Fulbeck
Airfieldphotograph with full serial number and list of aircraft by group
A Relief Landing Ground for RAF College Cranwell in 1940-42, Fulbeck was developed as RAF Fulbeck bomber station in 1942-43. Operated first by the RAF then the Troop Carrier Groups of the Ninth Air Force in the build up to and exectution of the campaign in North West Europe. Since the 1960s it has been used as a go-kart race track 1960-date, and also as a Ministry of Defence training area. The airfield was to a private local landowner in 2013, and is the proposed site of a wind farm.
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English Heritage's Record Description
A former World War Two and Post-war period military airfield, opened in 1940 and closed in 1970. The base was initially established as a relief landing ground for the RAF College at Cranwell, and was at first unofficially known as Fenton. In 1942 the site was upgraded to serve as a full "Class A" standard bomber base and was renamed Fulbeck. The upgrade involved laying three concrete and tarmac runways and hard standings around the perimeter track; 5 aircraft hangars (Type T2) were installed. The technical site was located on the east side of the airfield. Domestic sites and sick quarters were located in Fulbeck Low Meadows. Further improvements were made in 1943. United States Army Air Force Troop Carrier Groups (434th and 440th) used the base, the latter force was involved in "Operation Market-Garden", the airborne assault on Arnhem. In late September the Americans were deployed elsewhere and a succession of Royal Air Force Units took over for the rest of the war. Post-war the base remained under Royal Air Force control but was used as a depot for surplus stores. For a time part of the Air Historical Branch's historic aircraft collection was kept at Fulbeck. Most of the runways were removed in the 1970s but the hard standings and perimeter track were retained. In 2002 the airfield continued to be used by the Ministry of Defence for military training exercises.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 318th Service Group 458th Service Squadron
- Service Numbers: W2 107 465
- Highest Rank: Warrant Officer
- Role/Job: Aircraft Engineering Officer 4823
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 442nd Troop Carrier Group 305th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32755973
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 442nd Troop Carrier Group 303rd Troop Carrier Squadron
Revisions
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Airfields of the Ninth Then and Now (London, 1994)
Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, Action Stations 2: Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (Cambridge, 1984)