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[RAF Elsham Wolds] [Other Local Airfields] [RAF Leconfield]

RAF Leconfield – East Yorkshire

Leconfield

RAF Leconfield was an airfield situated two miles north of Beverley, East Yorkshire. The site was chosen in the mid 30s for a bomber airfield as part of the Expansion schemes of the time.  The main Beverley to Great Driffield railway line forms the eastern boundary and the A164 road the western boundary. An arc of C Type hangars was built on the western side of the landing area with substantial workshops, messes and living accommodation.

The airfield opened on 3 December 1936 as part of  3 Group RAF Bomber Command with Handley Page Heyford bombers of 166 Squadron RAF from RAF Boscombe Down using the site from January 1937 until the summer of 1939. This Squadron was joined a few weeks later by 97 Squadron also from Boscombe Down. The airfield was then taken over by 4 Group Bomber Command on the 27 June 1937.

Handley Page Heyford card 1

In an attempt to speed up the flow of qualified Observers into the rapidly expanding RAF both Squadrons became components of the Air Observers School from 7 June 1938. They ran 12 week courses for direct entry Observers during that period.

In March 1939 97 Squadron became a Group Pool Squadron followed by 166 Squadron in May. During the next two months both Squadrons converted to the more modern and capable Armstrong Whitworth Whitley.

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

On the night of 3 September 1939, the first night of WW2 10 Whitley bombers from 166 Squadron became the first British aircraft to penetrate German airspace, dropping propaganda leaflets over Germany.

On the 17 September 1939 166 and 97 were transferred to RAF Abingdon as Group Pool Squadrons leaving Leconfield inactive for several weeks.

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In October 1939 the airfield was taken over by 13 Group RAF Fighter Command and the Spitfire 1s of 616 Squadron arrived from RAF Doncaster on the 23 October 1939 and 72 Squadron arrived from RAF Church Fenton a few days later.

In October 1939 234 Squadron and 245 Squadron and reformed at Leconfield with Fairey Battle, Bristol Blenheim IF, Gloster Gauntlet II aircraft until the much more modern Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes were available. 234 squadron then moved to RAF Church Fenton on 22 May 1940 and 245 Squadron to RAF Drem a few days later.

During the Battle of Britain life at Leconfield was extremely hectic for the station and a temporary home to many other squadrons of Fighter Command which made short stays here to rest, retrain and re-group. During this period there was also a decoy airfield at nearby Routh.

129 Squadron was active before it became officially operational when two aircraft of 129 were scrambled on the 2 August 1940 and shot down a JU88 off Flamborough Head. 129 also shot down a BF 110 which was prowling about east of Flamborough Head on the 8 August 1940.

The station also saw the formation of the Polish 302 Squadron and around the same time Polish 303 Squadron moved there for a few weeks to recuperate after their hard fighting during the Battle of Britain. Between 29 August 1941 and 14 January 1942 610 Squadron were based at Leconfield with their Supermarine Spitfire IIA/VBs before moving to nearby RAF Hutton Cranswick, East Yorkshire 6 miles to the north of Leconfield. 15 (P) Advanced Flying Unit were based at Leconfield from 1 March 1942 till October 1942

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In 1942 it was decided to create a Canadian Bomber Command Group and the RCAF HQ was set up at the Station in October 1942 before moving to Allerton Park in December 1942.

Also in October 1942 28 Conversion Flight and 107 Conversion Flight were established a few days later with Handley Page Halifax BIs. Both were then transferred to RAF Rufforth near York

In late December 1942 Leconfield officially became a bomber station and 466 Squadron were based there between 22 December 1942 and 3 June 1944 with the Handley Page Halifax II/III before moving to RAF Driffield. 196 Squadron replaced them 22 December 1942 and 19 July 1943 flying the Vickers Wellington X before moving to RAF Witchford.

640 Squadron formed at the airfield on 7 January 1944 with the Halifax III before switching to the Mk. VI in March 1945 and disbanding on 7 May 1945. In the closing stages of WW2 and immediate post war 51 Squadron were based at Leconfield from 20 April 1945 to 21 August 1945 with Short Stirling Vs when they moved to RAF Stradishall.

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Post War

In the 1950s Leconfield was a dispersal airfield for the RAF V bomber force. In addition it was home to the Central Gunnery School from October 1945 to the early 1950s. This unit trained air gunners on Avro Lincoln bombers and were involved in other armament trials and other associated training. The School was later transformed into the Fighter Weapons School. At this stage a variety of aircraft were based at the airfield including single-seat Venoms and Meteors, plus twin-seat Vampire T11. Meteor trainers and Hawker Hunters were involved in the trials of the new ADEN aircraft cannons in 1957.

Gloster Meteor T7 WG940

Gloster Meteor T7

Bristol Sycamore HR 14 helicopters of 275 Squadron RAF arrived on 9 October 1957 before the Squadron was re-equipped with the Westland Whirlwind HAR 4 in March 1959 with the HAR 2 version being added in August 1959. On 1 September 1959 this Squadron was disbanded.

On 29 June 1959 19 Squadron arrived with their Hawker Hunter F.6s before these were replaced by the English Electric Lightning F.2 in December 1962. 19 moved to RAF Gutersloh, West Germany on 23 September 1965. They were joined at Gutersloh by 92 Squadron on 24 January 1968 which had also been stationed at Leconfield with their Hunter F.6's and later FGA9's. The airfield then became home to 60 Maintenance Unit RAF and also 202 Squadron D Flight with Westland Whirlwind helicopters for Air Sea rescue duties. At this time 60 Maintenance Unit was responsible for the major servicing of the EE/BAC Lightnings plus several other tasks.

English Electric Lightning F.2A XN780K at RAF Gutersloh (1971) 92 Squadron

English Electric Lightning F.2A XN780K at RAF Gutersloh (1971) 92 Squadron

Westland Whirlwind 2

Westland Whirlwind

RAF Leconfield closed on 1 January 1977 although two Sea King helicopters of E Flight 202 Squadron were based there for a number of years.

Leconfield is now home to the Defence School of Transport and is one of the Schools that make up the Defence College of Logistics Policing and Administration which is a Tri-Service establishment. DST Leconfield is Europe's largest driver training establishment the accommodation is designated as Normandy Barracks.

The local Leconfield St Catherine Churchyard has a plot with 19 graves of personnel who served at RAF Leconfield.

Compiled by David Fell with photos from my archive

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Bomber Command interest are the

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and the

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