Page 129 - William B. Lake

RAF Gamston

RAF Gamston airport was originally built as a Royal Air Force airfield with three runways in a
triangular configuration (of which only one remains in common usage), and came into service in
December 1942. It was part of the RAF Flying Training Command as well as a satellite to RAF
Ossington, 8 miles to the south. In May 1943 the field was transferred to No. 93 Group RAF,
Bomber Command Training

In June the same year No. 82 Operational Training Unit arrived with Wellington Mk. III and Mk. X
bombers, Miles Martinets (used as target tugs) and Hawker Hurricanes. A year later the unit
became No. 86 Operational Training Unit with a new role; night training for Wellington bomber
crews. By October 1944, Gamston was transferred to No. 7 Group RAF, Bomber Command. A
month later No. 3 Aircrew School transferred from RAF Shepherds Grove.

1945 saw the disbanding of No. 3 Aircrew School and the arrival of No. 30 Operational Training
Unit transferred from RAF Hixon, Staffordshire with more Wellington bombers. After the end of the
Second World War all training ceased and the airfield was closed. In May 1953 Gamston
reopened as a satellite for nearby RAF Worksop and No. 211 Advanced Flying School RAF (later
No. 4 Flying Training School) was based there, flying Gloster Meteors and de Havilland Vampires.

The airport is today owned and operated by Gamston Aviation Limited which purchased the
operation in July 1993.

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