"There are wild moors, purple with heather, and aglow with golden gorse; a land of health, and the air deliciously bracing. I do not think there is a purer or more exhilarating air to be found in all England, or for that matter out of it." JJ Hissey, 1898, describing the ancient heathlands around Woodhall Spa in his book 'Over Fen and Wold'. Descriptions and records by JJ Hissey, Rev J Conway Walter and Joseph Burtt Davey from the late nineteenth century reveal a rich and varied wildlife of plants and animals of heathland and bog. The heathlands around Woodhall Spa were extensive until the end of the 19th century. During the 20th century, with high cereal prices and two world wars requiring increased food production, parts of the moors began to be ploughed, drained and cultivated.
Woodhall Spa Airfield was formerly the home of four brave RAF squadrons, including 617 ‘the Dambusters’ Squadron, but more recently was used as a sand and gravel quarry. It is a landscape of sandy soils with acid grassland, heathland with some marsh areas and open water. As a nature reserve it is a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this former airfield.
By the 1960’s the only substantial area of open heathland left was the present Kirkby Moor and Moor Farm nature reserves, which were acquired by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in the 1970’s. A key element of developing the airfield as a nature reserves lies in restoring parts of the land to the way it existed in the nineteenth century, including the restoration of lowland heathland, and in it’s connectedness to the existing nature reserves. Second World War Woodhall Spa Airfield was constructed on former farmland as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby, work commenced in 1941 and it became operational in February 1942. It had a classic ‘A-frame’ shape configuration of 3 runways and 36 dispersal points. During the building of the airfield it was attacked on 8 separate occasions between March and August 1941. The bomb (at the crossing point of the main and east/west runways) is possibly one of nine 500kg bombs dropped by a Heinkel that was chased and shot down by a Hurricane on the 13 March 1941. The airfield was home to four squadrons: 97 Sqdn (Feb 42-Mar 43), 619 Sqdn (Mar 43-Jan 44), 617 Sqdn (Mar 44-Jun45) and 627 Sqdn (Apr 44-Oct 45).
Version 1 September 2016
Postwar operations In 1960 RAF Woodhall Spa became a base for the Bristol Bloodhound Surface to Air missiles operated by 222 Squadron. However, this squadron was disbanded in 1964 and after being used as an engine and test facility RAF Woodhall Spa eventually fell into disuse. It was subsequently purchased by Cemex and used for the quarrying of sand and gravel. Quarrying In around 1972 Butterly Aggregates (latterly Cemex) acquired the whole of the ex-airfield site (except for the MoD engine testing area and the golf course). Excavations were carried out from 1984 to 2012. Approximately 200,000 tonnes per annum came out of the site. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 5HF 01507 526667, info@lincstrust.co.uk, www.lincstrust.org.uk, @lincswildlife
The Tirpitz was sunk in Tromsø fjord on 12 November by aircraft from Woodhall Spa and Bardney as part of Operation Catechism.
Guy Gibson flew his last fatal mission from the airfield in September 1944. Dora Garner, who lived (‘42/’43) in the Waterworks House adjacent to the airfield in 1942/43, recalled playing on the airfield around the planes, writing names on the bombs and seeing red squirrels.