Lindholme

53°33'11"N 000°57'57"W

Runway: 05/23 - ...meters/2000yds - concrete
Runway: 14/32 - ...meters/1400yds - concrete

Lindholme airfield (RAF Lindholme, originally called RAF Hatfield Woodhouse, ICAO: EGXQ) was an airfield 235 kilometers north-northwest of London.
Construction of this expansion scheme (pre-World War II) airfield began in 1938. Three Type-C hangars faced the south-west side of flying field (known as 'the bombing circle'), with a fourth and fifth behind the two outer hangars. As was usual with these expansion scheme airfields, the construction of buildings took place over several months and the pace was only quickened by the outbreak of war.
RAF Hatfield Woodhouse officially opened in June 1940 under No.5 Group Bomber Command. 50 Sqn, operating Handley-Page Hampden bombers, arrived the following month.
On 18 August, two and a half months after its official opening, notification was received that the station name was to be changed to Lindholme. The reason was possible confusion with Hatfield airfield in Hertfordshire.
50 Sqn was the sole resident at Lindholme until June 1941. That month a new Canadian manned bomber squadron was raised there. It was 408 Sqn, which was also equipped with Hampdens and, once it was up and runnning, it was moved to RAF Syerston to begin operations in July. The following month, RAF Lindholme was one of a number of 5 Group stations handed over to 1 Group. As a result, 5 Group moved its 50 Squadron to RAF Swinderby.
From RAF Syerston, 1 Group moved in two of the Polish squadrons under its charge - 304 and 305 - both flying Wellington bombers. The two squadrons, having been operational since April, continued their contribution to Bomber Command's offensive from the new station throughout the winter of 1942. In May 1942, 304 Sqn was detached to assist Coastal Command, but the detachment soon became an assignment and 304 Sqn did not return to Bomber Command. Two months later 305 Sqn was transferred to RAF Hemswell to concentrate Polish-manned bomber squadrons on one station.


Polish crews forming up before funeral ceremonies for the crew of F/Lt Ostaszewski on 29 March 1942. Notice the camouflaged buildings of the station (polishsquadronsremembered.com).

During the first two years of war, a bomb store had been constructed on the other side of the A614 road along with a taxi track with three pan-type hardstands (parkings). A perimeter taxitrack and over 30 pan hardstands had also been built during this period.
By 1942 RAF Lindholme was due for an upgrade and the construction of concrete runways was put in hand. Extension of the airfield was somewhat restricted by the Hatfield Moor Drain on the eastern boundary, however. Additional land was acquired to the north of the airfield, necessitating the closure of two roads, one to the hamlet of Lindholme. Because of these physical restrictions, only two runways were built. A new bomb store was built on land north of the station, which resulted in obstruction of seven pan dispersal points, and two others were lost due to the construction of a new perimeter track. Still, the station ended up with 41 pan dispersals and one loop type.
Additional camp sites to the south of the main area gave the station maximum accommodation for 2,192 men and 365 females. 
The airfield re-opened for flying in late October 1942. 1656 HCU (Heavy Conversion Unit) moved in with a few Lancasters and Manchesters from RAF Breighton to assist 1 Group's conversion to the former type. As an operational training base, over the next two years, Lindholme was host to other units with an instructional mission. Both Lancaster and Halifax crews were tutored here. 1667 HCU was established on the airfield in June 1943, moving out to Faldingworth in October. In November, 1 Lancaster Finishing School was activated using existing flights with a similar mission. Also in November (the 3rd), the station became 71 Base under the new training organisation - 7 Group.
1656 HCU remained at Lindholme until November 1945 when many Bomber Command units were disbanded. During the war, a total of 76 bombers were lost on operations flying from this airfield: 40 Hampdens, 35 Wellingtons and a single Lancaster.


One of the HCUs posing at RAF Lindholme in 1943 (jfulton.com).

In the immediate post-war years 57 and 100 Sqn took residence at the airfield with their Lincoln bombers from May to September 1946. Thereafter the station went back to a training role, when Wellingtons joined Lindholme with 5 Air Navigation School, flying Wellington T.10s, Avro Ansons, and also 3 Vickers Valettas, coded A, B, and C. The longest resident however was Bomber Command Bombing School (later renamed Strike Command Bombing School), using up to 18 Lincolns and 8 Varsities. All the Lincolns had gone by 1961, with 8 Hastings having replaced them. 
Lindholme was also a Canberra modification centre where English Electric Canberras were adapted for advanced duties. 
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, 721 Mobile Radar Bomb Score Signals Unit (721 MRBSSU) was lodged on a dispersal on the eastern side of the airfield. Their role was to track strike aircraft (mainly from the V-force) during simulated bombing runs at high and low-level. They would then score the accuracy of the simulated attacks against designated targets within a radius of approximately 50 miles of Lindholme. The unit was capable of handling aircraft at 10-minute intervals.

By 1972 the Bomber Command Bombing School had become Strike Command Bombing School and that same year it moved out of Lindholme. Hangars were used for storage by a USAF detachment during the height of the Cold War. Later various RAF ground units and Strike Command used the stores, keeping parts for front-line aircraft. 
Lindholme was also home to 'Humber radar', later better known as 'Northern Radar'. Located across the A614 road, it provided radar services to 3 British Air Traffic Control Centers: Preston, Scottish (Prestwick) and London. It had a Type 82 Radar and remote links to other military radar heads.


Home movie of an airshow at RAF Lindholme in 1962. Visible (amongst others) are B-66, Vulcan XH558, Javelin, Lightning, Valiant and Victors.


RAF Lindholme (left) in May 1969, showing parts of the runways, dispersals and the logistics site with 5 hangars (AirfieldinformationExchange)

In 1974 RAF Lindholme became home to 643 Gliding School Air Training Corps. They operated winch launched Cadet Mk 3 and Sedbergh gliders conducting air experience and glider pilot training for Air Cadets. 
By 1980 Lindholme had been reduced to the status of a relief landing ground for RAF Finningley. In 1981 Finningleys Dominies were taken to Lindholme for the BoB weekend formation flight. It must have been one of the last 'busy' days at the airfield. The airfield closed in 1982 and was sold in 1985.
It was then converted into HM Prison Lindholme. By 1988 the runways har largely been removed. The hangars, logistics site and the control tower still exist. They have all become part of the prison complex.


Base entry sign RAF Lindholme 1982 on Flickr


By 1988, construction of the prison (right) was well underway, and the runways (left of center) were almost completely removed (AirfieldinformationExchange).


Lindholme in 2008. The locations of runways were still somewhat visible in the grass. The hangars and the rest of the logistics site are readily recognisable (Google Earth).


The control tower was still standing and fairly complete in 2008 (AirfieldinformationExchange).