Waltham - Binbrook - Ludford Magna - North Coates - Kelstern - Wickenby - Killingholme
| This Memeorial Stone is
situated on the A16 road, out of Grimsby towards Louth,
next to the site of the old base. Parts of the runways
are still visible, although the site now houses a golf
driving range. The inscription reads - DO NOT ATTACK THE HORNETS NEST 100 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE WALTHAM GRIMSBY DECEMBER 1942 APRIL 1945 HONOUR THE BRAVE |
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| This stone is
situated at the junction of the B1203 and the Rothwell
road, opposite the school. The inscription reads - 460 SQUADRON ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE 'TO THOSE WHO SERVED' BREIGHTON (YORKS) BINBROOK (LINCS) FROM 15th NOVEMBER 1941 TO 2nd OCTOBER 1945 STRIKE AND RETURN |
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| This memeorial
has been placed along the main road throught the village
(A631). Inscription reads - TO SERVE WAS THEIR HIGHEST AIM THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE AIRCREWS OF 101 SQUADRON BOMBER COMMAND WHO FAILED TO RETURN FROM OPERATIONAL SORTIES IN THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS. FROM 1943-1945 THE SQUADROM WAS BASED AT LUDFORD MAGNA WHERE THEY MADE MANY FRIENDS. A ROLE OF HONOUR IS KEPT IN THE VILLAGE CHURCH |
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This statue stands on the
sea front at Cleethorpes, looking out over the approaches
to the river Humber and the North Sea beyond. It
commemorates the men of Strike Wing at RAF North Coates,
one of Lincolnshires few non-Bomber Command bases. The
bronze shows an airman in flying kit and life jacket. The inscription reads - THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTH COATES STRIKE WING THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED AS PILOTS, NAVIGATORS AND GROUND PERSONNEL, WHICH FORMED THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTH COATES STRIKE WING DURING WORLD WAR II. FROM 1942 TO 1945 COVERING THE COASTAL REGIONS OF NORWAY, DENMARK, GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM AND FRANCE FROM BERGEN TO THE SKAGERRAK, THE FRISIAN ISLANDS, THE NORTH SEA, THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND THE BAY OF BISCAY TO BORDEAUX. OPERATING WITH BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER AIRCRAFT, ARMED WITH CANNON, BOMBS, TORPEDO AND ROCKETS THEY INFLICTED HEAVY LOSSES AND DAMAGE TO SHIPPING, DENYING FREEDOM OF THE SEA FOR SUPPLY PURPOSES, FOR THE NAZI GERMAN FORCES AND WAR INDUSTRY. OVER 150,000 TONS OF ENEMY SHIPPING WAS DESTROYED. THESE ATTACKS WERE MADE BY DAY & NIGHT, FLYING AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE IN COMBAT CONDITIONS OF VERY HEAVY GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. 120 AIRCRAFT FAILED TO RETURN AND 241 AIRCREW FROM GRET BRITAIN, THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR ALLIES GAVE THEIR LIVES FLYING WITH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTH COATES STRIKE WING. ( No.s 143, 236 AND 254 SQUADRONS) |
| This memorial
lies on the corner of the road near to the old airfield.
Parts of the runway are still visible, either as
hardstanding for haystacks or as a small go-kart track. The inscription reads - 625 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE OCTOBER 1943 APRIL 1945 "WE AVENGE" |
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This memorial stands at
the entrance to the old RAF base, now a civilian air
club. It depicts Icarus falling to earth. The site can be
reached from the A46 (following the signs to Wickenby,
then the aerodrome) or from the A158 following the signs.
I presume that the concrete runways in use are the
originals. The inscription reads - ROYAL AIR FORCE WICKENBY No. 1 GROUP BOMBER COMMAND 1942-1945 IN MEMORY OF ONE THOUSAND AND EIGHTY MEN OF 12 & 626 SQUADRONS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES ON OPERATIONS FROM THIS AIRFIELD IN THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST GERMANY AND THE LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED EUROPE. Per ardua ad astra |
| This stone is found on the
road through North Killingholme, off the A160 close to
the oil refineries ( opposite a crane hire depot ). The inscription reads - 550 BOMBER SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE 5 JANUARY 1944 31 OCTOBER 1945 THROUGH FIRE WE CONQUER |
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This stone is situated in
the grounds of an Anglian Water treatment centre. It can
be reached by driving through Elsham and turning right on
the T junction with the B1206 (opposite direction to the
country park sign). Follow the road up the hill and enter
the pumping station grounds. There is a museum attached
to the works which I believe can be visited on request,
although not all requests are granted. The inscription reads - ROYAL AIR FORCE ELSHAM WOLDS 1941 - 1945 FOR THOSE WHO MADE THE GREAT SACRIFICE |
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