Page 7 - Robert Joseph Harding

airfields. Lindholme and its sub stations supplied trained aircrew’s to the Main Force
operational squadrons of No.1 Group on their North Lincolnshire airfields.

Lindholme had one other airfield under its control, this was RAF Sturgate to the east
of Gainsbourgh, this airfield was home to the Base Beam Approach Flight (1520
B.A.T). This Flight operated the Airspeed Oxford and would train pilots on the new
beam approach method of landing, later known as I.L.S.
Fighter Affiliation for No.1 Group was from RAF Ingham (also known as
Cammerington) some 1.5 miles North of RAF Scampton. This unit, 1687 (Bomber)
Defence Training Flight operated Hawker Hurricanes in the attack mode on Heavy
Conversion Unit and squadron aircraft giving crew’s practice on evading incoming
fire by the use of the ʿCorkscrewʾ manoeuvre in which the pilot had to dive the
aircraft in a 60 degree port or starboard dive then climb at the same angle back to
his original height and course. Thus the amount of deflection required by the
attacking fighter would reduce or minimize the incoming fire and its accuracy.

Conversion was completed on either the Handley Page Halifax or Avro Lancaster. 71
Base at this time was replacing its worn out Halifax aircraft to factory fresh Avro
Lancasters and it is not known if the crew had fully converted to the Lancaster, If not
the crew would convert to this type at squadron.

Training complete Robert and his crew were now ready for the next posting to an
operational squadron. The crew after a week’s leave were posted to 625 Squadron
at RAF Kelstern, just south of the market town of Louth.

Kelstern, high on the Lincolnshire Wolds was cold, damp and with RAF Ludford
Magna to the north one of the worst postings any airman could expect.

The number of operations undertaken by Robert and his crew at Kelstern are as
follows:

March 25 Hanover (Area Bombing)
th
March 27 Paderborn (Area Bombing/Troop positions)
th
th
April 4 Nordhausen (V2 rocket assembly plant)
th
April 4 Lϋtzkendorf (Oil Refinery)
Bomber Command Headquarters realised that Kelstern was not suitable for long
term occupation and with the war in its final weeks the decision to close the airfield
to flying and transfer crew’s to other squadrons was made. The number of Kelstern’s
personal both ground and aircrew falling ill due to the adverse weather conditions
th
focused minds and the station closed to flying on April 5 1945.
625 Squadron was split between Scampton, (the Squadron retaining two Flights at
this station) and Fiskerton (576 Squadron).

576 Squadron was enlarged to three Flights with a total establishment of 32
Lancasters, the biggest within No.1 Group. The newly formed ʿCʾ Flight was
commanded by Squadron Leader Hammond.