RAF Binbrook was opened as a Bomber Command station in June 1940 and became home to no 12 Squadron RAF with Vickers Wellingtons, between 3 July 1940 and 25 September 1942 before it moved to RAF WIckenby. Another squadron stationed at Binbrook was 142 Squadron with the Fairey Battle, from 3 July 1940 to 12 August 1940 and from 6 September 1940 to 26 November 1941 when it moved to RAF Waltham. The squadron used the Battle until November 1940 before switching to the Wellington.
RAF Binbrook closed in 1942 for the installation of three concrete runways, reopening in 1943 as home to the Legendary 460 Squadron Royal Australian Airforce. The squadron flew the most Sorties of any Australian bomber squadron and dropped more bomb tonnage than any squadron in the whole of Bomber Command—24,856 tons, which it dropped over 6,262 sorties. In doing that it lost 188 aircraft and suffered 1,018 combat deaths (589 of whom were Australian). This was the most of any Australian squadron during the war, with No. 460 Squadron effectively wiped out five times over its existence.
460 Squadron dropped 1000 tons of food during operation Manna.
The myth that parachutes were used in Operation Manna comes from the generosity of crews who would donate their own supplies like chocolate and cigarettes. They would make tiny parachutes from handkerchiefs and make their own drops from the rear turret. 460 Squadron was particularly keen on doing this.
Selected food was trucked from Grimsby in sugar bags. As the Lancaster bomb doors would hold a 4000lb cookie, it was decided to stack the food on the open doors. The tallest airmen were chosen and with the bomb doors open at about 14 inches, the loading commenced.
Incendiaries were delivered in containers, and it was found that the lids were just the right size to bridge the gap with bomb doors open.
When loading was finished, the bomb doors were closed as much as possible by way of a lever in the cockpit. The final closing was only completed when the port inner engine was started to close the door hydraulically.
When the planes returned, they had to be cleaned down as many were covered in flour and other food scraps from burst bags.
Our Commemoration at RAF Binbrook is made possible by the incredible His Church charity. Not only do they do fantastic charity work for the needy they also run a Heritage operation at the former RAF Binbrook where they have their warehousing. The His Church Heritage team have close ties with 460 Squadron, and we are their guests for this operation Manna Commemoration. It is fitting that we are the guests of a modern-day humanitarian organisation commemorating the first use of airpower in a humanitarian way 80 years ago.
In August 2007 the HIS Church President walked into Hangar 3 a C-Type aircraft hangar on the former RAF Binbrook site, it was derelict and in parts under water having been used for the storage of frozen foods before the freezer was switched off and it was left in disrepair.
In September 2007, His Church completed on that aircraft hangar and began the restoration process! Today 16 years later that Hanger is known as “The Lord’s Storehouse” and it has been filled it to the point they do not have the room to receive all that they have been offered. His Church has distributed aid in 37 countries so far, and we have become an established “go to” organisation in times of crisis. From supermarket unwanted food distribution, to rebranding of clothing for distribution, to distribution of sleeping bags, His Church do it all. One of the premier charities in the UK.
In 2015, the His Church President received the “Human order of African Redemption – Knight Great band Award from the President of Liberia for our response to the Ebola Crisis.
In 2020 the His Church President was awarded an MBE in Her Late Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours for food services to the UK during the Covid Pandemic.
Heritage of the site and incredible charity work seems to go hand in hand at Binbrook these days. The Heritage team at RAF Binbrook work closely with the International Bomber Command Centre and at IBCC events the Binbrook Heritage team always put on a fantastic display with their vehicles.
GB8MAN will be run from the former RAF Binbrook by Lincoln Shortwave Club
