| Built between the villages of Sandtoft and Belton in North-East Lincolnshire, about 10 miles West of Scunthorpe, Sandtoft opened close to the wars end in 1944 and only enjoyed a full year of active service before being mothballed by the RAF in 1945. The site was retained by the military post war, but saw little active use. In 1953 it was made fully operational again for the USAF, however they then decided not to use it and in 1955 the site was finally disposed of.
The airfield is dissected by Sandtoft road, which runs between Belton and Sandtoft village, and had to be closed during the war years. Whilst the outlines of the runways and peri-track are visible from the air, it’s difficult to make out at ground level that this was once a WW2 bomber airfield. The Northern half of the site, sandwiched between Sandtoft road and the M180, is now almost entirely made up of a private industrial estate, with most of the former runways and hard standings having units built on them. A small transport museum also operates on part of what was once the old Western per-track. The old control tower still stands, having been converted into a house, along with the fire tender shed which is now a garage, but apart from that there are very few original buildings left on the site. A couple of shelters and a water tower are all that remain of the old domestic site West of the airfield. A memorial to the site can be found along Sandtoft road, just up from the old control tower next to some former workshops. The Southern half of the airfield is now mostly farmland, however a private flying club also operates on site keeping the theme of aviation alive, utilising the Southern half of the Eastern peri-track as a runway. There is a public viewing area next the the clubs buildings for any aviation enthusiasts wishing to view the aircraft arriving and departing. The small transport museum at the other end of Sandtoft road also makes for an interesting afternoon out. |
Entrance to the flying club on the East of site 700x525 |
Sign by main entrance 525x700 |
The sort of flying that takes place today. 700x525 |
View down the flying clubs runway, which is built on the Southern half of the old Eastern peri-track. 700x525 |
View of the civil aerodrome. 700x430 |
Looking North, this entrance to the industrial estate used to the Northern part of the Eastern peri-tack. 700x525 |
Looking down what used to be the centre of the main NE-SW runway. 700x525 |
Same again, but looking up what used to be the centre of the main NE-SW runway. 700x525 |
Transport museum based on part of the Northern half of the Western peri-track. 700x525 |
The old control tower, now somebody's house! 700x525 |
Aptly named! 700x525 |
A composite shot showing the old fire tender sheds. 725x525 |
A closer view of the original WW2 fire tender shed, now a garage. 700x525 |
I believe this was another fire tender shed, built during the 50's for the USAF, which is now a workshop. 700x525 |
Memorial just off Sandtoft road, close to the village roundabout (note huts in background). 700x525 |
Close up of inscription. 700x525 |
Close up of former RAF workshops (looks like they're being used by radio amatuers), 700x525 |
Is the original site entrance South of site? 700x525 |
Remains of domestic site in Sandtoft village. 700x525 |
Remains of domestic site in Sandtoft village. 700x525 |
The old water tower looks like its still in use! 750x525 |
