real time web analytics
Report - - R.A.F. WIGSLEY, Tower-17/06/2007 | Military Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - R.A.F. WIGSLEY, Tower-17/06/2007

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

C

Channel 74

Guest
Guest
I visited the tower this evening, access to the tower is easy with no security whatsoever !
The tower seems structurally sound though there are some large holes in a couple of places which were probably made when the tower was stripped bare .

There is sign of the building being on fire recently, a notice outside tells of an arson attack . Though inside there is nothing of the building that would burn. outside the doorway there is the remains of a lorry tyre which may have been burned inside. Damage seems to have been confined to the first room only (heat and smoke)

The building has 3 levels with several rooms on each floor. The stairs and floors are concrete and solid . The top floor has fine views in all directions across the former airfield, which is hardly recognizable as such with only small patches of the original concrete runways visible .

The building has a rather sad air about it.

562286167_b38c4e9721_o.jpg


562285299_0836769980_o.jpg


562284927_267a6d8098_o.jpg


561877880_cc8481b0df_o.jpg


562284281_ae2404ffb0_o.jpg


562283649_e49ce00b86_o.jpg


562283489_af2a61420e_o.jpg


562283279_dfc17cd6f8_o.jpg


561875826_ddc99e7639_o.jpg


561875686_f30d6442fe_o.jpg


561875560_b6cc8e52ec_o.jpg


561875294_e4a1cfcf1b_o.jpg


561875056_d97277317e_o.jpg


561874826_69e634d9ca_o.jpg


561874668_0c485510db_o.jpg


562281093_11f764e597_o.jpg


You can imagine the feeling of waiting and watching for that last Hampden back from the opp ! Never to return !!!

562280591_675d247d2e_o.jpg


561873748_9701e7ca87_o.jpg


562280339_7aaa8fede2_o.jpg


562280213_5bf8ccb53c_o.jpg


561873152_9bd4e67280_o.jpg


562279663_fef27e62cb_o.jpg


561872816_3f6486dbe5_o.jpg


562279167_08214d173b_o.jpg


This room had the fire .

562279017_f822d494d1_o.jpg


561872056_592a56c7fd_o.jpg


561871892_a693a4e569_o.jpg


The arson notice.

562582195_2c6811e5e6_o.jpg



I apologize if this subject has been covered else where.

Please bare with me this is my first report :)
 
C

Channel 74

Guest
Guest
Re: R.A.F. WIGSLEY, Tower -Report-17/06/2007

Nice report, the B&W photos are certainly very fitting for this place. Seeing them in colour would spoil it I think.

Reminded me of Findo Gask tower which I have been meaning to visit for a while.
I took them in B&W , the light was fading fast and an atmosphere was thick in the air, the tower cried out for B&W :)

This dead bird was on the upper floor
561874346_e04b490865_o.jpg


It seemed rather fitting with the atmosphere .

The graffiti was everywhere
562282069_dcda7789ef_o.jpg


I don't know if its me being tainted by this wonderful world we live in, but I kind of expected it to be like that :crazy

As I drove off I noticed a couple of smaller buildings over grown on the other
side of the road (sorry no pics) they will be worth an explore I'm sure :D
They were about 300yards right of this picture
561879108_91ba73eb2c_o.jpg


Note at the edge of the road the concrete taxiway

I also noticed some buildings possibly barrack blocks close to the village, these were in an abandoned state, falling into rapid decay.
but being rather close to civilization would be more difficult to look at:(
 
C

Channel 74

Guest
Guest
Re: R.A.F. WIGSLEY, Tower -Report-17/06/2007

Info taken from http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s83.html

WIGSLEY

A wartime airfield to Class A standard 7.5 miles from the centre of Lincoln and directly south-west of the village of the same name, Wigsley was built in 1941-42, the main contractor being Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. Three concrete runways were 09-27, 0321 and 14-32 which were increased in length in the later stages of construction, 09-27 and 14-32 being extended across the Wigsley Besthorpe road which was closed. The new lengths were 09-27, 2,000 yards and 1,400 yards for both the others. There was also the usual encircling perimeter track with 36 hardstandings. Two T2 hangars were provided, one between runway heads 09 and 32 by the Spalford road and the other on the technical site, which was on the south-east side of the airfield between runways 27 and 32. A Bl hangar was positioned to the north-east between runway heads 14 and 21. Bomb stores lay in the wood between and beyond runway heads 14 and 21 and the camp sites were dispersed around and beyond Wigsley village and consisted of eight domestic, two communal and sick quarters. Maximum accommodation was put at 1,450 males and 351 females.

Early in February 1942, No. 455 Squadron, an RAAF unit, arrived from Swinderby, Wigsley's parent station. Its Hampdens were soon in action and, as with most Hampden squadrons, minelaying played a big part in their operational duties. However, their tenure at Wigsley was brief for in mid-April the squadron was withdrawn from Bomber Command and sent north to become a Coastal Command torpedo-bomber unit. Seven Hampdens failed to return from operations and four others were lost in crashes while flying from Wigsley. This also brought an end to the airfield's short history as a operational squadron station in Bomber Command, as from thereon all the units based there were involved in some form of operational training.

No. 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit with a few Lancasters and Manchesters was installed in May 1942 to finish crews for No. 5 Group. Four Lancasters were lost on operations when the unit was called upon to assist in the bombing campaign. As with other Lancaster HCUs, a severe shortage of aircraft saw them withdrawn and replaced by Stirlings for several months. Wigsley came under No. 7 Group when most bomber OTUs and HCUs were transferred to this revived formation in November 1944 but No. 1654 HCU continued in residence until September 1945 when it was moved to Woolfox Lodge. Bomber Command operations from Wigsley had cost 17 aircraft missing or crashed in the UK, 13 being Hampdens with four Lancasters.

Wigsley received no further flying units although as Swinderby's satellite it was frequently used by training aircraft from that station and, with a small holding party, the airfield continued to function for `circuits and bumps' until the summer of 1958 when the RAF finally withdrew. It was sold during the next decade and by the 1970s few buildings remained, agriculture having taken over.
:)
 
Top