RAF Skipton-on-Swale

For other places with the same name, see Skipton.

RAF Skipton-on-Swale
Skipton-on-Swale, North Yorkshire in England
RAF Skipton-on-Swale Shown within North Yorkshire RAF Skipton-on-Swale RAF Skipton-on-Swale (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates	54°13′26″N 001°25′38″W
Type	Royal Air Force satellite station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Bomber Command]
Site history
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1942 - 1947 (1947)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	25 metres (82 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

Royal Air Force Skipton-on-Swale or more simply RAF Skipton-on-Swale is a former Royal Air Force satellite 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.

History

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

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 and 433 Squadron lost 38 aircraft.

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.

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.

Operational units and aircraft

data from

Unit	Aircraft	Version(s)	From	To	To
No. 420 Squadron RCAF	Vickers Wellington	Mk.III	6 August 1942	15 October 1942	RAF Middleton St. George
No. 424 Squadron RCAF	Vickers Wellington Handley Page Halifax Avro Lancaster	Mk.X Mk.III Mks.I & III	6 November 1943	15 October 1945	Disbanded
No. 432 Squadron RCAF	Vickers Wellington	Mk.X	1 May 1943	18 September 1943	RAF East Moor
No. 433 Squadron RCAF	Handley Page Halifax Avro Lancaster	Mk.III Mks.I & III	25 September 1943	15 October 1945	Disbanded

References

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.

External links

• RAF Skipton-on-Swale at RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary
• Wartime memories project
• Control Towers