RAF Hospital Nocton Hall explained

RAF Hospital Nocton Hall
Ensign:File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:90px
Location:Nocton, Lincolnshire
Country:England
Type:Military hospital
Coordinates:53.1656°N -0.4133°W
Pushpin Map:Lincolnshire
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Lincolnshire
Pushpin Label:RAF Hospital Nocton Hall
Ownership:Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Operator:Royal Air Force (1947–1983)
US Air Force (1983–1995)
Fate:Sold by MOD and converted to residential care home, later became derelict.
Condition:Closed

RAF Hospital Nocton Hall was a 740-bed RAF hospital in Nocton, Lincolnshire serving the predominantly RAF personnel based at the large number of RAF Stations in the area.

History

Officially designated as No. 1 RAF Hospital Nocton Hall,[1] the facility opened for medical use in June 1947.[2]

The hospital was situated in the grounds of Nocton Hall which was used to provide accommodation for female officers.[1] The hospital was used by forces personnel, their families and local civilians until it closed as an RAF facility on 31 March 1983.[3]

In 1984 it was leased to the United States Air Force (USAF) for use as a wartime contingency hospital. During the Gulf War, over 1,300 US medical staff were sent to the hall and many were billeted at RAF Scampton, although ultimately only 35 casualties had to be treated.[1] In its later days 13 American personnel remained to keep the hospital serviceable. The USAF handed back RAF Nocton Hall to the UK Government on 30 September 1995.[1]

The only accessible part of the hospital is the site of the former married quarters, which had been built nearby.[1]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RAF Nocton Hall / No 1 RAF Hospital Nocton Hall. 29 September 2014.
  2. Mackie, p. 366
  3. A commemorative postal First Day Cover was issued that day.