The RAF Ingham Heritage Centre highlights the history of the former RAF airfield, the Polish Bomber Squadron, and No 199 Squadron based there. Located 15 miles north of Lincoln, the airfield opened in 1940 as a relief landing ground for RAF Hemswell.
In May 1942, No 300 (Masovian) Polish Squadron arrived at the airfield, which was subsequently designated RAF Ingham. In early February 1943, No. 199 Squadron was stationed there after No 300 Squadron returned to Hemswell.
No 199 Squadron moved to RAF Lakenheath in June 1943, and was succeeded by No 300 Sqn from RAF Hemswell. Additionally, No 305 (Ziemia Wielkopolska) Polish Squadron also arrived from RAF Hemswell. The latter only staying until Sep 1943, when they moved to RAF Swanton Morley. No 300 Squadron stayed as the only unit until relocating to RAF Faldingworth in March 1944.
At RAF Ingham, all three squadrons operated Vickers Wellington Mk III, IV, and X aircraft on bombing and mine-laying missions.
Once No. 300 Sqn had moved out the airfield was occupied by various training units including the Polish Resettlement Corps.
Following prolonged confusion with supplies being sent to the village of Ingham in Suffolk, the Air Ministry renamed the Station as RAF Cammeringham in Nov 1944.
In 1946, the airfield was closed, and the land handed back to the landowners, for agriculture.
Personal accounts about Polish Airmen bring the stories of their role to life with a different story/person for each of the crew positions on the Wellington bomber.
The heritage ecntre also brings to life what it was like living in a Nissen hut as part of the Polish community when many set up their family homes under the Polish Resettlemnt scheme.
For more information about the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre click here RAF Ingham Heritage Centre | Non-Profit Organisation | Fillingham
The heritage centre is manned by a team of friendly volunteers and you can spend an excellent couple of hours gaining a better understanding of the Polish Bomber Squadrons involvment World War Two.