Editing RAF Digby (section)

===First World War===
There are dated photographs that show that the airfield was already in use for flying training by [[Royal Naval Air Service|Royal Naval pilots]] in the summer of 1917, although no documents supporting this have ever been found. The photographs show contemporary hangars, sheds and aircraft already in place around grassed runways and uniformed Royal Naval trainee pilots from the HMS Daedalus facility at [[RAF Cranwell|Cranwell]] receiving instruction. What is on record is the minutes of a conference held at the Scopwick airfield in November 1917 that confirmed its suitability for conversion to a training depot station in its own right. On 12 January 1918 the War Office issued the authority notice for the site to be formally taken over under the Defence of the Realm Regulations.<ref name=rafinfo1918>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf-lincolnshire.info/digby/digbyhistory_1918.htm|title=RAF Digby - RCAF Digby: A history: 1918|publisher=RAF Lincolnshire info|access-date=5 April 2019}}</ref>
[[File:504 at Old Warden.jpg|thumb|left|AVRO 504 type that flew from the station]]
Early accommodation for personnel was under canvas and the first pilots arrived on 28 March 1918, commanded by [[John D'Albiac|Major John H D’Albiac]] a former [[Royal Marines]] aviator. The party left Royal Flying Corps Portholme Meadow aerodrome in [[Huntingdonshire]] and moved to Scopwick, bringing [[Handley Page]] bombers with them. RAF Scopwick aerodrome was deemed officially open with their arrival, although the newly established Royal Air Force did not formally come into existence until four days later on 1 April 1918. D’Albiac was appointed as RAF Scopwick's first commanding officer. A works report dated November 1918 shows that all building works had been completed. Designated as No. 59 Training Depot Station RAF, its initial establishment of 10 x [[Handley Page Type O|Handley Page 0/100s]], 18 x [[Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2|FE2EB/DS]] and 30 x [[Avro 504]]Ks indicates that it was a night bomber training unit. The only action seen by RAF Scopwick during World War I was when a German Zeppelin attempted a bombing raid, with its bombs missing the station and falling in a nearby field.<ref name=rafinfo1918/>