History of the Airfield

Elsham Wolds airfield was situated approximately seven miles north-east of Brigg, to the east of route then taken by A15 road, near Elsham village in North Lincolnshire. An outline of the former airfield location can be seen by CLICKING HERE.

The site was first used by one of the used by a Home Defence squadron during World War I, against any air attack of North Lincolnshire or Humberside. The area between the Humber and the Wash had been identified as an entry point for German Zeppelin airships and received its fair share of bombs, although few caused any damage. The first squadrons were mainly equipped with the Avro 504 or the BE2 and facilities at the airfield were primitive. In 1919 the land reverted to agricultural use.

The demand for bomber aerodromes in 1939 led to many former airfield sites being surveyed to assess suitability for development and Elsham Wolds was chosen as a suitable site. The new airfield was built on the high plateau immediately north east of the village of Elsham to an early war time pattern with a "J" type hanger on the eastern side of the airfield and much accommodation and technical and administrative facilities grouped behind. Eventually the airfield had three concrete runways, the main one running north-west to south-east.

Elsham Wolds opened in July 1941 as a heavy bomber station as part of 1 Group Bomber Command. In the same month, 103 Squadron moved from their previous home at Newton, near Nottingham, to remain there for the rest of the war. 576 Squadron was formed at the airfield in November 1943 and operated from it until November 1944 when they moved to Fiskerton**.

Elsham Wolds gained further importance, when it became the Headquarters of No.13 Base, which provided a local link to 1 Group, controlling the two Squadrons based there and also 166 and 550, based at Kermington (now Humberside Airport) and North Killingholme, respectively.

On 1 April 1945, 100 Squadron arrived and shared it with 103 Squadron until the latter disbanded. When 100 Squadron relocated to Scampton, with the remnants of 103 to form (a re-designated) 57 Squadron, they were replaced by No 21 HGCU (Heavy Glider Conversion Unit). In 1947 the airfield closed and most of the site eventually reverted to agricultural use. However, for a short time, the airfield buildings were put to to good use when they became a camp for, mainly Polish, ‘Displaced Persons’ (i.e. refugees) who set up home, until the 1950s in what became known as “Little Warsaw” or the “Polish Hamlet”.

The dual-carriageway south from the Humber Bridge now runs through the middle of the former airfield, with a single hanger, on the burgeoning industrial estate now established, being the most prominent reminder of what once was. More subtle clues also exist in the alignment of the road through the estate, east of the main road, which follows part of the old perimeter track.

A water treatment works has also been built on the site, with a Memorial, to 103 and 576 Squadron personnel killed during the war, located outside. The Entrance Hall to the works houses the Honours and Awards Boards for both squadrons and several other items of interest. Two former offices now house the Association Memorial Room. In 2018, a Marker commemorating the airfield was unveiled by the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust alongside the road running past the hangar.

**Other info on Fiskerton Airfield is also available on an earlier website.