I am informed by Lincolnshire Archives of the following singular event which you might like to put on your calendar:

“Wings Over Lincolnshire Exhibition” at Lincolnshire Archives 10:30am - 3:00pm on Saturday 20th April 2013 only

Regards,
Neville

All I can really say is that it’s getting comments such as yours that make everything involved in running this site worthwhile . . .
Kind regards,
Rod

I echo V’s sentiments and would add that, were your comment the only one, it would have made all the effort and emotional drain for me worthwhile. I know that every skerrick, (I believe that could well be a Lincolnshire word!), of information, particularly images, can be of great value for those effected, no matter how remotely by such a tragic event.

I’m sure Rod will add his appreciative comment later but from me; many thanks for your contribution.

Regards,
Neville

V

Subsequently back in the UK, George married in 1936 not long before he crashed. In 1938, my father married the sister of George’s wife so he would have been my uncle by marriage if he had survived. His wife had a daughter in 1937 who lives a few hundred yards away from here.

It is indeed unexpected to come across a picture of the very engine involved in that unhappy event.

Best wishes

Peter

One of the farm houses mentioned was occupied by the Brookes family after the RFC vacated it for many years and survived into the 1980s under the occupation of the RAF as office accomadataion. In fact throughout WW2 the Brooks family were allowed to live in it despite the fact it was in the middle of an active airfield, a most unique situation,although there was a similar situation at Elsham Wolds.

I don’t dispute the layout of the landing ground in those days, I possess both drawings and early aerial photographs taken in the early 1920s and at that time the area had been untouched since the Great War.

The American, Belgian and French airmen referred to were probably on the strength of 33 Sqdn Royal Flying Corp which operated from the airfield during 1917. The zig zag markings on the aircraft were often painted on in white against the green camouflage background to signify the squadron, although I havnt found any evidence that this was the case with 33 sqdn. No248 Sqdn were there in 1918 as well and these marking could have been from this squadron. These were not national markings. American volunteers were on the strength of 33 Sqdn which would account for their presence. There were many foreign airmen training with the British at airfields in the Lincoln area and these included American, Russians and French airmen. There training would conclude with a transfer to a regular RFC Squadron, the Russians being the exeption. The aircraft would be the Be2 and later the Be12.

The name ‘Green lane’ is not familiar to me unless it refers to the continuation of the present sea lane which stops abruptly at the camp gates but in those days continued up to the sea bank. The aerodrome according to the plans I have was to the right of the road and with sea lane bordering it on the left. The farm and houses were to the left of the road and were lined up towards Tetney marshes. The western boundary was a ditch which ran past the farm and into Tetney marshes and incidentally is the boundary of the present day airfield. Old maps of the area only show two lanes running to the sea bank and these are Sea lane and Sheepmarsh lane although when the RAF converted North Coates into a Missile base an old unused spur road running off Sheepmarsh Lane was closed off as it was enclosed inside the boundary.

I recall this was still there in parts until quiet recently but has now gone under the plough, this I suppose could have been Green lane. I have a poem written by an Army Officer during that period and it sums up the difficult situation they all found themselves in. Incidentally up to 1918 the Army actually commanded the landing ground and provided assistance with refuelling and repairs until such time that qualified personnel could be drafted in.
All very interesting and revealing stuff
Regards
Brian

Just found a letter in Lincolnshire Life for January 1971, relating to the early era at Northcotes, (note the spelling Brian - the correspondent makes a point in his letter that it is spelled that way and he should know as he was raised there!). Here are some evocative extracts from the letter:

“…..and I have a very vivid recollection of the early days during the Kaiser’s War…….The farmhouse was two semi-detached cottages both occupied by the Ranyards until next door was taken over by the R.F.C. and the Officers’ Mess were billeted on Grandma who spared nothing for the happiness of ‘her boys’……I can still see the window sills littered with leather flying helmets, tunics, belts etc. I can also remember allied airmen from France Belgium and the U.S.A being there. I particularly remember the U.S. planes having a zig-zag white stripe painted on the fuselage.…….the landing strip was never anywhere near the Sheepmarsh Lane in those days, but was bounded by the green lane which runs past the house to farmland south of the ‘drome.”

The author of the letter was Ron Cocking who by 1971 was living in Canada.

Regards,
Neville

PS The Audax (army co-operation) and Hart (light bomber/trainer) were very similar, in fact almost identical from most angles, so ‘Joe’ can been forgiven!