Spitalgate was a grass airfield 5 miles further south than Barkston Heath next to the Roman road Ermine Street on the outskirts of Grantham.  The airfield just pre-dates Cranwell opening in 1915 as RFC Station Grantham, becoming RAF Grantham in 1918.  It was only renamed Spitalgate in 1942, maybe to differentiate it from HQ 5 Group based then in a large house in the centre of Grantham.

Throughout WW1 the station focused on flying training, hosting a succession of reserve squadrons (Nos 49, 86 (Canadian), 11, and 50) and then training squadrons No. 15, 20, 37 and 49, plus No. 39 Sqn in 1919.  Also several  United States Army Service 9th, 50th, 174th, and a detachment of 43rdSqns used the airfield.

Between the wars, at various times, it was home to Nos 39, 43, 70, 100, 113 and 211 Sqns.  It also housed No 3 FTS from 1928 to 1937.  It was briefly mothballed between 1937 and 1938, reopening as the base for No12 Service Flying Training School.  In 1942 this was renamed No12 Advanced Flying Unit with Blenheims, Ansons and Oxfords.  They were joined in 1943 by 1536 Blind Approach Training Flight.  In 1945 they were in turn replaced by the Communications Flight for No 7 (Training) Group Bomber Command and No17 Service Flying Training School, staying until 1948.  

Spitalgate operated with three grass runways later covered in ‘Sommerfeld’ tracking.   By 1944 there were 19 hangars of various types.  RAF Harlaxton, some 3 miles southwest of Grantham, was used as a satellite airfield for RAF Spitalgate and later, up to 1957 for RAF Cranwell.  

Spitalgate was used as a Relief Landing Ground for Barkston Heath in the later 50’s with the RAF College’s basic flying trainer the Piston Provost.

Many cadets went solo there during the day and at night  soloed with the aid of ‘gooseneck’ lighting.  

It was also the base for a number of Gliding Schools including No 2 Gliding Centre and No 644 Volunteer Gliding School which remained there until 1971.

In the 1950’s the camp became an Officer Cadet Training Unit and later the Women’s RAF Depot responsible for the recruitment and training of all non-commissioned RAF females, later moving first to Hereford and then Swinderby.  

From 1975 the camp and airfield was acquired by the Army, becoming the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.  The airfield is still there.

Research by

Angus Ross 78 Entry

"I did my first solo and night solo from there in 1959."