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RAF Topcliffe

Coordinates: 54°12′20″N 001°22′56″W / 54.20556°N 1.38222°W / 54.20556; -1.38222
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RAF Topcliffe
Near Topcliffe, North Yorkshire in England
A Grob Viking TX1, similar to the type flown by No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron based at Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe is located in North Yorkshire
RAF Topcliffe
RAF Topcliffe
Location within North Yorkshire
Coordinates54°12′20″N 001°22′56″W / 54.20556°N 1.38222°W / 54.20556; -1.38222
TypeMilitary airfield
Area117 hectares
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byNo. 22 Group (Training)
ConditionOperational
Site history
Built1939–1940
In use1939 (1939) – present
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGXZ, WMO: 03265
Elevation28 metres (92 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
02/20 1,826 metres (5,991 ft) Asphalt
13/31 1,256 metres (4,121 ft) Stone mastic asphalt/asphalt
Source: UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Topcliffe (EGXZ)[1]

Royal Air Force Topcliffe or RAF Topcliffe (ICAO: EGXZ) is a former Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, England.

It was established as a RAF Bomber Command station in 1940. The British Army took over a large part of the site in 1974 and the airfield became an enclave within Alanbrooke Barracks. The last remaining RAF unit is No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron which operates the Grob Viking T.1 glider.

History

Second World War

Royal Air Force Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to No. 77 Squadron and No. 102 Squadron, both flying the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber.[2] There was a decoy site at Raskelf. No. 419 Squadron and No. 424 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) moved in flying Vickers Wellington bombers and later, the Handley Page Halifax III.[2] On 1 January 1943 the station was transferred to No. 6 Group RCAF and became a training station. The station, along with sub-stations at Wombleton, Dalton and Dishforth were designated as No. 61 (Training) Base in late 1943.[3]

Cold War

Handley Page Hastings of 24 & 47 Squadrons based at Topcliffe in 1952

No.1 Air Navigation School was located at Topcliffe between March 1957 & December 1961. The Air Electronics school arrived in January 1962 and from 1967 became the Air Electronics & Engineers School, flying the Vickers Varsity T.1.

From October 1964, the Northern Communications Squadron flew the Avro Anson C.19, replacing them with Beagle Basset CC.1 in 1965 before the squadron departed in 1969.

The Airman Aircrew Initial Training School was located at Topcliffe from January 1967 until February 1970.

No. 15 Aviation Flight of the Army Air Corps flew the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver AL.1 from the early 1970s and No. 666 Aviation Squadron AAC flew Westland Scout AH.1 helicopters between 1973 and 1978.

In 1974 much of the station was transferred to the British Army and became Alanbrooke Barracks.

During the 1980s, Topcliffe was home of the Royal Navy Elementary Flying School. In the 1990s it was temporarily home to a Shorts Tucano squadron of the RAF Central Flying School. It was the home of the Tucano Air Navigation Squadron, teaching student navigators of both the RAF and the Royal Navy until April 2002, when it moved to RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[3]

During the 1990s and until 2001, the airfield was utilised by Merlin Parachute Club, home to both the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment parachute display team and the University of York Sport Parachute Club.[3]

21st century

No. 635 Volunteer Gliding Squadron operated from Topcliffe from 2009 when it moved from its former home at RAF Samlesbury.[3] The unit disbanded in 2016 as part of the relaunch of air cadet aviation.[4]

RAF Topcliffe was a satellite station which served in the role of a Relief Landing Ground for Shorts Tucano T1 aircraft of No. 1 Flying Training School previously based nearby at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (one of two, the other being Dishforth Airfield). No RAF personnel are based permanently at the airfield and airfield services are provided by personnel assigned to RAF Linton-on-Ouse. (Unsure of personnel supply now as RAF Linton-on-Ouse has closed).

Role and operations

Since the British Army took over a large part of the site in 1974 to establish Alanbrooke Barracks, the airfield is now a small enclave within what is now known as Alanbrooke Barracks.

The last remaining RAF unit based at Topcliffe is No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, which teaches Air Cadets to fly the Grob Viking T1.

As of March 2012, the station is the permanent base of one of the two Yorkshire Air Ambulances.[5]

Based units

Units based at RAF Topcliffe.[6][7]

Royal Air Force

No. 22 Group (Training) RAF

Civilian

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Topcliffe (EGXZ)" (PDF). No.1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit. Royal Air Force. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 00.
  3. ^ a b c d "Airfield History". No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Society. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  4. ^ Brazier, Julian (10 March 2016). "Air Cadet Aviation Relaunch:Written statement - HCWS605". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  5. ^ "HRH The Duke of York KG officially opens our Northern Airbase". Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Gliders Return to 645 VGS at RAF Topcliffe". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Topcliffe Air Support Unit". Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Retrieved 19 November 2017.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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