RAF Skipton-on-Swale

Royal Air Force station Skipton-on-Swale or more simply RAF Skipton-on-Swale is a former Royal Air Force station operated by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. The station was located at Skipton-on-Swale 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Thirsk (near the present-day junction of the A61 and A167), North Yorkshire, England. The village of Sandhutton is located just to the east. RAF Skipton-on-Swale was a sub-station of RAF Leeming.

For other places with the same name, see Skipton.

RAF Skipton-on-Swale

Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
LocationSkipton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire
Built1942 (1942)
In use1942-1947 (1947)
Elevation AMSL82 ft / 25 m
Coordinates54°13′26″N 001°25′38″W
Map
RAF Skipton-on-Swale
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

History

The airfield opened in autumn 1942, becoming operational in May 1943.[1]

Skipton-on-Swale was originally a 4 Group facility and first hosted 420 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which moved to RAF Middleton St. George in October 1942. Skipton was assigned to No. 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in January 1943. RCAF squadrons stationed here included 424 Squadron, No. 432 Squadron (which moved to RAF East Moor in September 1943), and 433 Squadron. Both squadrons flew the Halifax bomber until replaced by the Lancaster in January 1945. 424 Squadron lost 52 aircraft[2] and 433 Squadron lost 38 aircraft.[3]

Nos. 424 and 433 Squadrons were disbanded in October 1945. After this the airfield was closed. The station was not used again and has since reverted largely to farmland. The site is home to turkey and pig farms.[4]

In 1984, veterans of the RCAF, including survivors of the crash of an RCAF Halifax in the area, and other Air Force representatives and local residents, gathered in the village for a commemoration of the wartime base. A cairn to 6 Group was dedicated and a Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight made a flypast.[5]

Operational units and aircraft
data from[6]
UnitAircraftVersion(s)FromToTo
No. 420 Squadron RCAFVickers WellingtonMk.III6 August 194215 October 1942RAF Middleton St. George[7]
No. 424 Squadron RCAFVickers Wellington
Handley Page Halifax
Avro Lancaster		Mk.X
Mk.III
Mks.I & III		6 November 194315 October 1945Disbanded[7]
No. 432 Squadron RCAFVickers WellingtonMk.X1 May 194318 September 1943RAF East Moor[7]
No. 433 Squadron RCAFHandley Page Halifax
Avro Lancaster		Mk.III
Mks.I & III		25 September 194315 October 1945Disbanded[8]

References

Citations
  1. Halpenny 1982, pp. 171-172.
  2. Halpenny 1982, p. 175.
  3. Moyes 1976, p. 250
  4. Halpenny 1982, p. 176.
  5. See video of commemoration: Yorkshire TV "Canadian Airforce Skipton on Swale UK Memorial Dedication news report 1984",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbu546l0PlU
  6. Halley 1988, pp. 505, 508 and 512.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 91.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 92.

Bibliography
  • Halley, J.J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Halpenny, Bruce. Action Stations 4; Military airfields of Yorkshire. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1982. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
  • 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.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
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