RAF Coningsby is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located in Lincolnshire, England, which opened on 4 November 1940 during the Second World War under No. 5 Group, part of RAF Bomber Command. It initially hosted Handley Page Hampden and Avro Manchester medium bombers. The station was closed for runway upgrades between September 1942 and August 1943 to accommodate heavy bombers. Post-war, it transitioned to jet aircraft, receiving English Electric Canberra in 1953 and Avro Vulcans in 1962. From 1968, it became a key base for the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2, initially for ground attack and later for air defence. Panavia Tornado F3 squadrons began forming in 1984, replacing the Phantoms. In 2006, SEPECAT Jaguars were temporarily based there before their withdrawal from service in 2007. RAF Coningsby was the first airfield to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon in May 2005. It currently serves as a Main Operating Base for the RAF, housing three front-line Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 units: No. 3 Squadron, No. 11 Squadron, and No. 12 Squadron (which includes Qatar Emiri Air Force personnel for training). Additionally, No. 29 Squadron operates as the Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit, and No. 41 (Test and Evaluation) Squadron develops tactics and evaluates new systems. Since June 2007, Coningsby's Typhoons have maintained the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South mission, responding to unidentified aircraft approaching UK airspace. The base is also home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), which operates historic RAF aircraft including an Avro Lancaster, Spitfires, and Hurricanes. Support units include No. 7 Force Protection Wing Headquarters, the Air Land Integration (ALI) Cell, and elements of No. 4 RAF Police Squadron. BAE Systems Military Air Solutions, the Typhoon manufacturer, also has a presence on the airfield for aircraft maintenance.