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RAF Metheringham Airfield History |
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Callsigns used between RAF Metheringham and aircraft:-
R/T - "COFFEESTALL" W/T - "NO ONE" To get a feel of the W/T listen to Z Zulu calling No One "no one no one de z zulu k" (no one no one this is z zulu over) R/T - Radio Telegraphy = Voice W/T - Wireless Telegraphy = Morse Code |
Construction of the airfield started in 1942 with the clearing of some 600 acres of farmland and woods. The airfield runways were set out as a standard "A" configuration with a main runway, aligned almost due North/South of 2000 yards with two intersecting runways of 1400 yards.
Although far from complete, it soon became home to 106 Bomber Squadron which, despite having only a week to settle in, was operational in time for the opening of the Battle of Berlin. RAF Metheringham went to war in 1943 launching 13 aircraft on 18th November, destination Berlin. In September 1944, 1690 Bomber Defence Training Flight arrived with 7 Spitfire, 12 Hurricane and 8 Miles Martinet aircraft providing fighter evasion training. They left Metheringham on 4th June 1945. Between May 1944 and May 1945, Dakota aircraft of US 52nd Troop Carrier Wing were using Metheringham as a supporting airfield and Evacuation Centre for injured US Servicemen. 467 (RAAF) Sqn arrived in June 1945 and were disbanded on the 30th September 1945. October 1945 saw the arrival of 189 Sqn and their disbandment on 20th November 1945. 106 Sqn had the honour of being first in and last out when they disbanded at the station on 18th February 1946. With the war in Europe over and the end of the war in Japan during September 1945, Metheringham was placed into Care and Maintenance carried out by 93 MU. This unit left in December 1950. The airfield was finally sold-off during 1961-62. |
Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation
With fog over the landing site causing more casualties than enemy action, the airfield was one of four Lincolnshire airfields fitted with FIDO (Fog Intensive Dispersal Operation) in 1944. This system used petrol burners along the main runway to literally burn off the fog. Although expensive to operate, FIDO saved many aircraft and the lives of their crews. You can find out lots more about FIDO by visiting the museum.
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The War YearsAt its peak, about 2500 people worked at the site which consisted of living quarters, stores, social and worship areas, administration blocks and a sick bay. Scores of buildings, many of the Nissen Hut style, were erected. They were built to last ten years and not surprisingly, very few remain today. Since the area was returned to farming most have been dismantled or collapsed under the rigours of the English weather.
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The End of the War
The war in Europe was over just eighteen months after 106 Squadron arrived at Metheringham and having flown over two hundred operations and suffered the loss of fifty nine aircraft, the Squadron then prepared to depart for war in the Far East as part of the ‘Tiger Force’. Within six months of the end of the war with Japan in September 1945, the Squadron disbanded.
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