RAF Croft

RAF Croft Croft Aerodrome
A building at Cockleberry Saw Mill which was part of RAF Croft during the Second World War
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force (RAF) Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
Location	Dalton-on-Tees
Built	1941
In use	1941-1946
Elevation AMSL	180 ft / 55 m
Coordinates	54°27′09″N 001°33′11″W / 54.45250°N 1.55306°W / 54.45250; -1.55306Coordinates: 54°27′09″N 001°33′11″W / 54.45250°N 1.55306°W / 54.45250; -1.55306
Map
RAF Croft Location in North Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 00/00 0 0 Concrete 00/00 0 0 Concrete 00/00 0 0 Concrete

Royal Air Force Croft or RAF Croft is a former Royal Air Force station located 4.6 miles (7.4 km) south of Darlington, County Durham, England and 8 miles (13 km) north east of Richmond, North Yorkshire. The site is also known locally as Croft Aerodrome or Neasham.

The airfield was opened in 1941 for use by the Royal Air Force (RAF) but by 1942 the aerodrome had been taken over by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for training as part of No. 6 Group RCAF.

The station is now more famously known as the site of Croft Circuit, a motor racing circuit which hosts various car championships including the British Touring Car Championship.

The first squadron to join the airfield was No. 78 Squadron RAF which arrived on 20 October 1941 flying both the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V and the Handley Page Halifax Mk. II before leaving on 10 June 1942 when no units were stationed during the summer but on 1 October 1942 No. 419 Squadron RCAF has arrived with their Mk. III Vickers Wellingtons before re-equipping with the Halifax II and leaving on 10 November 1942. During this time on 7 November 1942 427 Squadron RCAF was formed at the airfield with a mixture of Mk III's and Mk X's Wellington before leaving on 4 May 1943.

In 1943, Croft became a sub-station of RAF Middleton St. George which was allocated to No. 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).