RAF Spilsby

Post-war military rationalization. Following the end of World War II, the Royal Air Force underwent a significant drawdown. The vast number of airfields built for the bomber offensive were no longer required. RAF Spilsby ceased flying operations in July 1945 and was placed on 'Care and Maintenance'. It was used for storage by No. 27 Maintenance Unit until being officially closed and sold off in 1958 as it was deemed surplus to requirements.

The site has been almost entirely returned to agricultural use. The main runways have been removed, but faint outlines and sections of the perimeter track are still visible from the air and are used as farm tracks. The former technical site, located to the south-west of the airfield, has been redeveloped into the Spilsby Light Industrial Estate. A prominent memorial, consisting of a granite obelisk topped with a representation of a Lancaster, stands near the former main entrance on the B1195 road. It is dedicated to the personnel of No. 207 and No. 44 Squadrons who served at RAF Spilsby.

RAF Spilsby was a purpose-built Class A airfield constructed during World War II. It opened in September 1943 as a key base within No. 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The station was primarily home to two famous Avro Lancaster bomber squadrons: No. 207 Squadron, which moved there upon its opening, and later No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, which arrived in late 1944. From this base, crews flew perilous night bombing missions over Germany and occupied Europe, contributing significantly to the strategic bombing campaign. The station's history is also marked by tragedy, notably on 11 April 1944, when two Lancasters collided over the airfield while forming up for a raid, resulting in the deaths of all 14 crew members and one person on the ground. The station represents a typical example of the many temporary airfields that were crucial to the Allied war effort and the immense human cost associated with it.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Spilsby as an airport. The land is privately owned and has been repurposed for agriculture and light industry for over 60 years. The essential aviation infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, and most original buildings, has been removed, making any potential reactivation infeasible.