Donna Nook Air Weapons Range

Donna Nook Air Weapons Range
Near North Somercotes, Lincolnshire in England
Aerial view of Donna Nook AWR during 2014
Donna Nook AWR is located in Lincolnshire
Donna Nook AWR
Donna Nook AWR
Location in Lincolnshire
Coordinates53°28′29″N 000°09′07″E / 53.47472°N 0.15194°E / 53.47472; 0.15194
TypeAir weapons range
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorDefence Infrastructure Organisation
Controlled byDefence Training Estate
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1936 (1936) (as RAF Donna Nook)
In use1936 – present

Donna Nook Air Weapons Range is a Ministry of Defence air weapons range in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. The range, as well as a now defunct airfield and radar station, were previously operated by the Royal Air Force and known as RAF Donna Nook.

History

The badge used by Donna Nook whilst an RAF station

Donna Nook has been in continual military use since the First World War and was established as a protection point from Zeppelin airships trying to enter the Humber area.[1]

Second World War

A minor airfield was operational from 1936 and used as a decoy up until 1945. The airfield was home to No. 206 Squadron RAF from August 1941 to July 1942. It also acted as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF North Coates.[2]

However, during the Second World War, RAF Donna Nook referred to a Chain Home Extremely Low (CHEL) radar station, sited a short distance away from the current establishment. This utilized a 10-cm radar set to track both low-flying intruders and German E-boats cruising offshore, and was operational in this role from 1943 to 1945. From evidence in his authorized biography it appears that it was to RAF Donna Nook that the young Sir Arthur C. Clarke was posted in 1943, shortly after an interview with Wing Commander (later Sir) Edward Jefferson, RAF, who was subsequently Director of Telecommunications for the General Post Office.[3]

Bombing range

Range warning sign

The bombing range first opened up in 1926[4][5] with three bombing targets including one which was illuminated for night time bombing practice. The range closed in 1946 but was re-opened in 1976 when RAF Theddlethorpe was closed due to complaints from those living nearby.[6] RAF Donna Nook is still used as an Air Weapons Range by UK, USAFE & NATO users and since 2008 has been administered by Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), formerly Defence Training Estates (DTE).[7]

The bombing range covers an area of 885 hectares on land and 3,200 hectares at sea.[8]

1981 air accident

On Friday 9 January 1981 at 1.35pm, whilst practising strafing runs at Donna Nook, a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodbridge, crashed into the North Sea.[9]

The aircraft was piloted by Major Arthur Lloyd Moxon from Huron, South Dakota, who was killed.[10][11][12][13] His body was found three weeks later on Wednesday 28 January 1981.[14][15]

Natural heritage

Donna Nook is just north of North Somercotes and is also a 6.2 miles (10 km) nature reserve with a large seal habitat in the early winter maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.[16] It is the only national nature reserve in the UK on MOD land, and was opened on 18 July 2002 by Air Commodore Nigel Williams.[8]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Owen, Moira (2012). "Donna Nook gets the seal of approval". Sanctuary (41). Ministry of Defence: 20–21. ISSN 0959-4132.
  2. ^ Historic England. "RAF Donna Nook (1393840)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  3. ^ McAleer, Neil (1992). Odyssey: The Authorized Biography of Arthur C. Clarke. Gollancz. ISBN 978-0575054486.
  4. ^ "Bombing range on Humberside, Donna Nook depot". Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer. 29 September 1926. p. 9. Retrieved 16 June 2016.(subscription required)
  5. ^ "RAF Donna Nook History". Bomber County Aviation Resource. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. ^ Halpenny 1981, p. 87.
  7. ^ "Public Information Leaflet" (PDF). Defence Infrastructure Organisation. p. 5. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Public Information Leaflet" (PDF). Defence Training Estates East. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  9. ^ Grimsby Evening Telegraph Saturday 10 January 1981, page 1
  10. ^ "Art Moxon". www.usafa68.org.
  11. ^ Diss Express Friday 16 January 1981, page 3
  12. ^ Grimsby Evening Telegraph Monday 12 January 1981, page 1
  13. ^ Diss Express Friday 23 January 1981, page 9
  14. ^ Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 29 January 1981, page 1
  15. ^ "Accident Fairchild-Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II 77-0258, Friday 9 January 1981". asn.flightsafety.org.
  16. ^ "Donna Nook national nature reserve". Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 17 May 2016.

Bibliography

  • Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore. Action stations 2: Military airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.