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It was originally one of the airfields used by a Home Defence squadron in the defence of North Lincolnshire and Humberside against air attack in the First World War. The area between the Humber and the Wash was an easily defined entry point for Zeppelins and Lincolnshire received its fair share of bombs although few caused any damage. The first squadrons were mainly equipped with the Avro 504 or the BE2 and facilities at the airfield were primitive. C Flight at 33 squadron were based at the airfield from December 1916 flying FE2b fighters to the end of the war and in June 1919 the airfield reverted to agriculture. The demand for bomber airfields in 1939 led to many former airfields being surveyed to assess suitability for development. Elsham Wolds was chosen as a suitable site for a bomber airfield and construction work began in 1940. An important factor in the choice of the site was the railway communications with a railway station situated nearby at Barnetby. The new airfield was built on the high plateau immediately north east of the village of Elsham and was built to an early war time pattern with a "J" type hanger on the Eastern side of the airfield and much accommodation and technical and administrative facilities grouped behind. Eventually the airfield had 3 concrete runways, the main one running NW/SE. In addition 2 further large hangers were constructed as the war progressed. It was often a cold, wet and windy site and the accommodation facilities were somewhat primitive so it was not a comfortable place, particularly in the cold weather. Elsham Wolds opened as a heavy bomber station as part of 1 Group Bomber Command in July 1941 and 103 squadron moved to their new home soon after. Throughout the rest of the war the squadron was based at Elsham Wolds and flew many and varied operations over occupied Europe. 576 squadron were formed at Elsham Wolds in November 1943 and operated from the airfield until November 1944 when they moved to Fiskerton. On the 1st April 1945 100 squadron were transferred to the airfield. 103 Squadron was disbanded soon after the war and, in December 1945, 100 squadron moved to Scampton. Elsham Wolds was then home to No 21 HGCU of Transport Command who moved out in November 1946. In 1947 the airfield closed. Most of the site has reverted to agricultural use but one hanger remains as part of a small industrial estate. The main road South from the Humber Bridge runs right through the middle of the airfield. A water treatment works has been built on the site and in the grounds can be found a memorial to 103 and 576 Squadron personnel who were killed during the war. The entrance hall to the treatment works also houses the Honours and Awards Boards for both squadrons and several other items of interest. Click here for a map of the site.
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