RAF Leconfield

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RAF Leconfield
Station Crest

Role	Defence School of Transport Leconfield (DST Leconfield)
Location	Beverley, Yorkshire
Date Opened	1936
Date Closed	Currently Active

The former RAF Leconfield, or 'Leconfield Camp' was a Royal Air Force airbase in Leconfield (near Beverley), East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MoD Defence School of Transport Leconfield (DST Leconfield).

[edit] History

Leconfield opened in December 1936 as part of RAF Bomber Command. Handley Page Heyford bombers were flown from there from 1937. On the night of 3 September 1939, the first night of the war, ten Whitley bombers from Leconfield became the first British aircraft to penetrate German airspace, dropping propaganda leaflets over Germany. In October 1939 it was taken over by RAF Fighter Command and the Spitfires of 72 squadron arrived from RAF Church Fenton. During the Battle of Britain, the station was a temporary home to many other squadrons of Fighter Command which made short stays here to rest and re-group. During this period there was also a decoy airfield at nearby Routh.

During the war the RAF squadrons based at Leconfield were: No. 51 Squadron; No. 166 Squadron; No. 196 Squadron; No. 234 Squadron; No. 466 Squadron; No. 610 Squadron; No. 640 Squadron.

The station was also the place of formation of the Polish 302 Squadron "Poznański", and the place of rest of the Polish 303 "Kościuszko" Squadron after it had its turn in the defense of London.

In the 1950s Leconfield was a 'dispersal base' for the RAF V bomber force. Also, after being transferred from RAF Catfoss in October 1945, and into the early 1950s, it was home to the Central Gunnery School which, among other functions, trained air gunners in Lincoln bombers. This School was later transformed into the Fighter Weapons School. The aircraft then flown were mainly single-seat Venoms and Meteors, plus twin-seat Vampire T11, Meteor trainers and Hawker Hunters for trials with ADEN cannons in 1957. Bristol Sycamore helicopters of No. 275 Squadron RAF arrived there in 1957.

In the 1960s Leconfield became home to No. 19 Squadron and No. 92 Squadron with Lightning F.2s, which moved from RAF Church Fenton, before their move to RAF Gütersloh in West Germany. It then became home to 60MU and also 202 'D' Flight with Wessex Whirlwind helicopters. 60MU was responsible for the major servicing of the EE/BAC Lightnings, plus several other tasks.

In the 1970s the control tower at Leconfield developed a reputation for being haunted by a Flight Lieutenant who had been killed on the station.

The cinema on the camp is now a listed building because the building is the only one of its type.

[edit] Current role

Main article: Defence School of Transport

Leconfield is now home to the Defence School of Transport (DST Leconfield) and is one of the Schools that make up the Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration (DCLPA) it is a Tri-Service establishment. DST Leconfield is Europe's largest driver training establishment, the accommodation is designated as Normandy Barracks.

Although flying operations are not now the main role of Leconfield, two Sea King helicopters of 'E' Flight, 202 Sqn are based here in the Search and Rescue role.