PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Expansion period airfields - why so many?
Old 10th Apr 2012, 07:44
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Wensleydale
 
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Not all the WW2 airfields in Lincolnshire are from the expansion period (1936 - 1939). The rapid increase in the Bomber Force after 1942 led to a need for many more airfields, and many temporary airfields were built as satellites for the main bases. Equipped with makeshift accommodation (Nissen huts etc) these airfields took just a few months to complete and began to come online in 1943 - the extra capacity of the satellites allowed Squadrons to move off the main bases for a few months and concrete runways were then put down before more squadrons moved in again.

Most main bases ran two satellites airfields - for example, Waddington was the main administrative centre for Bardney and Skellingthorpe, the whole complex being known as "Base 53" (3rd Base of 5 Group). The "Base" was under the command of an Air Commodore who outranked the Stn Cgrs at the 3 airfields. By 1944, Waddington's Base 53 could call on 5 Squadrons: 9; 50; 61; 467 RAAF; 467 RAAF; (around 100 Lancasters) to send on operations.

However, for all the details on the expansion programs etc read "The Right of the Line" by John Terraine (available on all good internet/auction sites for not much money) which covers the subject in great detail.
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