RAF North Killingholme

Royal Air Force Station North Killingholme or more simply RAF North Killingholme is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.3 mi south of Goxhill, Lincolnshire and 3.4 mi north west of Immingham, Lincolnshire, England and used during the later years of the Second World War being located just to the west of the village of North Killingholme in North Lincolnshire.

The airfield lies west of the village of North Killingholme, between the village and the north-south railway line to Goxhill, mostly in the parish of North Killingholme with the northern edge being skirted by the parish of East Halton. A 400kV pylon line traverses the airfield today from north to south.

History
An airfield had initially opened in July 1914, being the first aerodrome in Lincolnshire, then known as Lindsey.

The airfield was built by George Wimpey (to the north) adjacent to the east-west railway which heads to Immingham docks, and north-east of Ulceby Junction.

The station opened in November 1943 and became fully operational in January 1944 when 550 Squadron moved there from RAF Waltham. The station was with 1 Group. 550 squadron flew 190 operations from the base, with the loss of 58 Lancasters. Three Lancasters completed 100 operations each.

550 Squadron had the honour of opening the aerial attack on 5 June 1944.

It remained operational until October 1945. 550 squadron was the only squadron to be based at North Killingholme and flew only Avro Lancasters also No. 14 Base HQ was based at the airfield between 1944 and 1945.

Current use
After North Killingholme closed, the land reverted to agriculture use, but the layout of the station is very easy to see from aerial photographs.

There is the North Killingholme Industrial Estate on the site. There is a large depot for Volvo construction equipment. Low Farm is on the north-west of the site.

Another nearby airfield, RAF Kirmington became Humberside Airport.

Units

 * No. 550 Squadron RAF January 1943 - 31 October 1945.
 * No. 14 Base HQ was based at the airfield between 1944 and 1945.