RFC/RAF South Carlton – Lincolnshire
South Carlton airfield marked in red with the blue area the site of most of the technical facilities and accommodation. South Carlton village is mid left just out of picture and the busy A15 Brigg Road running N to S on the right. The B1398 runs to the west of the airfield
Situated just north of Lincoln and east of the village of South Carlton the steep Lincoln Cliff running running parallel to and about a mile west of Ermine Street now the A15 Brigg Road was a favourite of the planners of WW1 airfields so they could make use of the south west prevailing wind. It was a natural choice even for WW2 airfields the most famous being Brattleby later RAF Scampton.
South Carlton was constructed between Ermine Street and the B1398 roads immediately north of Hallifirs Wood and was quite large equipped with seven permanent hangars of 1916 RFC pattern one of which served as an Air Repair shed. In addition there were several temporary hangers of the Bessonneaux type and living accommodation was provided in rows of wooden huts
The airfield opened in 1916 with 45 Reserve Squadron flying FB5 aircraft. For the remainder of WW1 it housed training units the final one leaving in 1920 after which the airfield closed. Units based at the airfield included 61 TS and 61 RS with the DH6 and FK8 and 46 TS and 46 TDS flying Camels, Dolphins and 504s. American units 43rd Aero Sqn and 135th Aero Sqn also trained for a short time at South Carlton before being transferred to the Western Front in the summer of 1918
During the post war period it acted as a demobilisation base for two Squadrons both of which flew the DH9a and both disbanded at South Carlton on the 13 December 1919.
The station closed in 1920 and the site reverted to agricultural use when it was vacated by the RAF.
Several of the buildings were used by a local farmer since the airfield closed and I believe one of the workshop hangar has survived plus the remains of the camp cinema.
There are a number of good photos on Flickr relating to South Carlton and the airfield.
These can be viewed by clicking the link below.
Flickr South Carlton photos
Photos of some of the aircraft associated with South Carlton airfield
Avro 504 trainer
DH6 trainer
Armstrong Whitworth FK8
Sopwith Camel
Compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive
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