RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor

RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Holme-on-Spalding Moor
Built	1940–1941
In use	1941–1983
Elevation AMSL	16 ft / 5 m
Coordinates	53°48′22″N 00°44′31″W / 53.80611°N 0.74194°W / 53.80611; -0.74194Coordinates: 53°48′22″N 00°44′31″W / 53.80611°N 0.74194°W / 53.80611; -0.74194
Map
RAF Holme Location in East Riding of Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 12/30 6,000 1,829 Concrete 04/22 4,200 1,280 Concrete 08/26 4,500 1,372 Concrete

RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme as it was also known, was an airfield in Yorkshire. Built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport airfield and bomb store before being "mothballed". In the 1950s, the RAF used the station as a training camp before it was transferred to the United States Air Force (USAF) as a reserve station during the Cold War. After USAF use, it became a testing airfield for Blackburn Aircraft and its successor British Aerospace until 1983, when the airfield was closed. Many of the airfield buildings survive as an industrial estate, but most of the runways have been demolished.

Construction of the airfield began in late 1940, and the airfield was built with three concrete runways and hardstandings for 36 aircraft. The runway headings and lengths were as follows:

A year later, all three runways were extended; Runway 12/30 to 2,000 yards (1,829 m), 04/22 to 1,400 yards (1,280 m) and 08/26 to 1,500 yards (1,372 m).

Three hangars were constructed, a type J and two type T2. The technical buildings, including the administration and control buildings, were to the north east of the runways. The accommodation area was further to the north east of the site, and at its maximum housed over 2,000 service personnel. This was well away from the munition stores, that were to the north west of the site.

Operational command of the station was given to 1 Group of RAF Bomber Command. The first squadron allocated to Holme was 458 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), equipped with Vickers Wellington aircraft. Arriving in August 1941, the squadron conducted its first operation in October 1941, and remained until January 1942. No squadrons were allocated until the extension of the runways was completed, and it was August 1942 before one flight of the Handley Page Halifax equipped 460 Squadron RAAF arrived. This stay only lasted a few weeks before the 460 Squadron aircraft left, and 101 Squadron RAF arrived on transfer from 3 Group. 101 Squadron was in the process of re-equipping with Avro Lancaster aircraft, and did not fly any operations until November 1942.

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