Redcar Aerodrome
Redcar Aerodrome RAF | |
---|---|
Site history | |
Built | 1915 |
In use | July 1915 – December 1919 |
Fate | Used for housing |
Redcar Aerodrome is a former
History
The aerodrome was opened in the early part of the
Redcar covered over 140 acres (57 ha) and grew to have four aircraft sheds, three measuring 180 feet (55 m) by 60 feet (18 m), and the fourth, 200 feet (61 m) by 100 feet (30 m).[7] However, the station wasn't equipped with an officers' mess, and trainee pilots were hosted in the local village, requiring them to walk to and from the aerodrome four times a day.[9]
On the night of 8/9 August 1916, the aerodrome was attacked by a Zeppelin. No lasting damage or injuries occurred, but the electricity supply to the camp was severed.[10] It was recognised that the aircraft of the RNAS were quite ineffective at night combat against Zeppelins, and an admiralty report stated that aircraft were not reliable enough to be launched from land, and advocated using seaplanes and the closure of aerodromes at Scarborough, Whitley Bay, Hornsea and Redcar in favour of seaplane stations.[11]
Although designated as a training airfield, and used mostly as that, some defensive and offensive operations were launched from Redcar, most notable from 1917 when it became a Temporary Marine Operations (Aeroplane) station.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Aerial_travel_for_Business_or_Pleasure_-_Thos_Cook_%26_Son_-_1919_-_pp_16%2B_%28map%29.jpg/170px-Aerial_travel_for_Business_or_Pleasure_-_Thos_Cook_%26_Son_-_1919_-_pp_16%2B_%28map%29.jpg)
In April 1918, the North Eastern Flying Instructors School formed at the base, and in October of the same year, No. 63 Training Squadron arrived from RAF Joyce Green.[18]
In December 1919, an order was released stating that Redcar was not to be used as it was in the process of closing down.[19] The western edge of the base, which hosted the technical site, has been re-used for housing.[20] The base was left alone after 1919 and not broken up until 1923, when explosives were used to dislodge the hardcore. This was then re-used in a local road to Eston.[21]
Crashes
It was estimated that at least 8,000 aircrew died in training accidents during the First World War.
On 2 April 1918, Charles Edward Pattison crashed his Sopwith Camel aircraft at Redcar after hitting overhead wires. Pattison died from his injuries becoming one of the first casualties of the newly-formed Royal Air Force.[25][26]
Based units
Between 1915 and 1919, the following units were based at Redcar:[27]
Unit | Dates | Details | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
7 Squadron RNAS | September 1917 – October 1917 | Detached from Coedekerque, left for Manston | [28] |
C Flight (No. 510 Special Duty Flight) | June 1918 – November 1918 | This detachment used Dh6 aircraft on convoy escort duties. Later became part of No. 251 Squadron RAF and No. 252 Squadron RAF; No 510 Flight was moved to West Ayton .
|
[29][18][30] |
Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School | July 1918 – May 1919 | Absorbed by Northwestern Area Flying Instructors School | [31] |
Northwestern Area Flying Instructors' School | January 1918 – June 1919 | Posted in from RAF Ayr, disbanded in June 1919 | [32] |
School of Special Flying | April 1918 – July 1918 | Disbanded to become Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School | [33] |
No. 63 Training Squadron | October 1918 – September 1919 | Moved to Redcar from Joyce Green, No. 63 TS disbanded at Redcar in September 1919 | [34] |
Notable personnel
Some pilots have erroneously been recorded as having postings to Redcar, when in fact they were sent to Marske Aerodrome,[35] some 1.2 miles (2 km) to the east.[36] Due to the proximity of both aerodromes, and as the postal town for Marske was Redcar, some errors have crept in.
- Raymond Collishaw, trained at the base between February and July '1916[37]
- Richard Bell Davies, made commanding officer of Redcar in January 1916 (along with Killingholme, Whitley Bay and Scarborough air stations)[38]
- Bruno De Roeper, flew defensive patrols from the base[39]
- Pruett Mullens Dennett[40]
- Thomas Gerrard[41]
- Walter G. R. Hinchliffe[42][43]
- Oliver LeBoutillier, student at Redcar in 1917[44]
- Edwin Swale, trained at Redcar[45]
- Ronald Sykes, trained at Redcar[46]
References
- ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
- ^ "Hartlepool bombing: British Navy 'did not rule the waves'". BBC News. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-90-288-5599-1.
- ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 155.
- ^ Jones 2007, p. 64.
- ISBN 0-7146-4147-2.
- ^ a b Chorlton 2014, p. 169.
- ISBN 9780750960052.
- ISBN 9781459706606.
- ^ "Redcar Aerodrome". nelsam.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Jones 2007, p. 65.
- ^ Chorlton 2014, pp. 169–170.
- ISSN 1360-9009.
- ^ "207 Squadron RAF History - 7 Squadron RNAS - HP O/100s - 1917". www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ISBN 0859440125.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 252.
- ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2.
- ^ a b Philpott 2005, p. 245.
- ^ Philpott 2005, p. 212.
- ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 157.
- ISBN 978-90-288-5599-1.
- ^ "War Memorials to Airmen Listed to Mark Centenary of the Royal Air Force | Historic England". Historic England. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire". www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Historic England. "Memorial cross for Probationary Flight Officer Francis Titcomb (the Swinsty Cross) (Grade II) (1453942)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Sopwith Camel B5720, 02 Apr 1918". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
- ^ "Redcar - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK". abct.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Chorlton 2014, p. 171.
- ^ Lake 1999, pp. 79, 248.
- ^ Chorlton 2014, p. 170.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 141.
- ^ Philpott 2005, p. 247.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 183.
- ^ Chorlton 2014, pp. 170–171.
- ^ Halliday, Hugh A (23 September 2015). "Air Force: The fighter pilot who hated killing". legionmagazine.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-319-24558-3.
- ISBN 9781459706606.
- ISBN 1840672404.
- ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
- ^ "Walmer Airfield Memorial" (PDF). kentfallen.com. p. 30. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire -Caudron GIII 3868 at Redcar aerodrome". www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-84176-534-1.
- Lives of the First World War
- ISBN 9780760346396.
- ISBN 9781473866867.
- ^ "Sykes, Ronald (Oral history)". iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
Sources
- Chorlton, Martyn (2014). Forgotten airfields of World War I. Manchester: Crécy. ISBN 9780859791816.
- Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982). Action stations 4; Military Airfields of Yorkshire. Cambridge: Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
- Jones, Benjamin (2007). Ashore, Afloat and Airborne : the Logistics of British Naval Airpower, 1914-1945 (Report). London: University of London. OCLC 1006036927.
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- Philpott, I. M. (2005). The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 1844151549.