| Located between the villages of Heapton and Upton some 5 Miles South-East of Gainsborough (11 miles North-West of Lincoln), former RAF Sturgate, which actually takes its name from a small village a mile to the North, was one of the last airfields to be built in Lincolnshire during WW2.
The base opened in late 1944, and was only fully operational for just over a year, before being wound down by the RAF in early 1946. Post war it saw little use until the USAF took it over in 1952. The site finally closed when the Americans left in 1964 and was then sold off in various lots. Today, a small civil aerodrome operates on the Western side of the old airfield, from what used to be the old technical site. The Eastern side has reverted back to farmland. The old control tower is still standing and in reasonable condition, being currently used as a clubhouse by Lincoln Aero Club. Though many buildings and hangers were pulled down when the site finally closed in the 60’s, a few of the tech site buildings adjacent to the tower still remain. As do a few odd buildings opposite the main entrance. The old domestic site huts, which were South-West of the base, North of Upton village, have long been demolished. A few hardstandings are visible from the air, but these are not readily accessible as these are now on private farmland. The former bomb stores North-East of site is currently used by a car breakers yard. |
View of Sturgate Civil Aerodrome from Common Lane. 535x400 |
Northern peri-track, looking East. Former aircraft tie downs in foreground. 535x400 |
Northern peritrack, looking West towards tech-site and control tower. 535x400 |
Sign by main entrance. 535x400 |
Main entrance. 535x400 |
Original surviving buildings. 535x400 |
Searchlight and tractor shed. 535x400 |
Unknown building behind tower. 535x400 |
Ancillary buildings behind tower. 535x400 |
Fire tender shed, now a workshop. 535x400 |
Front view of original buildings 535x400 |
Control tower, front view. Search light shed behind on left. 565x400 |
Rear view of control tower. 535x400 |
Control tower, with ident square. 1024x768 |
View accross airfield from top balcony. 535x400 |
Remains of NW-SE runway (now a taxiway). 535x400 |
Main W-E runway as viewed from Common Lane. 535x400 |
Former power supply hut near main entrance. 535x400 |
Entrance to former Northern tech-area, opposite main entrance. 535x400 |
MT building. 535x400 |
Inside MT Building 535x400 |
Why is there a hole in the roof? 535x400 |
Demolished remains of former tech site buildings, opposite main entrance. 535x400 |
Former storage building, North of site on Common Lane. 535x400 |
