Ossington
OSSINGTON: Military aerodrome
Note: All four of these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: WW2: RAF Training Command
1942: 14 (P) AFU [(Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit] (Airspeed Oxfords)
1943: RAF Bomber Command 93 Group
82 OTU (Vickers Wellingtons)
1945: RAF Transport Command
No.6 Lancaster Finishing School
This map was kindly supplied by Mike Holder.
Location: W of Ossington village, 8nm NNW of Newark-on-Trent
Period of operation: 1942 to 1946
Runways: 06/24 1829x46 hard 08/26 1280x46 hard
13/31 1280x46 hard
NOTES: I have also found information stating that Hawker Hurricanes were based here. Can anybody help as I can find no other trace to support this.
Also, something I find rather perplexing, why were Transport Command in 1945, operating a Lancaster Finishing School? I would imagine that perhaps it was involved in training Lancaster crews for ferrying military personal, including PoW's back to the UK?
As the Google Earth pictures above show, even in 2020 the original 'peri' track is still visible, and still being used - by farm and presumably other vehicles. The runways can still be made out too.
Anne Ruckley
This comment was written on: 2020-11-17 15:38:13I lived on a farm in Norwell Woodhouse which adjoined the woods to the south of Ossington. I remember there were two black girls in my primary school in Norwell and I now wonder if any Americans were based at Ossington?
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2020-11-17 21:07:27Hi Anne, I think it unlikely that those girls were American. What is usually overlooked today is that during WW2 there were hundreds of black airmen in the RAF, and many made it to become aircrew. I suspect this might answer your query. Mostly they came from the West Indies and they certainly made a great contribution to the war effort. Best regards, Dick
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