Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

RAF Breighton

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In use
  
1942-1964 (1964)

11/29
  
0

Address
  
Selby YO8 6DS, UK

Year built
  
1940

Elevation AMSL
  
20 ft / 6 m

00/00
  
0

Phone
  
+44 1757 289065

Owner
  
Air Ministry

RAF Breighton

Operator
  
Royal Air Force 1940-1964 Private 1964-Present

Location
  
Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire

Royal Air Force Breighton or more simply RAF Breighton is a former Royal Air Force station located near to the village of Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England which is now Breighton Airfield.

Contents

History

The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for No. 1 Group RAF, its first residents were the No. 460 Squadron RAAF.

From 1959 to 1963, as part of Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 240 Squadron RAF.

The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit (which operated the Bristol Bloodhound air-defence missile) withdrew.

Units

  • No. 20 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF.
  • No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF.
  • No. 103 FRS.
  • No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF.
  • No. 460 Con Flight RAF.
  • No. 1520 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF.
  • No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF.
  • No. 2716 Squadron RAF Regiment.
  • No. 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment.

    • Current use

    The original runways are covered in buildings but the outline of the runways, taxiways and dispersal stands are clearly visible using satellite imagery.

    A part of the airfield is currently used by the Real Aeroplane Company to house and maintain private and historic aircraft and a home for the Breighton Flying Club which uses a separate grass runway located within the original airfield grounds.

    Five people were injured in a helicopter crash at the airfield on 17 July 2016.

    References

    RAF Breighton Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA