Metheringham Airfield was constructed in 1942 and opened in 1943. To do so, around 600 acres of farmland and woods were cleared near the village of Martin.
Today the site is dedicated to the men and women who served at RAF Metheringham from November 1943 until the end of the Second World War. The airfield was of a standard layout. Having 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 with the first sortie on 18th November, destination Berlin. |
Fog Intensive Dispersal OperationWith 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.
|
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.
|
The End of the WarThe 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. Of no further use to the RAF, the airfield was closed in the spring of 1946.
|