Timeline

1941

Land Aquired

The landowner Mr Bowser is told that some of his land is required to build an airfield and construction of RAF Wickenby begins

19 Sep 1942

Advance party arrive at Wickenby under command of F/L HC Cotterill

25 Sep 1942

12 Squadron move to Wickenby

26 Sep 1942

First Op flown from Wickenby

28 Sep 1942

Announced that 12 Squadron would be equipped with Lancasters

4 Nov 1942

First Lancaster delivered

10 Nov 1942

“B” Flight stood down for conversion to Lancasters

All Wellington Mk3 transferred to 199 Squadron

11 Nov 1942

“A” Flight stood down for conversion to Lancasters

13 Nov 1942

2 dual control Lancasters arrived from 1656 CU with crews and instructors

14 Nov 1942

10 Air Gunners posted in for duties as Mid Upper Gunnners

6 complete crews posted to 199 Squadron as surplus to requirements

16 Nov 1942

25 Flight Engineers posted in for duties on Lancasters

21 Nov 1942

Last Wellington Op from Wickenby

27 Dec 1942

12 Squadron now ready for operations with 24 crews converted to Lancasters

6 Jan 1943

All available personnel were engaged in clearing snow from runways

11 Feb 1943

Carrier pigeons were carried for the first time, 2 per aircraft, supplied from a loft at Binbrook

18 Feb 1943

Link Trainer now available for use

17 Mar 1943

Last Wellington Z8501 collected

The Squadron’s last remaining Wellington Z8501 having been made servicable was collected by ATA for ferrying to 33 MU. It crashed after take off when the port engine cut, the aircraft was wrecked and two of the ATA crew were injured

1 Apr 1943

A dance was held to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the RAF

1 May 1943

The town of Market Rasen was allotted to Wickenby in the “Wings for Victory” campaign which raised £59,000

14 May 1943

No 6 Site at Fulnetby was taken over from the Contractors.

24 Jul 1943

Window used for the first time

26 Aug 1943

Station Cinema was opened in the new Gymnasium

30 Aug 1943

The Station concert party “The Ad Astras” gave their first variety show

1 Sep 1943

A hostile aircraft was in the vicinity at 0320

18 Sep 1943

Instructions that the Squadron is to be partially equipped with H2S

22 Sep 1943

New buildings handed over from contractors

1 Oct 1943

No 4810 Squadron Airfield Construction flight and No 2842 Squadron RAF Regiment were transferred from Wickenby to Kelstern

3 Nov 1943

No 9012 Servicing Echelon was formed from 12 Squadron

7 Nov 1943

626 Squadron was formed under the command of W/C P Haynes comprising 2 flights (16 + 4 aircraft)

10 Nov 1943

First operation carried out by 626 Squadron to Modane

19 Nov 1943

Information received that Sgt PJ Bemrose missing since 9 Oct 1943 is POW

2 Feb 1944

The number of crews for each Squadron was 28

28 Feb 1944

All available personnel snow clearing from runways

Mar 1944

Fishing kit ws introduced consisting of 40 yards of line, a lead weight and 6 assorted hooks and a waterproof instruction booklet for ditching crews

13 Mar 1944

Aircrew detailed to help local farmers

19 Apr 1944

Intruder in Wickenby circuit

1 May 1944

Announced that the duration of an operational tour would be 30 sorties

24 Jun 1944

F/L Thomas & crew picked up in the sea off the Devon coast

7 Jul 1944

New cigarette ration cards to be issued

13 Jan 1945

Explosion in the Station Bomb Dump Fusing Shed 3 or 4 personnel killed

30 Jan 1945

No flying possible due to snow, all aircrew on snow clearing duties

28 Feb 1945

White paint to be removed from fins and rudders immediately

Mar 1945

626 Squadron achieved three months without an incident

3 Mar 1945

Two aircraft shot down by intruders on return from cross country details

25 Mar 1945

Lancaster ME758 PH-N completed its 100th operational sortie

14 Apr 1945

The last raid of the war by a major Bomber Command Force on a German city

24 Sep 1945

12 Squadron leaves Wickenby

9 Oct 1945

626 Squadron disbanded

19 Oct 1945

109 Squadron Mosquitos arrive at Wickenby

13 Dec 1945

Last Mosquito leaves Wickenby

1949

93MU take up residence at Wickenby

1952

93MU leave Wickenby

1956

92MU leave Wickenby

1964-1966

The RAF clearance of Wickenby and the reopening of the road between Holton-cum-Beckering and Snelland

1966

Private flying begins at Wickenby

1979

The Wickenby Register (12/626 Squadron Association) is formed

6 Sep 1981

The Icarus Memorial is unveilled

late 1990s

The Wickenby Museum opens

The Wickenby Register Archive moves to the Wickenby Museum

2007

The Wickenby Museum is renamed the RAF Wickenby Memorial Collection

Sep 2009

The Book of Remembrance is located at Wickenby

5 Sep 2010

The refurbished Icarus Memorial is unveilled

Sep 2011

The Wickenby Register closes

The Friends of the Wickenby Archive is formed