RAF Doncaster
Encyclopedia
RAF Doncaster, also referred to as Doncaster Aerodrome, was a Royal Air Force
station near Doncaster
, South Yorkshire
.
was chosen as the venue for an airshow, after the world's first air display in Rheims in 1908. All the world's leading aviators were present. Samuel Cody
in an attempt to win a prize offered by The Daily Mail for the first British pilot in a British aeroplane to fly a circular mile signed British naturalisation papers in front of the crowd with the band playing both the Star Spangled Banner and the National Anthem. Unfortunately, he crashed his British Army Aeroplane No.1 whilst taxiing.
Artist Dudley Hardy
drew caricatures of participating flyers, Captain Sir Walter George Windham, Ferdinand Leon Delagrange
, Hubert Le Blon, Shreck, Roger Somme, Wilbur Wright, Louis Bleriot
, and Samuel Franklin Cody, for the show's souvenir programme.
fighters were first based at Doncaster Racecourse, then at a temporary airstrip near Finningley (later RAF Finningley
and now Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
) and finally in 1916, at a newly built airfield beside the racecourse. Station fighters were deployed to defend the east coast against Zeppelin
s, and used in the training of pilots for the war in France. Within months of the war ending the entire station was put up for sale and two of its three Belfast hangars, (the same type of hangar forming the basis for the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon), were sold to a Sheffield motor manufacturing company for storage and assembly at Finningley. One third of the hangars stayed in place, mainly housing buses, until the 1970s when they were demolished and replaced with modern buildings.
, opened an Aviation Centre . Development of the airfield continued and on 1 July 1936 an international service was open to Amsterdam
.
On 18 November 1938, after discussions with the Air Ministry, No. 616 Squadron RAF
of the Auxiliary Air Force was formed. Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939 the Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain
. It was the first to be equipped with the Gloster Meteor
, and in 1944 was re-equipped with Dakotas after which it was re-based in Southern England to take part in Operation Overlord
. For his actions during the Squadron's part in the airborne invasion at Arnhem, Flight Lieutenant David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross
. After the departure of 616 Squadron the station was left with No. 271 Squadron RAF
, composed mainly of requisitioned civilian aircraft and obsolete twin-engined bombers.
and the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station near Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
.
The first Aviation meeting in England
In 1909, Doncaster and specifically Doncaster RacecourseDoncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
was chosen as the venue for an airshow, after the world's first air display in Rheims in 1908. All the world's leading aviators were present. Samuel Cody
Samuel Cody
Samuel Franklin Cowdery was born in Birdville, Texas, USA. He was an early pioneer of manned flight, most famous for his work on the large kites known as Cody War-Kites that were used in World War I as a smaller alternative to balloons for artillery spotting...
in an attempt to win a prize offered by The Daily Mail for the first British pilot in a British aeroplane to fly a circular mile signed British naturalisation papers in front of the crowd with the band playing both the Star Spangled Banner and the National Anthem. Unfortunately, he crashed his British Army Aeroplane No.1 whilst taxiing.
Artist Dudley Hardy
Dudley Hardy
Dudley Hardy, RI, ROI, RBA, RMS, PS, , was an English painter and illustrator....
drew caricatures of participating flyers, Captain Sir Walter George Windham, Ferdinand Leon Delagrange
Léon Delagrange
Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange Léon Delagrange (Ferdinand Léon Delagrange; March 13, 1873 was a pioneer French aviator and also a sculptor .He was born at Orléans and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris...
, Hubert Le Blon, Shreck, Roger Somme, Wilbur Wright, Louis Bleriot
Louis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
, and Samuel Franklin Cody, for the show's souvenir programme.
World War I
During World War I Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
fighters were first based at Doncaster Racecourse, then at a temporary airstrip near Finningley (later RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley
RAF Finningley is a former Royal Air Force station at Finningley, South Yorkshire, partly within the traditional county boundaries of Nottinghamshire and partly in the West Riding of Yorkshire, now wholly within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster....
and now Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield is an international airport located at the former RAF Finningley airbase at Finningley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster within South Yorkshire, England. The airport lies southeast of Doncaster and east of Sheffield.The airport is operated by Peel...
) and finally in 1916, at a newly built airfield beside the racecourse. Station fighters were deployed to defend the east coast against Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
s, and used in the training of pilots for the war in France. Within months of the war ending the entire station was put up for sale and two of its three Belfast hangars, (the same type of hangar forming the basis for the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon), were sold to a Sheffield motor manufacturing company for storage and assembly at Finningley. One third of the hangars stayed in place, mainly housing buses, until the 1970s when they were demolished and replaced with modern buildings.
Aviation Centre
In 1920 the Government asked local authorities to assist in the formation of a chain of airfields so that the country would not lag behind other nations in the provision of civil air services. Consequently on 26 May 1934 Doncaster, with advice from Alan CobhamAlan Cobham
Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC was an English aviation pioneer.A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly...
, opened an Aviation Centre . Development of the airfield continued and on 1 July 1936 an international service was open to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
On 18 November 1938, after discussions with the Air Ministry, No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron RAF
No. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
of the Auxiliary Air Force was formed. Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939 the Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. It was the first to be equipped with the Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
, and in 1944 was re-equipped with Dakotas after which it was re-based in Southern England to take part in Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. For his actions during the Squadron's part in the airborne invasion at Arnhem, Flight Lieutenant David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. After the departure of 616 Squadron the station was left with No. 271 Squadron RAF
No. 271 Squadron RAF
No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was operational for two periods; a few brief months between 27 September 1918 and 9 December 1918 operating flying boats to protect shipping from German U-boats, and between 28 March 1940 and 1 December 1946 No. 271 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was...
, composed mainly of requisitioned civilian aircraft and obsolete twin-engined bombers.
Post World War II
After the war the airfield reverted to civilian flying and finally closed in 1992. The last original RAF buildings on the airfield now house the South Yorkshire Aircraft MuseumAeroVenture
AeroVenture is an aviation museum located at Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It occupies the former site of RAF Doncaster.-Aircraft collection:...
and the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.
Further reading
- Halpenny, Bruce BarrymoreBruce Barrymore HalpennyBruce Barrymore Halpenny is a widely respected English military historian and author, specialising in airfields and aircraft, as well as ghost stories and mysteries. He is also a broadcaster and games inventor.-Parents:...
(1982); Action Stations: Military Airfields of Yorkshire v. 4 ISBN 978-0850595321 - Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1984); To Shatter the Sky: Bomber Airfield at WarTo Shatter the SkyTo Shatter the Sky, subtitled Bomber Airfield at War, is a book and also BBC Television programme of the same name by the military historian, author and screenwriter Bruce Barrymore Halpenny....
ISBN 978-0850596786 - Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (2004); Bomber Aircrew of World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat ISBN 978-1844150663
- Oakes, Geoffrey (1995); Aviation in Doncaster 1908-1992 ISBN 0952483807