Breighton_Aerodrome
Breighton Aerodrome
Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England
Breighton Aerodrome is a private aerodrome primarily used for general aviation flying located on the former Royal Air Force Breighton or more simply RAF Breighton, a former Royal Air Force station located near to the village of Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Breighton Airfield (RAF Breighton) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Breighton Airfield and Aeroplane Museum | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry 1940–1964 Private 1964 – present | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force 1940–1964 Private 1964 – present | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1940 (1940) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| In use | 1942–1964 (1964) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 20 ft / 6 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 53°48′07″N 000°54′49″W | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for No. 1 Group RAF,[1] its first residents were the No. 460 Squadron RAAF.[2]
From 1959 to 1963, as part of Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 240 Squadron RAF.[3]
The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit (which operated the Bristol Bloodhound air-defence missile) withdrew.[4]
Squadrons
| Squadron | Equipment | From | To | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 78 Squadron RAF | Handley Page Halifax II/III/VI Douglas Dakota | 16 June 1943 | 20 September 1945 | RAF Almaza | [5] |
| No. 112 Squadron RAF | Bristol Bloodhound I | 7 November 1960 | 31 March 1964 | Disbanded | [6] |
| No. 240 Squadron RAF | PGM-17 Thor | 1 August 1959 | 8 January 1963 | Disbanded | [3] |
| No. 460 Squadron RAAF | Vickers Wellington IV Handley Page Halifax II Avro Lancaster I/III | 4 January 1942 | 14 May 1943 | RAF Binbrook | [2] |
Units
- No. 20 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF (October 1941) became No. 1520 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (October 1941 - June 1944)[7]
- Sub site for No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF (November 1945 - June 1951)[8]
- Relief Landing Ground for No. 103 Flying Refresher School RAF (June - November 1951)[9]
- Relief Landing Ground for No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF (November 1951 - June 1954)[10]
- No. 460 Conversion Flight RAF (May - August 1942 & September - October 1942)[11] became 'A' Flight of No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF (October - November 1942)[12]
- No. 2716 Squadron RAF Regiment[13]
- No. 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment[13]
The original runways are covered in buildings but the outline of the runways, taxiways and dispersal stands are clearly visible using satellite imagery.[4]
A part of the airfield is currently used by the Real Aeroplane Company to house and maintain private and historic aircraft and a home for the Breighton Flying Club which uses a separate grass runway located within the original airfield grounds.[1]
Five people were injured in a helicopter crash at the airfield on 17 July 2016.[14]
Citations
- "Airfield history". The Real Aeroplane Company. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- Jefford 1988, p. 93.
- Jefford 1988, p. 76
- Delve 2006, p. 50.
- Jefford 1988, p. 48.
- Jefford 1988, p. 56.
- Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 138.
- Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 206.
- Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 151.
- Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 100.
- "Breighton - Units". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "Five casualties after helicopter crash". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
Bibliography
- Delve, Ken. The Military Airfields of Britain; Northern England. Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 1988. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
