| Donna Nook Air Weapons Range | |
| Nearest Town: | North Somercotes, Lincolnshire |
| Country: | England |
| Type: | Air weapons range |
| Pushpin Map: | Lincolnshire |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Lincolnshire |
| Pushpin Label: | Donna Nook AWR |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Ownership: | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator: | Defence Infrastructure Organisation |
| Controlledby: | Defence Training Estate |
| Built: | (as RAF Donna Nook) |
| Used: | 1936 – present |
| Condition: | Operational |
Donna Nook Air Weapons Range is a Ministry of Defence air weapons range in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England. The range, as well as a now defunct airfield and radar station, were previously operated by the Royal Air Force and known as RAF Donna Nook.
Donna Nook has been in continual military use since the First World War and was established as a protection point from Zeppelin airships trying to enter the Humber area.[1]
A minor airfield was operational from 1936 and used as a decoy up until 1945. The airfield was home to No. 206 Squadron RAF from August 1941 to July 1942. It also acted as a Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF North Coates.
However, during the Second World War, RAF Donna Nook referred to a Chain Home Extremely Low (CHEL) radar station, sited a short distance away from the current establishment. This utilized a 10-cm radar set to track both low-flying intruders and German E-boats cruising offshore, and was operational in this role from 1943 to 1945. From evidence in his authorized biography it appears that it was to RAF Donna Nook that the young Sir Arthur C. Clarke was posted in 1943, shortly after an interview with Wing Commander (later Sir) Edward Jefferson, RAF, who was subsequently Director of Telecommunications for the General Post Office.[2]
The bombing range first opened up in 1926[3] [4] with three bombing targets including one which was illuminated for night time bombing practice. The range closed in 1946 but was re-opened in 1976 when RAF Theddlethorpe was closed due to complaints from those living nearby. RAF Donna Nook is still used as an Air Weapons Range by UK, USAFE & NATO users and since 2008 has been administered by Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), formerly Defence Training Estates (DTE).[5]
The bombing range covers an area of 885 hectares on land and 3,200 hectares at sea.[6]
Donna Nook is just north of North Somercotes and is also a 10km (10miles) nature reserve with a large seal habitat in the early winter maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.[7] It is the only national nature reserve in the UK on MOD land, and was opened on 18 July 2002 by Air Commodore Nigel Williams.