RAF Wombleton

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RAF Wombleton

Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Royal Canadian Air Force War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 220632.jpg
Memorial to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Inscription reads: "This memorial is dedicated to the Canadians of No.6 (RCAF) Group of RAF Bomber Command and to the men and women of the RAF and WAAF who served at Wombleton during the Second World War. The people of Ryedale express their sincere thanks to them for giving their youth and time and, in many instances, their lives. We will remember them. Dedicated 28th May, 2001."
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
LocationWombleton
Elevation AMSL118 ft / 36 m
Coordinates54°13′59″N 000°58′09″W / 54.23306°N 0.96917°W / 54.23306; -0.96917Coordinates: 54°13′59″N 000°58′09″W / 54.23306°N 0.96917°W / 54.23306; -0.96917
Map
RAF Wombleton is located in North Yorkshire
RAF Wombleton
RAF Wombleton
Location in North Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete

Royal Air Force Station Wombleton or RAF Wombleton is a former Royal Air Force station located 3.8 miles (6.1 km) east of Helmsley, North Yorkshire and 11.8 miles (19 km) north east of Easingwold, North Yorkshire, England.

Station history[]

Wombleton opened in 1943 as a sub-station of RAF Topcliffe. It was part of RAF Bomber Command's No. 6 Group RCAF, and along with the main station at Topcliffe and the station at Dishforth, was designated part of No 61 (Training) Base.[1][2] In November 1944, No 61 Base was transferred to No 7 (Training) Group and it was renumbered No 76 Training Base. was the first unit to move to Wombleton. Aircrew who were originally trained on twin-engined aircraft such as Wellingtons or Whitleys received conversion training on heavy four-engined bombers such as the Halifax or Lancaster.[3] No 1666 HCU remained at Wombleton until the end of the war. The RAF took over the station and stayed for several years with the RAF Regiment using the site as a battle school.[4]

Units and aircraft[]

Unit From To Aircraft Version Notes
21 October 1943 3 August 1945 Handley Page Halifax
Avro Lancaster
Mks.II, III, V
Mks.I, II, III, X
[5]
13 December 1943 27 January 1944 Avro Lancaster Mk.II [5]
15 November 1945 10 September 1946 [6]

Current use[]

Wombleton airport is now used for recreational flying.[7]

See also[]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Delve 2006, p. 272
  2. ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 195
  3. ^ Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1990). Action stations (2 ed.). Wellingborough: Stephens. pp. 195–196. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
  4. ^ Otter, Patrick (1999). Yorkshire airfields in the Second World War (1 ed.). Newbury, Berkshire: Countryside Books. p. 79. ISBN 1-85306-542-0.
  5. ^ a b Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 99.
  6. ^ Sturtivant and Hamlin 2007, p. 183.
  7. ^ "Wombleton Conservation Area" (PDF). ryedale.gov.uk. 21 July 2005. p. 6. Retrieved 18 July 2017.

Bibliography[]

  • Delve, Ken. The Military Airfields of Britain: Northern England: Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Ramsbury, Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press, 2006. ISBN 1-86126-809-2
  • Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore. Action Stations: 4: Military airfields of Yorkshire. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens, 1982. ISBN 0-85059-532-0
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.

External links[]

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