RAF Elvington
Encyclopedia
RAF Elvington, located at Elvington
, south east of York
in Yorkshire
was a Royal Air Force bomber
base which operated from the beginning of World War II
until 1992.
. In the early 1940s the airfield was entirely reconstructed with three hardened runways replacing the grass. The base was re-opened in October 1942 as a station for 77 Squadron
RAF and along with RAF Melbourne
and RAF Pocklington
was known as "42 Base". The squadron had a strength of approximately 20 aircraft and initially used the twin engined Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
medium bomber
although this was quickly replaced by the Handley Page Halifax
four engined heavy bomber
which was being introduced. 77 Squadron suffered heavy losses during its time at Elvington with over 500 aircrew killed, missing or taken prisoner and almost 80 Halifaxes lost as it played a major part in the Battle of the Ruhr
and the bombing of Berlin
.
In May 1944 77 Squadron re-located to the newly opened RAF Full Sutton and was replaced at Elvington by two French squadrons, numbers 346 "Guyenne"
and 347 "Tunisie"
who both played a leading part in the bombing of Germany. Elvington was the only airfield in the United Kingdom
used by the remainder of the Free French Forces
, they also flew Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers until they moved to Bordeaux
in October 1945 where they became the basis for the new air force of liberated France. In September 1957 a memorial was unveiled in Elvington village dedicated to the two French squadrons. After the war the 400 acres (1.6 km²) airfield was transferred to 40 Group Maintenance Command until 1952 when it was greatly enlarged and extended for use by the United States Air Force
.
The United States Air Force built a new 3,094 m (10,152 ft) runway, which was the longest in the north of England, and a huge 19.8 hectare (49 acre) rectangular hardstanding apron
as well as a new control tower
to turn Elvington into a "Basic Operation Platform" which would have operated as a Strategic Air Command
(SAC) dispersal airfield. After spending £4 million the airfield never became operational as a SAC base and was abandoned by the US Air Force in 1958. In the early 1960s the Blackburn Aircraft Company
, now part of British Aerospace
used the runway for test flights of the Blackburn Buccaneer
. Elvington retained its status as an RAF relief landing ground and was used by the RAF flying training schools at RAF Church Fenton
and RAF Linton-on-Ouse
until the airfield was finally closed in March 1992.
's record set 43 years previously at Pendine Sands
.
In 1990 Elvington hosted an attempt to match the speed record run of the Sunbeam Tiger
motor car, originally driven by Henry Segrave
(on 21 March 1926, he set his first land speed record in his 4-litre Sunbeam Tiger
Ladybird on the sands at Southport, England at 152.33 mph). The re-run at Elvington on the two mile (3 km) runway was recorded at 159 mph (256 km/h).
In the summer of 1998, Colin Fallows bettered Richard Noble's outright UK Record in his "Vampire" jet dragster at 269 mi/h at Elvington.
The current British Land Speed Record
holder is Vampire
, driven by Colin Fallows, who hit a speed of 300.3 mi/h on July 5, 2000 at Elvington.
On 20 September 2006 Elvington Airfield was the location of a serious crash involving the Top Gear
presenter Richard Hammond
. The jet-powered car he was driving crashed while travelling at 280 mi/h. Hammond received serious brain injuries but made a full recovery. The accident investigation said: "an almost instantaneous blow out of the right side front tyre caused the accident."
which has many varied and rare aircraft and exhibits, including a complete Halifax bomber. Once a year Elvington hosts a privately sponsored airshow, which incorporates modern military aircraft
and classic aircraft as well as displays by the Red Arrows
and the Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight. Over the years since the airshow began, various spectacular events have taken place here, including the only gathering of a Lancaster, Halifax, and an American B17 in recent times; also one of the last successful flights of a then flying BF109G, prior to its crash at Duxford the following month.
Elvington is also a popular motorsports venue for motorcycle
racing and the Auto 66 club. It is also home to the York Land Yacht Club. Land sailing takes place regularly at weekends with speeds of up to 50/60 mph achieved.
Elvington, City of York
Elvington is a village and civil parish situated approximately south-east of York, England, on the B1228 York-Howden road. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,212...
, south east of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
was a Royal Air Force bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
base which operated from the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
until 1992.
History
The base was originally a grass airfield within No. 4 GroupGroup (air force)
A group is a military aviation unit, a component of military organization and a military formation. Usage of the terms group and wing differ from one country to another, as well as different branches of a defence force, in some cases...
. In the early 1940s the airfield was entirely reconstructed with three hardened runways replacing the grass. The base was re-opened in October 1942 as a station for 77 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron RAF
No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on June 13, 1919....
RAF and along with RAF Melbourne
RAF Melbourne
RAF Melbourne was a Royal Air Force station during the Second World War. Located 5 miles to the South-west of Pocklington, Yorkshire, England. The nearest village is Seaton Ross.-History:...
and RAF Pocklington
RAF Pocklington
RAF Pocklington was an operational flying station of the Royal Air Force during World War II, forming part of Bomber command, and operating primarily Wellington and Halifax bombers. The station, adjacent to the village of Pocklington at , opened in 1941, and was closed in 1946...
was known as "42 Base". The squadron had a strength of approximately 20 aircraft and initially used the twin engined Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War...
medium bomber
Medium bomber
A medium bomber is a bomber aircraft designed to operate with medium bombloads over medium distances; the name serves to distinguish them from the larger heavy bombers and smaller light bombers...
although this was quickly replaced by the Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...
four engined heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
which was being introduced. 77 Squadron suffered heavy losses during its time at Elvington with over 500 aircrew killed, missing or taken prisoner and almost 80 Halifaxes lost as it played a major part in the Battle of the Ruhr
Battle of the Ruhr
The Battle of the Ruhr was a 5-month long campaign of strategic bombing during the Second World War against the Nazi Germany Ruhr Area, which had coke plants, steelworks, and 10 synthetic oil plants...
and the bombing of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
In May 1944 77 Squadron re-located to the newly opened RAF Full Sutton and was replaced at Elvington by two French squadrons, numbers 346 "Guyenne"
No. 346 Squadron RAF
The No. 346 Squadron RAF was a Free French bomber squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Elvington on 15 May 1944 from GB H/23 ‘Guyenne’ airmen who had been based in the Middle East...
and 347 "Tunisie"
No. 347 Squadron RAF
The No. 347 Squadron RAF was a Free French bomber squadron given a Royal Air Force squadron number during World War II.-History:The squadron was formed at RAF Elvington on 20 June 1944 from GB I/25 ‘Tunisie’ airmen who had been based in the Middle East...
who both played a leading part in the bombing of Germany. Elvington was the only airfield in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
used by the remainder of the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
, they also flew Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers until they moved to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
in October 1945 where they became the basis for the new air force of liberated France. In September 1957 a memorial was unveiled in Elvington village dedicated to the two French squadrons. After the war the 400 acres (1.6 km²) airfield was transferred to 40 Group Maintenance Command until 1952 when it was greatly enlarged and extended for use by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
The United States Air Force built a new 3,094 m (10,152 ft) runway, which was the longest in the north of England, and a huge 19.8 hectare (49 acre) rectangular hardstanding apron
Airport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
as well as a new control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
to turn Elvington into a "Basic Operation Platform" which would have operated as a Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) dispersal airfield. After spending £4 million the airfield never became operational as a SAC base and was abandoned by the US Air Force in 1958. In the early 1960s the Blackburn Aircraft Company
Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
, now part of British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
used the runway for test flights of the Blackburn Buccaneer
Blackburn Buccaneer
The Blackburn Buccaneer was a British low-level subsonic strike aircraft with nuclear weapon delivery capability serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, including service in the 1991 Gulf War...
. Elvington retained its status as an RAF relief landing ground and was used by the RAF flying training schools at RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton
RAF Church Fenton is a Royal Air Force airfield at Church Fenton in North Yorkshire, England.- History :Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable...
and RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields...
until the airfield was finally closed in March 1992.
Record breaking
On October 3, 1970 Tony Densham, driving the Ford-powered "Commuter" dragster set a record at Elvington, averaging 207.6 mi/h. over the Flying Kilometre course. This broke Malcolm CampbellMalcolm Campbell
Sir Malcolm Campbell was an English racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times during the 1920s and 1930s using vehicles called Blue Bird...
's record set 43 years previously at Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands
Pendine Sands is a length of beach on the shores of Carmarthen Bay on the south coast of Wales. It stretches from Gilman Point in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east. The village of Pendine is situated near the western end of Pendine Sands....
.
In 1990 Elvington hosted an attempt to match the speed record run of the Sunbeam Tiger
Sunbeam Tiger (1925)
The Sunbeam Tiger was a racing car of the 1920s, built by Sunbeam of Wolverhampton. It was the last car to be competitive both as a land speed record holder, and as a circuit-racing car.- Design and engine :...
motor car, originally driven by Henry Segrave
Henry Segrave
-External links:* * * * *...
(on 21 March 1926, he set his first land speed record in his 4-litre Sunbeam Tiger
Sunbeam Tiger (1925)
The Sunbeam Tiger was a racing car of the 1920s, built by Sunbeam of Wolverhampton. It was the last car to be competitive both as a land speed record holder, and as a circuit-racing car.- Design and engine :...
Ladybird on the sands at Southport, England at 152.33 mph). The re-run at Elvington on the two mile (3 km) runway was recorded at 159 mph (256 km/h).
In the summer of 1998, Colin Fallows bettered Richard Noble's outright UK Record in his "Vampire" jet dragster at 269 mi/h at Elvington.
The current British Land Speed Record
British land speed record
The British land speed record is the fastest land speed achieved by a vehicle in the United Kingdom, as opposed to one on water or in the air. It is standardised as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions....
holder is Vampire
Vampire (car)
The Vampire is a jet-propelled car that currently holds the outright British land speed record, driven by Colin Fallows to a mean speed of on July 5, 2000 at Elvington, Yorkshire, England....
, driven by Colin Fallows, who hit a speed of 300.3 mi/h on July 5, 2000 at Elvington.
On 20 September 2006 Elvington Airfield was the location of a serious crash involving the Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
. The jet-powered car he was driving crashed while travelling at 280 mi/h. Hammond received serious brain injuries but made a full recovery. The accident investigation said: "an almost instantaneous blow out of the right side front tyre caused the accident."
Present day
The airfield is now owned by Elvington Park Ltd. The adjacent buildings and control tower have been restored, and serve as the Yorkshire Air MuseumYorkshire Air Museum
The Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, , is an air museum in England. The museum was founded, and first opened to the public, in the early 1980s....
which has many varied and rare aircraft and exhibits, including a complete Halifax bomber. Once a year Elvington hosts a privately sponsored airshow, which incorporates modern military aircraft
Military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...
and classic aircraft as well as displays by the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
and 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...
Memorial Flight. Over the years since the airshow began, various spectacular events have taken place here, including the only gathering of a Lancaster, Halifax, and an American B17 in recent times; also one of the last successful flights of a then flying BF109G, prior to its crash at Duxford the following month.
Elvington is also a popular motorsports venue for motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
racing and the Auto 66 club. It is also home to the York Land Yacht Club. Land sailing takes place regularly at weekends with speeds of up to 50/60 mph achieved.