RAF Metheringham & 106 Squadron

Airfield History

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 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 Years

At 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. Of no further use to the RAF, the airfield was closed in the spring of 1946.

The Present Day

At the present time, all that remains of the main airfield site is one of the shorter runways, which has been reduced in width and incorporated into the public road system, and part of the perimeter track. The outline of the other two runways is, however, still visible from the air. To the South West corner of the original airfield layout is a communal site which comprised the NAAFI, gymnasium, shops, a squash court and rations stores. This is where The Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre is situated.
 
The latest refurbishment of the museum introduces the theme of "Put Yourself in Their Shoes". In the Zena Scoley Room you will learn about the history of RAF Metheringham from its creation in 1942 through to its closure as an active RAF base and beyond. There is a large diorama that shows how the airfield was laid out in 1943. There are also several new exhibits that show what it was like to live and work on a WW2 RAF base as well as displays of actual WW2 RAF equipment from aircraft parts through to survival equipment as used by RAF personnel. These displays, along with a visit to our Blast Shelter and Bomb Shelter will take you back to 1944. You really will get a feel of what it would be like to walk in their shoes!

In the adjacent Carey Powell Room, and new for 2020, is the ‘Ditching Display’ where we show our rare dinghy and ‘Ditching in the Sea‘ artefacts. You can also visit the individual crew positions in order to learn about the equipment and training involved to operate the legendary Avro Lancaster bomber during World War Two. Opposite the Carey Powell room, a more recent building houses the reception centre and shop.
 
The Gymnasium at RAF Metheringham (which originally doubled as a C of E Church) is used for larger gatherings such as our well attended lectures, Squadron reunions and other events. An annexe to this building, once the Roman Catholic Church, is now The Memorial Room where we have our book of remembrance along with many paintings and photos relating to RAF Metheringham and 106 Squadron. We also have a quarter scale ex-flying model Lancaster Bomber (possibly the largest in the world at twenty five and a half feet wingspan!) which forms the centre piece of the gymnasium displays and has been painted with the insignia of two famous 106 aircraft. After being used for agriculture after the war, the gymnasium was taken over by the Friends of Metheringham Airfield in the early 1990s and was restored ten years ago. The building is available for hire and it makes a fantastic venue for weddings, parties, meetings and club rallies. Find out more here. 
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