RAF Wainfleet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| RAF Wainfleet | |
|---|---|
| Near Wainfleet, Lincolnshire in UK | |
 Tower and Targets, RAF Wainfleet | |
| Site information | |
| Type | NATO Air Weapons Range |
| Operator | Defence Training Estates (East) |
| Status | Closed |
| Location | |
  | |
| Coordinates | 53°04′18″N 0°12′48″E / 53.0718°N 0.2132°E |
| Site history | |
| In use | August 1938 – June 2010 |
| Airfield information | |
| Identifiers | ICAO: |
RAF Wainfleet was a Royal Air Force weapons range on The Wash on the east coast of England near Wainfleet, in the civil parish of Friskney, although the north-east part of the range was in Wainfleet St Mary. Other ranges nearby include RAF Holbeach, also on The Wash, and RAF Donna Nook. It was also known as The Wash (North side) Bombing Range. It was only a few miles south-west of Gibraltar Point.[1]
The range opened to aerial operations in August 1938; but had previously been used as a range from 1890 by the 1st Lincolnshire Artillery. However, there is evidence that the area was in use for military practice as far back as Napoleonic times when the River Steeping was navigable and Wainfleet itself was an important harbour.[2]
During the 1920s and 1930s it was also used by the RAF and Royal Artillery.[3] The range was administered by RAF Coningsby as an Air Weapons Range within RAF Strike Command. During the Second World War, it was used by 617 Squadron to test the Stabilised Automatic Bomb Sight.[1] Postwar, it was used by both fixed wing and rotary aircraft from NATO. On 1 April 2006 control was transferred to Defence Estates and the range was then administered by Defence Training Estates (East) from their headquarters at West Tofts Camp near Thetford.[4]
Due to funding cuts the range was closed for operations on 2 December 2009[5] and finally closed in July 2010.[6]
The tower and some surrounding buildings reopened as holiday accommodation in 2017.[citation needed]
Aircraft incidents
1952 mid-air collision
On Friday 18 April 1952 at 3.12 pm, two F-84 Canadair Sabres, from the RCAF, had a mid-air collision at 19,000ft, of 410 Squadron.[7][8][9] Both pilots were killed, from RAF North Luffenham.[10]
- Flying Officer Arthur Edgar Rayner baled out, being picked up by the Skegness lifeboat, he was in the water for one hour 30 minutes, was unconscious, taken to Boston by the RAF, but died on the way there[11]
- Flying Officer Joseph Austin Leslie Kerr died[12]
1975 F-111 crash
On Wednesday 5 November 1975 at 4.11 pm, F-111 '68-0060' had a bird strike over the range. Both pilots ejected, who were picked up by two Boston fishermen and were taken to the Pilgrim Hospital.[13][14]
- Capt James E. Stieber, pilot
- Capt Robert Gregory, WSO[15]
1981 A-10 crash
A USAF Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft crashed on Friday 8 May 1981 at 2.45 pm near Friskney.[16] First Lt Henry Louis Gagne died in RAF Nocton Hall several hours later.[17][18][19]
1990 F-111 crash
On Monday 5 February 1990 at 5.30 pm, a USAF General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark aircraft crashed. One pilot was found at 7 pm by a boat from Boston. The Skegness lifeboat was looking for the other pilot.[20] The pilot was found three days later strapped in the seat.[21][22]
