Wigsley Airfield
RAF Wigsley Watch Tower 1950
Newark Air Museum Archive
RAF Wigsley Watch Tower 1950
Newark Air Museum Archive
RAF Wigsley Building Sale Notice 1957
Newark Air Museum Archive
Remains of the Wigsley Watch Tower 2010
Howard Heeley
By Howard Heeley
Grid Ref: Sheet 121; SK855695; 9 miles NNE of Newark
Opened: February 1942
Squadrons: 455 Sqn; 1654 HCU; 28 Aircrew Holding Unit
Aircraft: Hampden; Manchester; Lancaster; Stirling; Varsity
Nationalities: Commonwealth
Things of note: After World War II it remained open as a relief landing ground to RAF Swinderby until July 1958.
The sale document that accompanies this item has recently been added to the Newark Air Museum Archive, and sheds an interesting light on how various buildings from the airfield (Nissen Huts and Camp Site Buildings) were offered for auction on Saturday, 21st September 1957. The sale was conducted by B G Selby & Sons from their office at 35 Castlegate in Newark.
Current status: Some airfield structures and buildings remain including the Watch Tower but most has been returned to agriculture. The Wigsley to Besthorpe road heading back towards the A1133 passes approximately 20 metres from the remains of the Watch Tower. Recent reports suggest that someone may be seeking planning permission to turn the building into a residence.
(This information was originally published in the 2011 booklet “Aviation in Nottinghamshire”, which was produced by the Newark Air Museum thanks to a Local Improvement Scheme grant from the Nottinghamshire County Council. Photographs sourced from the Newark Air Museum Archive.)