RAF Firbeck

Royal Air Force Firbeck or more simply RAF Firbeck is a former Royal Air Force station located west of Firbeck, South Yorkshire, England.

RAF Firbeck
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationFirbeck, South Yorkshire, England
Built1940
In use1940–1948
Elevation AMSL213 ft / 65 m
Coordinates53°23′15″N 001°09′45″W
Map
RAF Firbeck
Location in South Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete

The airfield was opened in September 1940[1] and was closed in 1948, during this time it was mainly used an relief landing ground (RLG) and small planes such as the Westland Lysander and the Taylorcraft Auster. After the Second World War had ended the airfield was used by two Royal Air Force (RAF) gliding schools.

History

The airfield was first constructed in 1935 in conjunction with a country club opening up at Firbeck Hall. Cyril Nicholson invested money into the Jacobean hall and its surroundings which attracted the rich and glamorous of that time. The then Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) also flew into the airfield in his own Dragon rapide aircraft (the very aircraft that he flew to London on his accession to king in 1936).[2] On the outbreak of war, the airfield was pressed into service for the Royal Air Force under the Emergency Powers Act.[3][4]

The first squadron to use the airfield was No. 613 Squadron RAF which had moved from RAF Netherthorpe on 7 September 1940.[5] The unit had detachments at various other airfields such as RAF Clifton, RAF Netherthorpe, RAF Sutton Bridge, RAF Doncaster and RAF Martlesham Heath initially flying the Westland Lysander Mk. II before the addition of the Mk. III in January 1941.[6] The squadron moved to RAF Doncaster on 8 July 1941. A short time after this on 19 July 1941 No. 2 Squadron RAF moved in from RAF Sawbridgeworth flying the Lysander II for four days before moving back to Sawbridgeworth.[7][8]

Between July 1941 and 1 November 1945 Firbeck was used as a relief landing ground for No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School RAF (EFTS).[8]

The next squadrons are both Air Observation Post squadron which were used by RAF Army Cooperation Command to help spot enemy positions. The first of these squadron was No. 654 Squadron RAF which started using RAF Firbeck from 15 September 1942 flying the Taylorcraft Auster Plus C2 and the Auster I before moving to RAF Bottisham on 20 November 1942[9] and the second was No. 659 Squadron RAF which was formed at the airfield on 30 April 1943 and flew the Auster III before moving to RAF Clifton on 17 August 1943.[10]

In 1944 No. 28 Gliding School RAF took up residence with Cadet gliders staying until January 1946. However after a short amount of time No. 24 Gliding School RAF took over the empty space in May 1946 and they stayed until February 1948.[8] The airfield closed during 1948.[11]

Current use

There is a memorial at the airfield where the aircraft repair shop used to be located.[11] The airfield is currently open land.[12]

References

Citations
  1. Halpenny 1981, p. 95.
  2. Pigott 2005, p. 149.
  3. Clegg, Rachael (23 August 2011). "Remembering those magnificent men in their flying machines". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  4. "Playground of the rich and famous". Sheffield Star. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. Halley 1980, p. 333.
  6. Jefford 2001, p. 100.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 23.
  8. "RAF Firbeck". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  9. Jefford 2001, p. 102.
  10. Jefford 2001, p. 103.
  11. "Firbeck Airfield Memorial". RAF Firbeck Memorial. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  12. "RAF Firbeck Memorial". The Airfield Research Group. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.

Bibliography
  • Halley, James. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain Publishing, 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
  • Halpenny, Bruce. Action Stations 2; Military airfields of Lincolnshire and East Midlands. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-85059-484-7.
  • 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, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Pigott, Peter. Royal transport : an inside look at the history of royal travel Toronto, Canada: Dundurn Group Publishing, 2005. ISBN 9781554882854.
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