RAF Topcliffe
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Source: UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Topcliffe (EGXZ)[1] |
Royal Air Force Topcliffe or RAF Topcliffe (ICAO: EGXZ) is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England.
It was established as a
History
Second World War
Royal Air Force Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in
- Units
- 801 Naval Air Squadron[9]
- 812 Naval Air Squadron[9]
- 813 Naval Air Squadron[9]
- 824 Naval Air Squadron[9]
- No. 405 Squadron RCAF between 1 and 6 March 1943 with the Halifax II[10]
- No. 1516 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF until 17 November 1941[11]
- No. 102 Conversion Flight RAF between 10 June 1942 and 7 August 1942[12]
- No. 405 Conversion Flight RAF between 7 August and 7 October 1942[12]
- No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF between 14 March and 16 September 1943[13]
- No. 2805 Squadron RAF Regiment[9]
Cold War
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/HP.67_Hastings_C.2_WD490_%27T%27_24.47_Sqns_Ringway_09.08.52_edited-2.jpg/220px-HP.67_Hastings_C.2_WD490_%27T%27_24.47_Sqns_Ringway_09.08.52_edited-2.jpg)
No. 1 Air Navigation School was initially here between 9 April 1947 and 1 May 1954 with Wellingtons and Ansons. Navigation Staff Pilot(s) Training Flight RAF was here between October 1948 and December 1949 within No. 1 ANS.[14] The School was reformed here and operated between 15 March 1957 and 1 December 1961.[15]
From 1 October 1964, the
The Airman Aircrew Initial Training School was located at Topcliffe from 30 January 1967 until February 1970 when it was disbanded into 6 FTS.[15]
Between 1972 and 1973, most of the station was transferred to the British Army and became Alanbrooke Barracks.[18]
During the 1980s, Topcliffe was home of the
During the 1990s and until 2001, the airfield was utilised by Merlin Parachute Club, home to both the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment parachute display team and the University of York Sport Parachute Club.[8]
- Units
- No. 24 Squadron RAF between 9 February 1951 and 6 May 1953 with the Hastings[22]
- No. 36 Squadron RAF between 1 July 1953 and 28 February 1957 with the Lockheed Neptune MR.1[23]
- No. 47 Squadron RAF between 22 August 1949 and 13 May 1953 with the Hastings[24]
- No. 53 Squadron RAF between 1 August 1949 and 9 February 1951 with the Hastings[25]
- No. 203 Squadron RAF between 15 August 1952 and 1 September 1956 with the Neptune MR.1[26]
- No. 210 Squadron RAF between 26 September 1952 and 31 January 1957 with the Lancaster ASR.3 and Neptune MR.1[27]
- No. 297 Squadron RAF between 22 August 1949 and 15 November 1950 with the Hastings[28]
- No. 5 Air Navigation School RAF between 17 September 1946 and 9 April 1947.[15]
- No. 28 Gliding School RAF between February 1948 and February 1949[29]
- Relief Landing Ground for No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit RAF from 1 April 1958[30]
- No. 1453 Flight RAF between 5 May 1953 and 30 June 1956[31]
- Aircrew Holding Unit RAF between 9 December 1966 and 26 November 1970[32]
21st century
No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron moved to the airfield in 2003, after their previous home at the former RAF Catterick became increasingly unusable.[33]
RAF Topcliffe was a satellite station which served in the role of a Relief Landing Ground for Short Tucano T.1 aircraft of No. 1 Flying Training School previously based nearby at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (one of two, the other being Dishforth Airfield).[35]
Tucano Element of
In 2012, Yorkshire Air Ambulance moved their second base to RAF Topcliffe from nearby Bagby Airfield.[38]
Role and operations
Since the British Army took over a large part of the site in 1974 to establish Alanbrooke Barracks, the airfield is now enclosed within the Barracks.[35]
The last remaining RAF unit based at Topcliffe is
As of March 2012, the station is the permanent base of G-YOAA one of the two Yorkshire Air Ambulances.[39]
Based units
Units based at RAF Topcliffe.[40][41]
Royal Air Force
- No. 2 Flying Training School
- Air Training Corps
- Central & East Yorkshire Wing HQ
Civilian
See also
References
Citations
- ^ "UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Topcliffe (EGXZ)" (PDF). No.1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit. Royal Air Force. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 48.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 54.
- ^ Delve 2006, p. 261.
- ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 91.
- ISBN 0-9538045-0-X.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 77.
- ^ a b c "Airfield History". No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Society. Retrieved 30 March 2014.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Topcliffe". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 89.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 126.
- ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 96.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 97.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 193.
- ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 49.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 45.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 194.
- ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 193.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 229.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 84.
- ISBN 978-1-909808-02-7.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 32.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 37.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 40.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 68.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 70.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 144.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 198.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 43.
- ^ "HISTORY". 645vgs. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Brazier, Julian (10 March 2016). "Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch:Written statement – HCWS605". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
- ^ ISBN 0-9538045-0-X.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 136.
- ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 169.
- ^ "Flying visit set to become permanent for Yorkshire Air Ambulance". York Press. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "HRH The Duke of York KG officially opens our Northern Airbase". Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ "Gliders Return to 645 VGS at RAF Topcliffe". 645 VGS. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Topcliffe Air Support Unit". Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
Bibliography
- Delve, Ken (2006). Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Ramsbury: Crowood. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
- Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982). Action Stations: Military Airfields of Yorkshire v. 4. Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
- Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
- Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
External links
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