Somewhere to go in Lincolnshire
by Roy
Our Can-am rider Roy say it would be a great place to visit for a run-out.
Recently I visited the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre in Lincolnshire. The centre is dedicated to preserving the memory of the men and women that flew or supported 106 RAF bomber squadron who were based here.
I went on their last open day in 2022, they reopen the last weekend in March 2023. The entrance fee was £5, the highlight of this trip for me was to be able climb aboard their World War Two Douglas Dakota. This aircraft entered RAF service in 1944 for a couple of years, later it flew for several different airlines and last flew in 2001. It is now housed in a purpose – built hanger.
I arrived in the hanger when Brian one of the volunteers was just starting a tour with some other visitors, I was asked to join them. We learned all about the plane and we were allowed into the Dakota and sit in the cockpit and work some controls or sit on the para seats. Brian also told us about the “Flying Nightingale” nurses who flew US casualties from Metheringham back home to the States. They flew 1692 injured US personnel from this airfield alone, two nurses and a doctor accompanied them.
The airfield opened in 1943 and closed in 1946. The airfield was mainly used by 106 squadron who flew over 200 missions with Lancaster bombers in just over 19 months with a loss of 59 aircraft. The Dakota used Pratt and Whitney radial engines and the centre has recently been given a spare engine, this was very interesting to look at. There is more to see plus a coffee shop which does light snacks.
The centre is well worth a visit, the team of volunteers are helpful and friendly, for more details see—– www.metheringhamairfield.co.uk
Lastly; Guy Gibson ran 106 squadron at one time then got moved to do the Dambuster Raid. Bye Roy