A bit of history RAF Manby opened in 1938 and became the first Lincolnshire airfield with paved runways. During World War II it played host to a variety of squadrons, disciplined in both ground and air operations. Manby's first fully-fledged defensive squadron, No.2782 Defence Squadron, manned a variety of defences including machine guns, 20mm cannon and BOFOR guns. Manby was home to No.1 Air Armaments Training School, who remained at Manby for the duration of the war, utilising a huge variation of aircraft. In July 1944, the school was upgraded to 'Empire' status and with the increased workload that bought, Manby was subject to a major expansion.
After the war Manby become home to the RAF Flying College which, like the No.1 AAS that preceded it, operated a variation of aircraft. In 1954 a Manby-based English Electric Canberra (WH699) become the first aircraft to fly over the North Pole. After being renamed the RAF College of Air Warfare, Manby received a contingent of new Jet Provosts, replacing the propeller driven Percival Provosts. Around this time, Manby was also home the 'Macaws' display team who operated the schools Jet Provost aircraft. In 1972, with the closure of RAF Strubby down the road, Manby received the Hawker Siddeley Dominies that had been flying from there but despite this, rumours that Manby was next to be closed started to circulate.
Two years later Manby was indeed closed, at the end of March 1974. Many of the housing sections of the base came under control of RAF Binbrook while the main bulk of the technical site was sold to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) who still own premises today. Today the majority of buildings form part of the Manby Business Park and the hangers are in use for storage, however the former Officers Mess sits abandoned and forlorn. Borrowed from HugieDs post
The explore, what else to do on a bank holiday weekend other than get out and see some different places.We didn't know what to expect with the fire last september, whether there was going to be any of the building left the most beautiful part of it is all the cherry blossom trees that lead up to it. We had a walk round and made a way in within 5 minutes a group of young teenagers showed up and where smashing things and throwing stuff through the very little glass there was left we got a few pictures and left.
After the war Manby become home to the RAF Flying College which, like the No.1 AAS that preceded it, operated a variation of aircraft. In 1954 a Manby-based English Electric Canberra (WH699) become the first aircraft to fly over the North Pole. After being renamed the RAF College of Air Warfare, Manby received a contingent of new Jet Provosts, replacing the propeller driven Percival Provosts. Around this time, Manby was also home the 'Macaws' display team who operated the schools Jet Provost aircraft. In 1972, with the closure of RAF Strubby down the road, Manby received the Hawker Siddeley Dominies that had been flying from there but despite this, rumours that Manby was next to be closed started to circulate.
Two years later Manby was indeed closed, at the end of March 1974. Many of the housing sections of the base came under control of RAF Binbrook while the main bulk of the technical site was sold to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) who still own premises today. Today the majority of buildings form part of the Manby Business Park and the hangers are in use for storage, however the former Officers Mess sits abandoned and forlorn. Borrowed from HugieDs post
The explore, what else to do on a bank holiday weekend other than get out and see some different places.We didn't know what to expect with the fire last september, whether there was going to be any of the building left the most beautiful part of it is all the cherry blossom trees that lead up to it. We had a walk round and made a way in within 5 minutes a group of young teenagers showed up and where smashing things and throwing stuff through the very little glass there was left we got a few pictures and left.
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