Originally a daylight range only, lighting was requested in December 1942 and it ended the war with night facilities. Originally it seems to have been controlled by RAF Langar but control passed to Bottesford on 23rd March 1945. It was derequisitioned in 1953.
Mr R Fulford states in a web forum (http://100548.activeboard.com/t49794533/1662-heavy-conversion-unit-blyton/) “My Dad's crew flew a Bullseye when they converted onto the Lanc III at No. 1668 HCU.
They flew out over the Wash and did an overflight of Rotterdam and a short leg along the Dutch coast before they returned to drop red T.I. markers and bombs at the Bombing range at Ragdale prior to returning to the Base at Bottesford, I believe they were the No. 1 aircraft for a number of others who flew the same route on the same exercise that night.
Their T/O was at 2145 and comprised some 13 legs of various durations between turning points in a Lancaster coded J9-G. The Pilot recorded 3:30 minutes instrument/cloud flying time during a Bullseye of 5:10 duration.”
"Bullseye" was the term used to denote a night training exercise which encompassed navigating a long cross country route often of about 800-900 miles and of around 5 hours duration, encounters with the searchlight defences and usually with night fighter defence forces who would press home simulated attacks. The Bullseye routes sometimes ventured out over the North Sea or the Channel and often right up to the Coast of France or Holland particularly after D-Day. Other times they were routed solely around England. They usually ended up with the dropping of bombs over a selected Bombing range before returning to Base.
Sadly, not all trips to the range were successful! In Roy Bonser’s book Aviation in Leicestershire & Rutland, there is a reference under RAF Wymeswold to Wellington X LP406 of 28OTU diving into ground at Ragdale Bombing Range.
Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses V7 (OTU’s) lists the following entry dated 17/7/44 28 OTU Wellington Mk X LP406 - Training ATD Wymeswold 0052 to practise bombing over the nearby Ragdale ranges. At 0107 whilst over the range, the aircraft went into a dive from which it failed to recover. On hitting the ground there was a huge explosion.
The two RCAF officers were taken to Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey whilst the others were claimed by next of kin. The three SNCO’s were all Air Gunners.
Fg Off J.E. Thompson; Fg Off J. Michalec RCAF; Fg Off F.P.O. Weary RCAF;
Sgt F.V. Davis; Sgt W.A. Lewin; Sgt W.L. O’Connor
