RAF Binbrook, disused airfield (somewhere in Lincolnshire!).

In WW2 Lincolnshire had numerous airfields flying squadrons of bomber aircraft, the most famous being 617 Squadron.  Known forever as "The Dambusters" after the famous raids on the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany.  They were based at RAF Scampton and breached the dams using the now infamous "bouncing bombs" invented by Barnes Wallace.

Lincolnshire was known as "Bomber County" because of the number of bomber bases.

After the war these bomber bases were closed down being no longer needed and a new threat was realised in the east and that was nick named "The Cold War".  To combat this threat the RAF used a supersonic fighter jet named "Lightning".

The Lightning was designed and manufactured by the English Electric Company as a fighter aircraft capable of rapid interception of any enemy aircraft approaching British airspace.  It was the only all British Mach 2 aircraft, powered by 2 Rolls - Royce Avon turbojet engines.  The pilots who flew them described the experience "like being strapped to a sky rocket"!

2 squadrons of Lightning jet aircraft were based at RAF Binbrook between 1965 and 1988.  They were decommissioned and replaced with more modern aircraft but the men who flew them say nothing has ever been better!

RAF Binbrook base was closed completely in 1992.  However my son Michael and I were fortunate enough to be allowed back onto the base to take photographs and see a redundant Lightning jet.  It was in poor condition but still a super photo opportunity.

English Electric Lightning Jet.

Set 1 of 3.

Redundant Lightning jet, a relic from the "Cold War".

I decided black and white was more suitable for these images.

The twin Rolls Royce Avon engines were mounted one above the other.

Detail images.