By David Kershaw
Third year BA History
Last July, after attending a meeting about the Lincoln Heritage Award, I approached Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre. A modest, accredited museum devoted to the men and women who served with 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command from 1943 to the conclusion of the Second World War to become a volunteer.
The History of 106 Squadron began during the First World War, when it was founded by the Royal Flying Corps on 30 September 1917; the Squadron would serve in Ireland until it was dissolved on 8 October 1919. However, due to the growing threat of conflict, which would lead to the Second World War, the Royal Air Force reformed the Squadron on 1 June 1938. At the commencement of the war, the Squadron operated Hampdens with No 5 Group in a training capacity, which continued until 1 March 1941. When the Squadron first started night bombing missions, it used a mix of Manchester and Lancaster aircraft. The Squadron was based at RAF Finningley and later RAF Coningsby. Wing Commander Guy Gibson commanded the Squadron from March 1942 to March 1943; when it completely converted to the Lancaster, the Squadron relocated to RAF Syerston in October 1942. The Squadrons last transfer occurred on 11 November 1943, when it landed at RAF Metheringham’s newly built Station, and the Squadron was active again on 18 November, with aircraft bound for Berlin. 106 Squadron lost 59 Lancaster bombers during their operations at RAF Metheringham, with 288 aircrew killed and 50 reported missing.
The United States would use RAF Metheringham to repatriate injured US service personnel to the United States using C47 Dakotas from the US 52nd Troop Carrier Wing. On 15 May 1944, nineteen patients from the nearby US Army 7th and later 162nd General Hospitals, Nocton, RAF Metheringham became the recognised Air Evacuation Centre for this US Army General Hospital. The museum possesses its own C47 Dakota to highlight this part of its history. However, it was not operated at RAF Metheringham. Instead, it was purchased and sent into active duty by the RAF in 1944 and assigned to 24 Squadron for VIP operations.
Volunteering at the museum has given me an insight and experience into what it can be like working within the heritage sector, especially during the pandemic. Whilst my primary role last season was being a steward, there were always other aspects within the museum that needed help, such as working in the gift shop and café. However, being a Steward brings great rewards, especially when visitors tell you about their connections with the airfield or even objects within it.
Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre has recently opened for a new season and needs more volunteers in many aspects of the museum, such as:
- Administrator
- Catering Officer
- Catering Volunteer
- Education Officer
- Education Volunteer
- Fundraising Officer (Grants, Trusts)
- Group Visits and Events Coordinator
- Site Maintenance Coordinator
- Steward/Guide
- Volunteer Coordinator
Now that the pandemic limitations have been lifted, there is a possibility to volunteer with the museum’s Curatorial Team, which is responsible for the museum’s artefacts, exhibitions, and archives. If anyone is interested, you can apply here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckUIVKDMfP_yUrnIOhMoe8NJ8vUmcTo0EufiJpahnKlafm7A/viewform.
References:
Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, ‘106 Squadron’, undated [online source] https://www.metheringhamairfield.co.uk/106.html accessed on 9 April 2022.
Ward, Chris, 106 Squadron (Farsley, 2016).
WW2 US Medical Research Centre, ‘162d General Hospital’, undated [online source] https://www.med-dept.com/unit-histories/162d-general-hospital/ accessed on 9 April 2022.
List of Images:
Figure 1: Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre, 6 April 2022, Authors Own.
Figure 2: Imperial War Museum, © IWM HU 91941, IWM [online image] https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205126854 accessed on 9 April 2022.
Figure 3: Dakota KG651 Metheringham Airfield Visitors Centre, 6 April 2022, Authors Own