RAF Elsham Wold, UK
In the late 1930s with a new war on the horizon, extra airfields were again needed to accommodate an expansion of the RAF. Former First World War stations were surveyed for suitability, and an area just to the west of the original Elsham site was deemed to be better suited. work began in the winter of 1939-1940, and the station opened with the arrival in July 1941 of 103 Squadron. The station was equipped with a main runway 2,000 yards (1,829 m) long, and two subsidiaries of 1,600 yards (1,463 m) and 1,400 yards (1,280 m). Three hangars (two T-2’s and one J-Type) and 27 aircraft hardstands (later increased to 36) were built. Three more T-2 hangars were built in 1944. Accommodation for around 2,500 personnel was dispersed in the nearby farmland. No. 103 is credited with more operational sorties than any other 1 Group squadron, and consequently suffered the group’s highest losses. Of the 248 bombers lost on operations flying from Elsham Wolds, 198 were from No. 103 Squadron. By type, losses were 28 Vickers Wellingtons, 12 Halifaxes and 208 Lancasters. One Elsham Wolds Lancaster, Lancaster III ED888 M2 (Mike Squared)[3] which served with both Nos. 103 and 576, held the Bomber Command record for operational sorties, having completed 140 between May 1943 and December 1944.[4] A total of 974 operational hours. Source Wikipedia
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