Dates: 1941 - 1984

RAF Bawtry was located at Bawtry Hall in Bawtry and was No. 1 Group RAF Bomber Command Headquarters and administration unit during and following WWII.

Bawtry Hall itself, was erected around 1785 by a prosperous wool-merchant from Wakefield Yorkshire.

During the Second World War the RAF took it over and it became an RAF command centre. RAF Bawtry did not have its own Airfield but instead took advantage of RAF Bircotes, which located literally next-door. Here the Station based a number of Communications aircraft.

Bawtry Hall served the Royal Air Force from 1941 - 1984; first as HQ for No. 1 Group, Bomber command during and after WWII, then as Strike Command HQ up to and including the later stages of the Cold War. The famous bombing of the airfield at Port Stanley by Vulcan bombers from RAF Finningley during the Falklands conflict was co-ordinated from the operations room at Bawtry Hall.
RAF Bawtry became the centre of the RAF Meteorological Service for many years and ceased military operations in 1986.

Memories of RAF Bawtry

RAF Bawtry in 1973
Written by David Colin Barnes

"I served at Headquarters No 1 Group, RAF Bawtry from Aug 73 to May 75, employed in the Personnel Staff dealing with officers posting and courses within the Group stations, I also helped out on the P1 dealing with the criminal aspects hat may have required Court Martial investigations

The Headquarters was only a few moments walk to the small town of Bawtry that use to bein the old days a stop off place so that stagecoach horses could be changed. Some of the old public houses are still their complete with stables. Also Bawtry was an old Roman sea port .

Since its closure in 1984 the Hall was sold to a religious group, who in turn sold the grounds for a housing development."

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Bawtry

"Have recently found an ex work colleague Rssell Edwards who I served with at RAF Bawtry in 1978. And also whilst at RAF Bruggen in Germany."

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" I got posted to RAF Bawtry in June 1970 and met my future wife in July in the NAAFI she was the manageress (no  freebies) we married Oct 24th and i got demobed Dec 10th and been happy ever since mind you we have our ups and downs but always come through it "

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