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View Full Version : RAF Skipton On Swale. Thirsk. 8/11/09



TripleSix
10-01-2010, 09:12 PM
No far from me, I'd heard the control tower was still there so I had a drive along.

Theres a few other buildings left, look like vehicle sheds and equipment stores.
I should've taken more pics but didn't...

Shamelessly copied and pasted some history

Three-and-a-half miles west south-west of Thirsk, with the A61 Thirsk to Ripon road forming its south-eastern boundary, Skipton-on-Swale was one of the closely-packed bomber stations in the Vale of York. Farmland in the parishes of Skipton-on-Swale and Sand Hutton was acquired for the satellite for Leeming late in 1940.

At first Skipton came under the auspices of No. 4 Group but, earmarked for No. 6, the station received No. 420 Squadron and its Wellingtons when these were transferred from No. 1 Group at Waddington in preparation for joining the planned RCAF group. This was in August 1942 but in mid-October the squadron was moved on to Middleton St George, reputedly because of the incomplete state of Skipton's camp. Not until the following spring was the station again occupied by a flying unit. Officially born at Skipton-on-Swale on May Day 1943, No. 432 Squadron started operations with Wellingtons on the night of the 23rd/24th of that month. In September, No. 432 was moved to East Moor and another RCAF squadron was formed to replace it.

No. 433 Squadron came into being in late September 1943 to fly Halifaxes, being joined in November by No. 424 recently returned from North Africa to re-equip with Halifaxes. No. 433 entered combat on the night of January 2/3, 1944 and No. 424 made its first raid with the Halifax to Berlin on February 15/16. These squadrons were to see out the war at Skipton, converting to Lancasters in January 1945. By the end of hostilities 98 bombers had been lost in operations flown from this station; 21 Wellingtons, 66 Halifaxes and 11 Lancasters.

Following VE-Day, both squadrons remained in Bomber Command until disbanded in mid-October 1945. Although the RAF maintained a housekeeper unit at the airfield for a few months under the auspices of a Maintenance Unit, there was no further use for the base and by the `fifties it was returned to agriculture. Today, parts of the runways remain intact as bases for poultry houses, the greater part of the area having been devoted to poultry farming for the past three decades.

Some Outlying Buildings
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4089720605_b82eacf860.jpg

The Control Tower
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/4089720601_8dfaae42b7.jpg

Memorial Plaques
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4089720615_209ed99707.jpg

In through the door
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4089720625_543083acb0.jpg

Bale stacks
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/4089743505_707a5f5acd.jpg

Not much inside, the Brambles want in.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/4089743529_294fa436d6.jpg

Main room Ground floor, strange metal shelves, meat store?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2726/4089762889_0e22e68fc1.jpg

Turkey Sheds in the distance
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/4089762891_59ee7250c3.jpg

Bit of Graff, forgiven!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2514/4089762903_85b9b2aea8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4089762917_80cc1afcf5.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/4089762923_41719d890e.jpg

Room With a view
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/4089779229_befb7d27e7.jpg

Internal Window
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/4089779261_410e6dec22.jpg

I found this coin
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4089797785_8036f3dfdb.jpg


I hope you're not all in a Coma from the boringness :wflag

boxfrenzy
10-01-2010, 09:36 PM
I always like the look of these. Nice that they remain, and good that they remain important with the attaching of plaques to the wall. Good job.

TripleSix
10-01-2010, 09:39 PM
did you get a shot of the plaque inside the tower? Also the metal shelves were probably where the signal flares and maroons were stored.

I did get a shot of the plaque, but it ain't very good.

That explanation of the metal shelves fits a lot better!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2518/4089743481_879668dc3b_b.jpg

BB
11-01-2010, 03:09 AM
I like this, the plaques are a nice touch :)
cant think of anything else to say..

KingElvis
12-01-2010, 06:09 PM
WW2 stuff always goes down well with me and I would like to see this if I'm in the area.

Nice

BA
12-01-2010, 06:22 PM
This looks a really nice place, especially liking the plaques :thumb

TripleSix
12-01-2010, 06:52 PM
Thanks for everyones comments, I have a particular soft spot for WWII stuff too, I have pics of a BIG gun emplacement in Northumberland that I need to post - when I find out its name!

If anyone is coming near Northallerton feel free to PM me

I also quite fancy a look in BOCM pauls at Selby, looks very cool.

superkev
12-01-2010, 07:35 PM
Nice report, great stuff! :smclap

**MudLark**
12-01-2010, 10:58 PM
I like this, really nice!
Its the personal touches that make it, like the graff on the wall and the plaques.....
Very good, thanks for posting, interesting stuff!
:thumb