RAF Syerston

RAF Syerston opened in 1940, a second phase expansion scheme airfield. It would have had a full grass landing ground. Closed in December 1941 to allow three concrete runways with two 1400yds and the main runway 1950yds. 150 feet wide with a 50ft perimeter track running right around. It started with just two J type hangars but they were increased with three T2's and three Glider T2's. Last a B1 repair shed.

The yellow arrows are the route that I took.

CT : Control Tower.

SQ : Squash Court.

Red circle : a dispersed camp in the woodland.

Hangar layout.

Main Gate.
A quick history: Initially a bomber station when it opened in 1940 as an expansion period airfield with a grass field, Vickers Wellingtons, Avro Manchester's and then Avro Lancaster's. as the war started to end Syerston became a training airfield and continued on with piston Provosts and then Jet Provosts of 2 Flying Training School (FTS). until it closed as an operational station in 1976. Syerston is currently home to the RAF's Air Cadets Central Gliding School, responsible for the allocation and maintenance of gliders, and No 643 and 644 Volunteer Gliding Schools.

The control tower is a Watch Office with Met Section, 5845/39 (brick) and was an Operational Bomber Station type.

The control tower is a Watch Office with Met Section, 5845/39 (brick) and was an Operational Bomber Station.

Two J type 5836/39 hangars are now left here, one B1 & six T2's have been removed. Being a pre 1939 planed bomber station the 'J' type hangar was the preferred choice. It was large enough to take the heaviest bombers to date. They had six large doors giving full width opening.

'J 'type hangars replaced the earlier 'C' types. A cheaper alternative.

Hangars, another view of the 'J' type hangars showing offices running the full length on both sides.

RAF Syerston Hanger Demolition.
The sheets of steel are 6mm thick and fully welded together.

Lancaster ZN-S of No. 106 Sqn RAF,

Wooden Hutting.
Just beside the Nissen hut is this wooden hut of RAF type. Windows are typical Air Ministry types and painted white..

A large concrete base.
Main picture is of a large concrete area which would have had several huts around it and inset are three pictures from inside the Nissen hut.

There were more tracks off into the wood and some more remains just above ground level but not much more.

This is a Sergeants Mess 24ft Nissen hut.

Coat hook rail.
Hats at the top, coats an the lower rack.

The air & ground crew of Avro Lancaster B Mk1, W4236 'QR-K of 'A' Flight, No. 61 Squadron RAF, grouped by the nose of the aircraft at Syerston, Nottinghamshire, after its had completed 70 operational flights.

Air crew, (standing) left to right:
F.O. FL Hewish. air bomber; P.O. WH Eager RCAF, pilot & captain; Sergeant FR Stone, wireless operator; Sergeant LS Vanner, rear gunner; Sergeant HT Petts, navigator; Sergeant FR Sharrard. mid-upper gunner; Sergeant L Lawrence, flight engineer.
Ground crew (sitting) left to right:
L. A. W A Long, F M (engines); Corp. C Bowyer, fitter; (airframe); L. A. J Blackwood, F.M. (air frames).

Ranks:
F.O. Flying Officer.
P.O. Pilot Officer.
L.A. Leading Aircraftsman.
Corp. Corporal.
F.M. Flight Mechanic.

WAAF and other ground crew members wave off Pilot Officer W H Eager RCAF and his crew in Avro Lancaster B Mark I, W4236 'QR-K', of No. 61 Squadron RAF, as they begin their take-off run from Syerston, Nottinghamshire, for a night raid on Hamburg, Germany. This was W4236's 74th mission, from which it returned safely: it was lost, however, during a raid on Mannheim on 10 August 1943.