been engaged to a flight sergeant, allegedly appears. Metheringham airfield visitor centre home facebook. Speaking at metheringham airfield during a visit to see the wreckage, she said. Raf metheringham airfield visitor centre home facebook. Each stations development, construction and operational history is detailed with war and contemporary aerial photographs. Operated as a bomber airfield during world war ii the station opened in october 1943 and was decommissioned in the spring of 1946. Stained glass windows form the bomber command memorial, flyingtraining command memorial and the new zealand memorial. Metheringham airfield visitors centre aviation heritage. Metheringham airfield is located two miles to the east of metheringham village on the b1189. A share of the profits are going to the raf metheringham airfield museum.
Gillian mawson researcher and writer guernsey evacuees oral. The books contain the names of 25,611 personnel who died flying from airfields in or near to lincolnshire including 1,233 canadians and 1,140 australians. A superb history of raf metheringham has been written by richard bailey entitled in the middle of nowhere available from metheringham visitor centre uk. The station was planned as a class a airfield standard layout and, although it was named metheringham, was located largely in the adjoining parish of martin. Raf metheringham was an active airfield in lincolnshire, england during world war ii. The mcdonnell douglas phantom f4j uk in raf service after navigator training, tony dixon started his raf career on photorecce canberra pr7s, progressing onto the phantom in 1982. Metheringham airfield visitors centre metheringham airfield visitor centre has developed its own education visit that focuses on 106 squadron, raf metheringham, the social history of the area and the experiences of children in the second world war. Short visit to metheringham airfield we popped into the metheringham airfield visitor centre on an unplanned, end of a wet afternoon visit. A log book from metheringham during the second world war, including flights by wing commander guy gibson. In 1994 an educational charity was established known as the friends of metheringham airfield.
The stories of 11 more lost lincolnshire airfields of the. The metheringham airfield museum website has moved. What attracts people to read these books is the reality behind the stories, often very sad or heartwarming but most of all chilling. The airfield opened in october 1943 as a class a bomber airfield within 5 group. Within the book there is a fascinating piece relating to two of the lancasters used on.
In the zena scoley room you will learn about the history of raf metheringham from its creation in 1942 through to its closure as an active raf base and beyond. This small, accredited museum, supported by the friends of metheringham airfield foma, is dedicated to those men and women who flew, and supported 106 squadron, royal air force bomber command from 1943 until the end of the second world war. Whilst the history of 467 squadron may be short, a t the metheringham airfield visitor centre we have our own 467 squadron memorial in the form of a propeller blade in the garden. Metheringham airfield was constructed in 1942 and opened in 1943. The standard three intersecting concrete runways were provided as were two t2 hangars and a b1. This was rather an apt atmosphere for visiting one of the many former bomber command airfields. Metheringham airfield visitor centre 2021 all you need. The runways were to the standard layout and specification with the main 0220 runway at 2,000 yd 1,829 m long and with the 31 and 0725 runways at 1,400 yd 1,280 m. The 10 closest hotels to metheringham airfield visitor.
It gives an account of 106 squadron who flew from raf metheringham from 1943 to the end of the war. It also provides a charming insight in to station life at an active bomber command airfield. Ww2, i highly recommend patrick otters book on lincolnshire airfield. Courtesy of new zealand bomber command associationbanks a runway at metheringham, may 2007. A young lady, in her late teens, is often spotted standing at the side of the road between 9. Lincolnshire airfields seem to be hotspots for hauntings.
The new squadron had barely a week to settle in before raf metheringham s war began in earnest. A superb model of the original airfield is on show here, along with a richly documented history of all things to do with no 106 squadron. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting is the socalled metheringham lass who stands at the side of what was once raf metheringhams airfield. No 106 squadron moved to raf metheringham on 11 november 1943 and within a week were operational, sending thirteen lancasters to berlin in a raid consisting of 440 aircraft. At a tjunction turn left and follow the track until you meet the airfield. Further information relating to raf metheringham s history can be found here raf metheringham airfield history i remember the first time i visited raf metheringham in june 2012, it was under threatening skies with the sound of thunder in the air. This includes 59 lancaster bombers flying from raf metheringham. As with the sister villages around her, metheringham is fortunate that local people are working hard to preserve the vestiges of the past and keeping some of the old traditions from a fascinating social history very much alive.
Half a century ago, it was the very heartbeat of britains formidable air power. This actionpacked book explores lincolnshires rich raf history in particular the. They have also refurbished a gymnasium and take a pride in the no. One of the t2s was on the technical site to the south.
Metheringham was one of the few airfields chosen to be equipped with the fido fog dispersal system. Metheringham airfield visitor centre martin moor, metheringham. Whites 1842 directory of lincolnshire called metheringham a large improving village, on a gentle declivity, between lincoln heath and the cardyke navigation, 9 miles s. Raf metheringham memories on the wartime memories project.
This is where the metheringham airfield visitor centre is situated. Its parish increased its population from 536 in 1801, to 880 in 1831, to 1197 in 1841,and contains 5682a cres, 1r ood, 32p erches of land. Raf metheringham in the second world war 19391945 the. Raf metheringham was a royal air force station situated between the villages of metheringham and martin and 12. Ww2 lancaster bomber returns from germany to home base. Haunted airfields of lincolnshire, uk the ghosts of world wars. To do so, around 600 acres of farmland and woods were cleared near the village of martin. The village is mentioned in the 1086 domesday book. Operated as a bomber airfield during the second world war the station. Metheringham the airfield appears to have been laid out to take advantage of a shallow island of sand and gravel which stands some 50 feet 15. Today the site is dedicated to the men and women who served at raf metheringham from november 1943 until the end of the second world war. A detailed account of the history of raf metheringham and 106 sqn during world war ii.
It also depicts the history of the squadron from the beginning of ww2. Raf metheringham metheringham airfield visitor centre. With the airfield still far from complete, advance parties from 106 squadron began to move in with the delivery of the squadrons lancasters from raf syerston in nottinghamshire on 11th november 1943. River witham from where it connects to the car dyke near an old wartime ai. We popped into the metheringham airfield visitor centre on an unplanned, end of a wet afternoon visit. Metheringham airfield visitor centre posts facebook.
The proposal is to restore the back to the original layout and add it to the lincolnshire aviation heritage trail. Dedicated to the men and women of 106 squadron who served at raf metheringham from november 1943 until the end of the second world war. Royal air force metheringham or more simply raf metheringham is a former royal air force station situated between the villages of metheringham and martin and 12. Raf metheringham airfield history aircraft, airfields and airshows. Raf metheringham had been a wwii bomber base and the visitor centre accurately portrays and remembers wartime life on the station. Sue took part in the sandford award for informal learning sail project at metheringham airfield visitor centre accredited museum in 2018. The metheringham delph nature reserve at tanvats, and sots hole, are nearby. There are at least eight books that detail the appearances and habits of ghosts at lincolnshires airfields, whether derelict or not. I research numerous social history subjects please see the foot of this page for a few. In front of you is an raf sign showing former raf metheringham. Dedicated to the men and women of 106 squadron who served at raf metheringham from. The airfield was built for 5 group bomber command in the winter of 194243. Metheringham airfields of britain conservation trust uk. The 10 closest hotels to metheringham airfield visitor centre.
Undoubtedly one of the most interesting is the socalled metheringham lass who stands at the side of what was once raf metheringham s airfield. Metheringham airfield visitor centre 2021 all you need to. Metheringham is a village and civil parish in the north kesteven district of. Raf metheringham airfield history aircraft, airfields. Restaurants near metheringham airfield visitor centre. Although little remains of raf metheringham, its ghost continues to remind people that it played an important role in world war 2. It covers the bases history from planning through to decommissioning and covers 106 squadrons stay there from autumn 1943 through to the end of ww2 in detail. Courtesy of new zealand bomber command associationbanks a runway at metheringham. Within the book there is a fascinating piece relating to two of the lancasters used on operation chastise over the night of 1617 may 1943. Lincolnshire airfields in the second world war amazon uk. The centre is located in the former ration store of the airfield and contains an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia of life on the operational airfield from the war. Memorial books of 1 and 5 groups, raf bomber command. Metheringham airfield visitor centre tells the story of raf metheringham which was home to 106 squadron of bomber command during the second world war.
Metheringham is one of a number of airfields located in the area, others being, woodhall spa, coningsby, digby and bardney. Peter and zena scoley became the founders of this organisation and this certainly reflects their passionate interest in the history and developments of the familys land. Documents archives faq api partners contributors our books jobs contact. Dedicated to the men and women of 106 squadron who served at raf metheringham from november. Raf metheringham airfield visitor centre is an accredited museum. A selection of books relating to 106 squadron history, bases and operations. Airfield code letters mn raf metheringham is located ten miles south east of lincoln. Ww2 lancaster bomber returns from germany to home base bbc. Hotels near metheringham airfield visitor centre, metheringham on tripadvisor. Raf metheringham airfield history aircraft, airfields and. Further information relating to raf metheringham s history can be found here raf metheringham airfield history. Welcome to the official website of metheringham airfield visitor centre.
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