Bardney
Note: Some time ago I made this comment: "I believe the location on this map is accurate for BARDNEY. Could anybody kindly conform this?" This was before I had access to Google Earth and Google Maps.
In early 2017 I had a comment kindly posted by Bill Parker. (See below). The map should now be accurate.
BARDNEY: Military aerodrome later civil airfield then much later gliding site
Note: Picture by the author.
Military user: WW2: RAF Bomber Command 5 Group
9 Sqdn (Avro Lancasters)
Post WW2: 9 Sqdn (Avro Lincolns later English Electric Canberras)
Flying club/school: Lincoln Aero Club (1956 to 1959?)
1959 ‘snaphot’. Lincoln Aero Club
Gliding: Lincolnshire Gliding Club (1965 to 1973 only?
Location: E of B1202, NNE of Bardney village?, 9nm E of Lincoln
Period of operation: Military: 1943 to 1945? Civil use: 1956 to 1958 Military: 1958 to 1963 (Thor missile site)
Then civil again in the 1970s only?
Runways: 17/35 1828x46 hard 12/30 1280x46 hard
01/19 1280x46 hard
NOTES: No 9 Squadron were moved here, a hastily built and barely completed airfield, to shiver in Nissen huts after the comparative luxury of pre-war WADDINGTON in early 1943, ostensibly because hard runways needed to be constructed. In fact two Australian squadrons replaced them at WADDINGTON because, despite the promise to Commonwealth Prime Ministers that their aircrews would be well looked after, this was blatantly not the case. The situation was getting so bad for Commonwealth aircrews who were getting the worst aircraft, also the most dangerous missions and poor accommodation to boot - something had to be done to redress the balance.
It appears 9 Squadron operated Avro Lincolns from 1946 to 1952 before taking on the Canberra. What a major adjustment that must have been?
A LITTLE KNOWN ASPECT?
Eight weeks after war with Germany was declared in 1939, the British government announced the lifting of the colour bar for military service. It seems that only the RAF respected this decision and as a result some 6000 men from the Caribbean and West Africa volunteered, some 400 being selected for aircrew duties.
One of these was George Nunez from Trinidad who was a sergeant pilot and it seems, possibly being promoted to Pilot Officer when he died, the first Caribbean to suffer this fate with 9 Squadron. He was flying the Lancaster ED838 on the 1st May 1943 to raid Essen and his aircraft and all the crew vanished without trace, so quite probably the result of a direct hit in the bomb bay. Their names are recorded on the lovely, and large, memorial erected to all those whose remains were never found, at Runnymede just south west of HEATHROW airport.
Barely two months later Charles P King from Barbados, also died along with the rest of the crew in the Lancaster ED831 of 9 Squadron, being shot down by a night fighter over The Netherlands after attacking Gelsenkirchen which is near Essen.
If you are interested in this little known aspect of RAF WW2 history, please see my listing for ELSHAM WOLDS which has more information.
A QUITE ASTONISHING STORY
Please see my listing for STURGATE and the beginnings of the Lincoln Aero Club, and the excellent article by Glennis and Steve Elders published in the May 2006 edition of Popular Flying. "Whilst investigating Bardney, Tom, (my note Tom Hayes), met a local resident who was also keen on flying, and following a short article in the local evening paper other interested persons came forward."
"Contact with the Ministry of Defence and support from the local MP produced a favourable response and in due course permission was obtained to use the three runways, control tower and hard standing. The quarterly rent was to be £25.00, but in view of the weeds that needed clearing from the runways and lack of windows and doors in the control tower, the first three months were given free."
THE FORMATION OF THE LINCOLN AERO CLUB
"A small working party set about getting the airfield into shape in the spring of 1956 and a commitee was formed in July of that year. It was decided to call the organisation Lincoln Aero Club. It would become a Popular Flying Association Group, to enable it to operate the scheme whereby a number of people could share an aircraft and legally train on it without the machine having a commercial C of A, providing they were all owners and the instructor received no renumeration."
"An arrangement was made to use Tom's Taylorcraft, (My note G-AIRE), and part of everyone's annual subscription was counted as a share towards the aircraft. Flying costs were calculated and the hourly rate set at two pounds, six shillings." Those were the days! When I stopped flying with a very reasonable priced flying group based near London, the rate was well over £100 an hour.
INSTRUCTION
"Robin Simpson, and ex-RAF flying instructor, offered his services and flying instruction got underway in July. Robin owned an Auster Mk.5, G-AOCP and would fly from his farm strip near Ancaster to instruct, often still wearing his Wellington boots!"
MORE DEVELOPMENTS
"In the summer of 1957 a hangar was commenced after gaining permission and a small grant to buy the materials. Progress was steady as the substantial structure, sufficient to house three aircraft, was all made by the Club members in Tom's workshop before being transported to site .....by mid-1958 it just needed doors...."
PFA RALLY ETC
"The 1958 PFA Rally was being held at Rhoose Airport at Cardiff (My note: Now CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) and two members planned to fly across in G-AIRE, as well as two others who had hired a Magister. In the preceeding week the Club aircraft was cleaned and polished and the Lincoln Coat of Arms painted on the tail fin and everything else made ready for a Saturday start."
"In the post that particular Saturday arrived a copy of the PFA magazine, (My note: Popular Flying), with a picture of the Club hangar and by bitter coincidence, a letter from the MOD saying they were reoccupying the airfield (to use as a Thor missile site) and informing the Club it had to vacate. So before the hangar was complete the Club had to take it down again and empty the club house, which somehow they managed in the 28 days given."
This was of course during the height of the 'Cold War' but, call me cynical by all means, I cannot help suspecting that a miserable small-minded clerk in the MoD was deriving considerable pleasure from this. The fact being of course that Lincolnshire was awash with old WW2 airfields in roughly a similar state, equally suitable for this use. So why pick BARDNEY of all places?
"In just two years of training at Bardney, three members qualified for their PPL's and four others went solo." The club then moved to KIRTON-in-LINDSEY.
SPOTTERS NOTE
In 1977 it appears that only the Beagle A.61 Terrier 1 G-AVCS was based here, and although there was no mention of any gliders in the report, was Charlie Sierra used as a tug?
Bill Parker
This comment was written on: 2017-02-04 16:54:32Hi, regarding Bardney airfield. The airfield as shown on map is close but, it should be marked on other side of road. I flew with the Lincolnshire Gliding Club there from about 1965 to about 1973. A farmer called Mr. Poucher from Bardney dairies farm owned the site then. I seem to remember the tow plane was an Auster owned by Mr J. Nichol. The club moved from Bardney to Kirton Lindsey airfield (ex RAF) and is still operating from there.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Bill, Many thanks for the advice and information. Best regards, Dick
Catherine wilde
This comment was written on: 2018-10-25 15:14:17Sorry this might not really be the best place to leave a message but I am trying to get in touch with members of the gliding club who.flew around 1973 onwards. Do you have a contact.for Bill Parker. ?
Roger Goodchild
This comment was written on: 2018-11-24 21:45:59Hi Catherine, I was a member of the Gliding Club from 1965 to 1973 ish and a good friend of Bill Parker. We both played in the same band (The Chandelles where Bill was the Drummer). I'm still in touch with Bill who lives in the West Country. He is on Facebook. Regards Rog :)
Julian Fisk
This comment was written on: 2020-01-16 11:34:12The Lincolnshire Gliding club finally finished at around 1978 in Bardney. It continues in name at Struby airfield, although not directly a follow on from the Bardney club.The club currently has a Facebook site for previous members to join if anyone should arrive at this site and not know about it. Many thanks
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