RAF Breighton

RAF Breighton
Breighton Airfield
Breighton Airfield and Aeroplane Museum
Summary
Owner Air Ministry 1940-1964
Private 1964 – present
Operator Royal Air Force 1940-1964
Private 1964 – present
Location Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Built 1940 (1940)
In use 1942-1964 (1964)
Elevation AMSL 20 ft / 6 m
Coordinates 53°48′07″N 000°54′49″W / 53.80194°N 0.91361°W / 53.80194; -0.91361Coordinates: 53°48′07″N 000°54′49″W / 53.80194°N 0.91361°W / 53.80194; -0.91361
Map
EGBR
Location in East Riding of Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 0 0 Grass
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt

Royal Air Force Breighton or more simply RAF Breighton is a former Royal Air Force station located near to the village of Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England which is now Breighton Airfield.

History

The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for No. 1 Group RAF,[1] its first residents were the No. 460 Squadron RAAF.[2]

From 1959 to 1963, as part of Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 240 Squadron RAF.[3]

The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit (which operated the Bristol Bloodhound air-defence missile) withdrew.[4]

Squadrons

SquadronEquipmentFromToToNotes
No. 78 Squadron RAFHandley Page Halifax II/III/VI
Douglas Dakota		16 June 194320 September 1945RAF Almaza[5]
No. 112 Squadron RAFBristol Bloodhound I7 November 196031 March 1964Disbanded[6]
No. 240 Squadron RAFPGM-17 Thor1 August 19598 January 1963Disbanded[3]
No. 460 Squadron RAAFVickers Wellington IV
Handley Page Halifax II
Avro Lancaster I/III		4 January 194214 May 1943RAF Binbrook[2]

Units

Current use

Mustangs Flying During Breighton Airshow

The original runways are covered in buildings but the outline of the runways, taxiways and dispersal stands are clearly visible using satellite imagery.[4]

A part of the airfield is currently used by the Real Aeroplane Company to house and maintain private and historic aircraft and a home for the Breighton Flying Club which uses a separate grass runway located within the original airfield grounds.[1]

Five people were injured in a helicopter crash at the airfield on 17 July 2016.[8]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Airfield history". The Real Aeroplane Company. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  2. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 93.
  3. 1 2 Jefford 1988, p. 76
  4. 1 2 Delve 2006, p. 50.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 48.
  6. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 56.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Breighton - Units". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Five casualties after helicopter crash". BBC News. Retrieved 17 July 2016.

Bibliography

  • Delve, Ken. The Military Airfields of Britain; Northern England. Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 1988. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
  • Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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