Royal Air Force station Skipton-on-Swale or more simply RAF Skipton-on-Swale is a former

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

station operated by

RAF Bomber Command RAF Bomber Command controlled the Royal Air Force's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Along with the United States Army Air Forces, it played the central role in the strategic bombing of Germany in World War II. From 1942 onward, the British bo ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The station was located at

Skipton-on-Swale Skipton-on-Swale is a small village and civil parish in the Hambleton District, Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The population at the 2011 Census was less than 100. Details are included in the civil parish of Catton, North Yor ...

west of

Thirsk Thirsk is a market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England known for its racecourse; quirky yarnbomber displays, and depiction as local author James Herriot's fictional Darrowby. History Archeological fin ...

(near the present-day junction of the A61 and

A167 The A167 and A167(M) is a road in North East England. It is partially a trunk road and partially a motorway, where it is commonly referred to as Newcastle Central Motorway. Most of the road’s route was formerly that of the A1, until it was ...

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of . Around 40% of the county is covered by National parks of the United Kingdom, national parks, including most of ...

, England. The village of Sandhutton is located just to the east. RAF Skipton-on-Swale was a sub-station of

RAF Leeming Royal Air Force Leeming or RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located near Leeming, North Yorkshire, England. It was opened in 1940 and was jointly used by the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Between 1950 and 1991, it ...

History

The airfield opened in autumn 1942, becoming operational in May 1943. Skipton-on-Swale was originally a 4 Group facility and first hosted

420 Squadron No. 420 "City of London" Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) (and subsequently Canadian Forces) which existed from late December 1941 forwards. The Squadron's nickname was "Snowy Owl". Their motto was ''Pugnam ...

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...

(RCAF), which moved to RAF Middleton St. George in October 1942. Skipton was assigned to No. 6 Group,

(RCAF) in January 1943. RCAF squadrons stationed here included 424 Squadron, No. 432 Squadron (which moved to

RAF East Moor Royal Air Force East Moor or RAF East Moor is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located north of York, North Yorkshire and south-east of Easingwold, North Yorkshire, England. The airfield was initially controlled by the Royal Air For ...

in September 1943), and 433 Squadron. Both squadrons flew the Halifax bomber until replaced by the Lancaster in January 1945. 424 Squadron lost 52 aircraft and 433 Squadron lost 38 aircraft. Nos. 424 and 433 Squadrons were disbanded in October 1945. After this the airfield was closed. The station was not used again and has since reverted largely to farmland. The site is home t
turkey
and pig farms. In 1984, veterans of the RCAF, including survivors of the crash of an RCAF Halifax in the area, and other Air Force representatives and local residents, gathered in the village for a commemoration of the wartime base. A cairn to 6 Group was dedicated and a Lancaster of the

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group usually comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft are regularly seen at events comme ...

made a flypast.See video of commemoration: Yorkshire TV "Canadian Airforce Skipton on Swale UK Memorial Dedication news report 1984",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbu546l0PlU

Operational units and aircraft

References

Citations

Bibliography

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External links

RAF Skipton-on-Swale at RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skipton-on-Swale History of North Yorkshire Royal Air Force stations in Yorkshire Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Military history of North Yorkshire