RAF Kelstern

Royal Air Force Kelstern or RAF Kelstern is a former Royal Air Force station 3.6 miles (5.8 km) south east of Binbrook, Lincolnshire and 4.9 miles (7.9 km) north west of Louth, Lincolnshire, England.

RAF Kelstern
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Kelstern, Lincolnshire, England
Built	1917
In use	1917-1919 1943-1945
Elevation AMSL	420 ft / 128 m
Coordinates	53°24′36″N 000°06′54″W
Map
RAF Kelstern Location in Lincolnshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 00/00 0 0 Asphalt 00/00 0 0 Asphalt 00/00 0 0 Asphalt

Station history

The airfield first opened in 1917 as a night landing ground before closing in 1919.[1]

RAF Kelstern re-opened in 1943 and the following squadrons used the airfield:

• No. 33 Squadron RAF.[2]
• No. 170 Squadron RAF reformed at the airfield on 15 October 1944 with the Avro Lancaster I and III before moving to RAF Dunholme Lodge on 22 October 1944.[3]
• No. 625 Squadron RAF reformed at Kelstern on 1 October 1943 with the Lancaster I and III before moving to RAF Scampton on 5 April 1945, where the squadron disbanded on 14 October 1945.[4]

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. "Bomber Command - Kelstern". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
2. "RAF Kelstern". Raf-Lincolnshire.info. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
3. Jefford 1988, p. 65.
4. Jefford 1988, p. 101.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.