RAF Kelstern

RAF Kelstern
RAF Kelstern
Kelstern, Lincolnshire in England
Site information
Type	Royal Air Force satellite station; 12 Base substation
Code	KS
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Bomber Command; * No. 1 Group RAF
Location
	RAF Kelstern Shown within Lincolnshire RAF Kelstern RAF Kelstern (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates	53°24′36″N 000°06′54″W / 53.41000°N 0.11500°W
Site history
Built	1917 & 1942/3
In use	1917 - 19; September 1943 - May 1945
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	126 metres (413 ft) AMSL
Runways
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
Runways
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
00/00	Concrete/Asphalt
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Royal Air Force Kelstern or RAF Kelstern^[2] is a former Royal Air Force satellite 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.

Station history

The airfield first opened in 1917 as a night landing ground before closing in 1919.^[3]

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

No. 33 Squadron RAF.^[4]
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.^[5]
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.^[6]

Falconer, Jonathan (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
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.

v t e Royal Air Force stations in Lincolnshire
Active stations	Barkston Heath Coningsby Cranwell Digby Waddington
Active air weapons ranges	Donna Nook Holbeach
Former stations	Anwick Bardney Belton Park Binbrook Blyton Bracebridge Heath Caistor Cammeringham (Ingham) Coleby Grange Dunholme Lodge East Kirkby Elsham Wolds Faldingworth Fiskerton Folkingham Freiston Fulbeck Goxhill Grimsby Harlaxton Hemswell Hibaldstow Holbeach Kelstern Kirmington Kirton in Lindsey Leadenham Ludford Magna Manby Metheringham Hospital Nocton Hall North Killingholme North Witham Buckminster Sandtoft Scampton Skellingthorpe Spilsby Spitalgate (Grantham) Stenigot Strubby Sturgate Sutton Bridge Swinderby Wainfleet Wellingore Wickenby Woodhall Spa
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