RAF Digby / RAF Scopwick, Lincolnshire - Part 1 up to WW2
RAF Digby as it is today with Heath Rd B1191 on the right and Cuckoo Lane running across the southern side of the old airfield. The outline of the old grass airfield is clearly visible
Situated west of the B1191 near the village of Scopwick and 10 miles south east of Lincoln this airfield was constructed in 1917 to take cadets and aircraft from HMS Daedalus the Royal Naval Air Service training school at Cranwell. The airfield consisted of three double hangars and a single hangar for aircraft repairs plus barracks, messes and other buildings and was completed in October 1918. The work was accomplished sufficiently for training to start in March 1918 with the arrival of a group of officers and men from Portholme Meadow airfield in Cambridgeshire.
On the 28 March Scopwick airfield was fully completed and officially opened. The airfield was part of 12 Group and the first OC was Major D'Albiac DSO DFC from 1 April 1918. He was later to become Air Marshal Sir John D'Albiac KCVO KBE CB DSO and went on to serve with great distinction during WW2 in the Middle East/North African/Eastern Mediterranean theatre of operations.
In November 1918 No 59 Training Unit was formed but due to the Armistice was not fully established. However early in 1919 59 Training Unit became No 59 Training Squadron for the training of both fighter and bomber pilots. By May 1919 it consisted of 4 Flights formed from three former RNAS Squadrons plus 273 Squadron.
In April 1920 No 3 Flying Training School ( FTS ) was established and Scopwick was transferred to 23 Group. The new OC at that time was S/L A T Harris AFC later Marshal of the RAF Sir Arthur Harris GCB OBE AFC.
In July 1920 RAF Scopwick became RAF Digby to avoid confusion between RAF Shotwick in Flithshire which became RAF Sealand. Digby was chosen as it was another village close by.
No 3 FTS but was disbanded in 1922 and Digby was placed on Care and Maintenance
However in June 1924 No 2 FTS moved to Digby from RAF Duxford. This unit was under the command of W/C A W Tedder later Marshal of the RAF Lord Tedder GCB DCL LLD.
At this time the airfield was developed and expanded. During 1926 bombers, possibly Handley Page Hyderabads and or Vickers Vimys, were added to the units other aircraft up until 1931/32.
RAF Digby in the early 1930s with Health Road at the top and Cuckoo Lane on the left. The old hangars which were demolished in the mid 30s are clearly evident.
In December 1933 2 FTS was disbanded and Digby was passed to the control of RAF Cranwell.
Ten months later No 2 FTS was reformed flying Avro Tutors Hawker Harts and Hawker Furys before moving to RAF Brize Norton in September 1937.
During 1935/36 the original hangars were demolished and replaced with additional and improved living accommodation blocks and associated facilities. It was intended to construct three new C Type Hangars but with war looming only two were were completed.
Digby was now transferred to No 12 Group of Fighter Command and in November 1937 46 Squadron arrived with their Gloster Gauntlet aircraft and 73 Squadron with their Gloster Gladiators.
During 1938 these Squadrons were re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. In August 1939 they were joined by No 504 ( County of Nottingham ) Squadron and all were engaged in fighter defence and convoy patrols.
On the 3 October 1939 No 229 Squadron arrived at Digby with their Bristol Blenheim IFs and operated patrols from December 1939 to January 1940 when the Squadron was engaged in rtraining and radar trials at Digby till March 1940. At this time they then converted to Hawker Hurricanes moving to RAF Northolt in the summer
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Interwar
Sopwith Camel
No 209 Sqn - February 1919 to June 1919. - Sopwith Camel
No 210 Sqn - February 1919 to June 1919 - Sopwith Camel
No 213 Sqn - March 1919 to December 1919 - Sopwith Camel
DH4
No 11 Sqn - December 1919 to December 1919 - DH4
No 203 Sqn - December 1919 to January 1920 - Sopwith Camel.
No 25 Sqn - December 1919 to January 1920 - DH 4/DH 9
Station re-named RAF Digby.
Avro 504
No 3 FTS April 1920 to April 1922 - Avro 504
Station put on care and maintenance. Activated again in June 1924
No.2 FTS June 1924 to December 1933. - DH9
Handley Page Hyderabad
Hawker Hart
No.2 FTS October 1934 to September 1937 – Handley Page Hyderabad and Hawker Hart
Gloster Gauntlet
Pre war Hawker Hurricane
No 46 Squadron – November 1937 to December 1939 – Gloster Gauntlet and Hawker Hurricane
No 73 Sqn November 1937 to September 1939 - Gloster Gauntlet and Hawker Hurricane
No 504 Sqn August 1939 to October 1939 Hawker Hurricane
WW2
No 229 Sqn October 1939 - Bristol Blenheims IF
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Compiled by David Fell. Digby Part 2 to follow. Photos from my archive and TTE
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