Airport type Military Elevation AMSL 20 ft / 6 m Year built 1941 | In use 1942-1945 01/19 5,970 Owner Air Ministry | |
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RAF Burn is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.0 miles (8.0 km) south of Selby and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of Burn in North Yorkshire, England which opened in 1942 before closing in 1946.
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Raf burn en 6 125 yz
Station history
The airfield was opened in 1942 and first hosted No. 431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force as part of 4 Group RAF Bomber Command which formed at the airfield on 13 November 1942 flying Vickers Wellington Mark X aircraft while at Burn. On 15 July 1943 the squadron was transferred to RAF Tholthorpe and became part of No. 6 Group RCAF.
On 1 January 1944 No. 658 Squadron RAF moved to the airfield from RAF Clifton flying the Taylorcraft Auster III but left only seven days moving to RAF Doncaster but on 21 January 1944 the squadron returned, this time staying until 14 March 1944 when they moved to RAF Collyweston. The squadron was briefly joined on 31 December 1943 by 659 Squadron which moved to RAF Clifton the following day.
During its use the airfield was also used by No. 10 Aircrew Holding Unit RAF.
On 6 January 1944 No. 578 Squadron RAF squadron was relocated to RAF Burn from RAF Snaith. This Bomber Command squadron flew Handley Page Halifax Mk. III before disbanding on 15 April 1945 and the station was closed for flying operations in July 1945.
On the night of 30 March 1944, Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton took off from RAF Burn in Halifax LK797 for a raid on Nuremberg, and won a posthumous Victoria Cross for valour.
Shortly after flying was discontinued, the Royal Army Service Corps took over some facilities to store surplus equipment. Many of the buildings have been dismantled but all three runways remain intact and are used by Burn Gliding Club Ltd.
Current use
The runways and hardstands are relatively intact and Burn Gliding Club uses the old aerodrome.