RAF Bardney

RAF Bardney was equipped with three Thor long- range ballistic missiles, each armed with a one-megaton nuclear warhead, controlled by the US Air Force under so-called dual-key arrangements. The missiles were based at five dispersal sites, all reporting to a central headquarters. The Lincolnshire headquarters was at Hemswell, with the dispersals at Bardney, Caistor, Coleby Grange and Ludford Magna.

Bardney opened in April 1943 as a 53 Base substation, and closed in 1963. IX Squadron was based there from its opening, and 227 Squadron and 189 Squadron were briefly based there in the autumn of 1944. 189 Squadron was also based there between April and October 1945.