RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
Encyclopedia
RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme as it was also known, was an airfield in Yorkshire
. Built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force
(RAF) as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport base and bomb store before being "mothballed". In the 1950s, the RAF used the station as a training base before it was transferred to the United States Air Force
(USAF) as a reserve station during the Cold War
. After USAF use, it became a testing airfield for Blackburn Aircraft
and its successor British Aerospace
until 1983, when the airfield was closed. Many of the airfield buildings survive as an industrial estate, but most of the runways have been demolished.
s and hardstandings for 36 aircraft. The runway headings
and lengths were as follows:
A year later, all three runways were extended; Runway 12/30 to 2000 yards (1,829 m), 04/22 to 1400 yards (1,280 m) and 08/26 to 1500 yards (1,372 m).
Three hangar
s were constructed, a type J and two type T2. The technical buildings, including the adminisration and control buildings, were to the north east of the runways. The accommodation area was further to the north east of the site, and at its maximum housed over 2,000 service personnel. This was well away from the munition stores, that were to the north west of the site.
of RAF Bomber Command
. The first squadron allocated to Holme was 458 Squadron
Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF), equipped with Vickers Wellington
aircraft. Arriving in August 1941, the squadron conducted its first operation in October 1941, and remained until January 1942. No squadrons were allocated until the extension of the runways was completed, and it was August 1942 before one flight
of the Handley Page Halifax
equipped 460 Squadron RAAF
arrived. This stay only lasted a few weeks before the 460 Squadron aircraft left, and 101 Squadron RAF
arrived on transfer from 3 Group
. 101 Squadron was in the process of re-equipping with Avro Lancaster
aircraft, and did not fly any operations until November 1942.
In June 1943, a reorganisation of group boundaries within Bomber Command saw the station transferred from 1 Group to 4 Group
. This change in command resulted in a change of squadrons, with 101 Squadron being replaced by the Halifax equipped 76 Squadron RAF
. 76 Squadron remained at Holme until after the end of the war in Europe. 4 Group transferred from Bomber Command to Transport Command in May 1945, and during its final weeks at Holme, 76 Squadron was re-equipped with the Douglas C-47 Skytrain (or Dakota as it was known in the RAF). The Dakotas of 76 Squadron were replaced by the same of 512 Squadron
in July 1945, before 512 Squadron left in October 1945.
From February 1944 to May 1945, also based at Holme was 1689 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight that flew Hawker Hurricane
aircraft on fighter affiliation duties.
Also based at Holme during 1943–1944 was 1520 Beam Approach Training (BAT) Flight of 23 (Training) Group, Flying Training Command flying Airspeed Oxford
aircraft.
After the departure of 512 Squadron, the base was reduced to "care and maintenance" status with just a small number of men to look after it. Part of the airfield was also used as store for surplus bombs.
still in progress, the decision was taken to expand the number of stations used for flying training. Holme was one of the bases chosen, and in March 1952 No. 14 Advanced Flying Training School (14 AFTS) was re-formed at Holme, flying Airspeed Oxford and Percival Prentice
aircraft. This use of the base did not last long, and 14 AFTS was disbanded in January 1953.
The base was then handed over to the USAF while the proposed main base for the USAF in Yorkshire, Elvington
was under development. USAF use did not last long, and the airfield was returned to the RAF in 1957; however, the USAF had lengthened the runways, including extending Runway 12/30 to 2000 yards (1,829 m).
for use as a test base from 1958. The location was convenient for Blackburn's main factory at Brough Aerodrome
, only 16 miles (25.7 km) away, where the runway was not long enough for use by the new aircraft Blackburn was then working on, most especially the Blackburn Buccaneer
. The use of Holme passed through Blackburn's acquisition by Hawker Siddeley, and subsequently British Aerospace
, until the latter ceased use of Holme in December 1983.
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...
. Built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force
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...
(RAF) as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport base and bomb store before being "mothballed". In the 1950s, the RAF used the station as a training base before it was transferred to 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...
(USAF) as a reserve station during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. After USAF use, it became a testing airfield for Blackburn Aircraft
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:...
and its successor 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...
until 1983, when the airfield was closed. Many of the airfield buildings survive as an industrial estate, but most of the runways have been demolished.
Construction and layout
Construction of the airfield began in late 1940, and the airfield was built with three concrete runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s and hardstandings for 36 aircraft. The runway headings
Course (navigation)
In navigation, a vehicle's course is the angle that the intended path of the vehicle makes with a fixed reference object . Typically course is measured in degrees from 0° clockwise to 360° in compass convention . Course is customarily expressed in three digits, using preliminary zeros if needed,...
and lengths were as follows:
- Main Runway 12/30 120° and 300° 1800 yards (1,646 m)
- Runway 04/22 40° and 220° 1200 yards (1,097 m)
- Runway 08/26 80° and 260° 1100 yards (1,006 m)
A year later, all three runways were extended; Runway 12/30 to 2000 yards (1,829 m), 04/22 to 1400 yards (1,280 m) and 08/26 to 1500 yards (1,372 m).
Three hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s were constructed, a type J and two type T2. The technical buildings, including the adminisration and control buildings, were to the north east of the runways. The accommodation area was further to the north east of the site, and at its maximum housed over 2,000 service personnel. This was well away from the munition stores, that were to the north west of the site.
Operational command and allocated units
Operational command of the station was given to 1 GroupNo. 1 Group RAF
Number 1 Group of the Royal Air Force is one of the two operations groups in Air Command.The group is today referred to as the Air Combat Group, as it controls the RAF's combat fast-jet aircraft and has airfields in the UK plus RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an...
of RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
. The first squadron allocated to Holme was 458 Squadron
No. 458 Squadron RAAF
No. 458 Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force squadron during World War II. It was formed in Australia, under the Empire Air Training Scheme. The Squadron flew various versions of Vickers Wellington bombers, first in Europe and later in the Middle East.-Over Europe:No. 458 was formed at...
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF), equipped with Vickers Wellington
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
aircraft. Arriving in August 1941, the squadron conducted its first operation in October 1941, and remained until January 1942. No squadrons were allocated until the extension of the runways was completed, and it was August 1942 before one flight
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
of 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...
equipped 460 Squadron RAAF
No. 460 Squadron RAAF
No. 460 Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation . It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on November 15, 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The...
arrived. This stay only lasted a few weeks before the 460 Squadron aircraft left, and 101 Squadron RAF
No. 101 Squadron RAF
No. 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Vickers VC10 C1K, K3 and K4 from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Since 10 Squadron disbanded in 2005, the squadron is the only operator of the VC10.-Formation and early years:...
arrived on transfer from 3 Group
No. 3 Group RAF
Number 3 Group of the Royal Air Force was an RAF group first active in 1918, again in 1923-26, part of RAF Bomber Command from 1936 to 1967, and part of RAF Strike Command from 2000 until it disbanded on 1 April 2006.-The 1930s and World War II:...
. 101 Squadron was in the process of re-equipping with Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
aircraft, and did not fly any operations until November 1942.
In June 1943, a reorganisation of group boundaries within Bomber Command saw the station transferred from 1 Group to 4 Group
No. 4 Group RAF
No. 4 Group was a Royal Air Force group, originally formed in World War I, and reformed in the wake of the Second World War, mostly part of RAF Bomber Command, but ending its days in RAF Transport Command.-Formation in World War I:...
. This change in command resulted in a change of squadrons, with 101 Squadron being replaced by the Halifax equipped 76 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron RAF
No. 76 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was formed during World War I as a home defence fighter squadron and in its second incarnation during World War II flew as a bomber squadron, first as an operational training unit and later as an active bomber squadron...
. 76 Squadron remained at Holme until after the end of the war in Europe. 4 Group transferred from Bomber Command to Transport Command in May 1945, and during its final weeks at Holme, 76 Squadron was re-equipped with the Douglas C-47 Skytrain (or Dakota as it was known in the RAF). The Dakotas of 76 Squadron were replaced by the same of 512 Squadron
No. 512 Squadron RAF
No. 512 Squadron was a Second World War Royal Air Force transport squadron.-History:No. 512 Squadron was formed on 18 June 1943 from the Dakota element of 24 Squadron at RAF Hendon. It operated on supply routes from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar and Algeria to support the campaign in North West...
in July 1945, before 512 Squadron left in October 1945.
From February 1944 to May 1945, also based at Holme was 1689 Bomber (Defence) Training Flight that flew Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
aircraft on fighter affiliation duties.
Also based at Holme during 1943–1944 was 1520 Beam Approach Training (BAT) Flight of 23 (Training) Group, Flying Training Command flying Airspeed Oxford
Airspeed Oxford
The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.-Design and development:...
aircraft.
After the departure of 512 Squadron, the base was reduced to "care and maintenance" status with just a small number of men to look after it. Part of the airfield was also used as store for surplus bombs.
Officers Commanding
- 1942–1943 Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
R S BluckeRobert BluckeAir Vice Marshal Robert Stewart Blucke CB CBE DSO AFC & Bar was a Royal Air Force officer who became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at RAF Transport Command.-RAF career:...
RAF - April – June 1943 Group Captain D E L Wilson RAAF
- June 1943 – early 1944 Group Captain G S Hodson RAF
- 1944–1945 Group Captain J E Pelly-Fry RAF
Cold War
In 1951, with the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
still in progress, the decision was taken to expand the number of stations used for flying training. Holme was one of the bases chosen, and in March 1952 No. 14 Advanced Flying Training School (14 AFTS) was re-formed at Holme, flying Airspeed Oxford and Percival Prentice
Percival Prentice
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Ellison, Norman H. Percivals Aircraft . Chalford, Stroud, UK: Chalford Publishing Company, 1997. ISBN 0-7524-0774-0....
aircraft. This use of the base did not last long, and 14 AFTS was disbanded in January 1953.
The base was then handed over to the USAF while the proposed main base for the USAF in Yorkshire, Elvington
RAF Elvington
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.-History:...
was under development. USAF use did not last long, and the airfield was returned to the RAF in 1957; however, the USAF had lengthened the runways, including extending Runway 12/30 to 2000 yards (1,829 m).
Blackburn and British Aerospace
Surplus to RAF requirements, Holme was leased to Blackburn Aircraft LtdBlackburn 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:...
for use as a test base from 1958. The location was convenient for Blackburn's main factory at Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome
Brough Aerodrome is located at Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.The site was first used by the Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company during World War I for the testing of seaplanes....
, only 16 miles (25.7 km) away, where the runway was not long enough for use by the new aircraft Blackburn was then working on, most especially 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...
. The use of Holme passed through Blackburn's acquisition by Hawker Siddeley, and subsequently 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...
, until the latter ceased use of Holme in December 1983.