Raf acaster malbis june 2012

This is the former acaster malbis air base today there is still a lot to see but its spread all over a large site and needs a lot of exploring we had half a day here and still missed a lot here is some history borrowed from the yorkshire airfields web site

Acaster Malbis was something of a location disaster as airfields go, constructed far too close to the River Ouse the site was plagued by mists making operations almost impossible.
The airfield opened in 1942 as part of No12 Group, Fighter Command, as a satellite to RAF Church Fenton.
The first unit to arrive was No601 Airacobras, not a very popular aircraft with this unit.
Combinations of technical problems with the aircraft and the bad weather conditions resulted in many serious accidents.
Next to take over the airfield was No21 Group, Flying Training Command and the Airspeed Oxfords of No15 Advanced Flying Unit moved in. The misty conditions again proved a problem and slowly losses mounted. The airfield, again, deemed unsuitable for training purposes now.
In 1943 the airfield closed and despite the absolute unsuitability and losses encountered, the site was developed as a heavy bomber station as part of No4 Group Bomber Command. Concrete runways were constructed, hangars added and accommodation blocks built.
The airfield was only used by flying units for circuit training and eventually became a bomb storage depot.
The station finally closed in 1946


raf acaster malbis 032 by urban phantom, on Flickr

watch tower this used to be house and is now in a poor state


raf acaster malbis 042 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 043 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 044 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 046 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 038 by urban phantom, on Flickr

the other site is the former accommodation site now sadly also in a poor state having been used for a pig
farm


raf acaster malbis 014 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 001 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 003 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 009 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 026 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 021 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 013 by urban phantom, on Flickr



raf acaster malbis 012 by urban phantom, on Flickr


raf acaster malbis 005 by urban phantom, on Flickr


Thanks for looking all comments welcome

That was great !thanks for sharing.

Thanks for posting, good pics,

Thanks chaps

Nice report mate yell out if you revisit I'll tag along

Thanks mate i would like to re visit at some point we missed the BHQ and lots of buildings in the bomb store il PM next time we camp in yorkshire

urban phantom said:

Thanks mate i would like to re visit at some point we missed the BHQ and lots of buildings in the bomb store il PM next time we camp in yorkshire

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OK i'll be up for that theres pillboxes there as well

Thats the one thay call the lost pill box i didnt see that il look forward to that mate

Nice b&w pics, especially like that window shot. Don't know why I love these "austerity" buildings so much - maybe it's the simplicity and functionality of them...

Anyways, great report

I did this place earlier in the year - Big fooook off owl scared me to death lol! Cracking report!

Foz77 said:

Nice b&w pics, especially like that window shot. Don't know why I love these "austerity" buildings so much - maybe it's the simplicity and functionality of them...

Anyways, great report

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Thanks mate im with you on that on there is somthing magical about these sites

Wakey Lad said:

I did this place earlier in the year - Big fooook off owl scared me to death lol! Cracking report!

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Thanks mate did you look in the woods next to the acc site there seemed to be a lot in there including an empty house i need to return for more

For an abandoned airfield there's a lot of stuff still standing. I thought it went before the dozer blade quite quickly!

this one has lost a lot but due to it been bad for flooding thay gave up and left it some of the runways have been recently torn up thou

I went to Acaster Malbis myself a couple of years ago, but only as a walk with my daughter to show her what a wartime airfield looked like and to reminisce about my childhood playing on RAF York before it was mostly demolished to build Clifton moor retail park.Your pictures are great and have inspired me to drive back out and take a few photos myself.I was informed by a local that the watch tower was a home conversion project but abandoned due to lack of funds.Found this map in a book useful for my walk,hope it helps.

Superb, love the pics and the B&W conversion gives it atmosphere

Dropbear said:

I went to Acaster Malbis myself a couple of years ago, but only as a walk with my daughter to show her what a wartime airfield looked like and to reminisce about my childhood playing on RAF York before it was mostly demolished to build Clifton moor retail park.Your pictures are great and have inspired me to drive back out and take a few photos myself.I was informed by a local that the watch tower was a home conversion project but abandoned due to lack of funds.Found this map in a book useful for my walk,hope it helps.

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Thank you very mutch thats a big help its overgrown its hard to see were you are in places and thanks for kind feed back looking forward to seeing your pics if you need any info drop me a PM i wont return this year to acaster sadly it will next summer now

steve2109 said:

Superb, love the pics and the B&W conversion gives it atmosphere

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Thanks mate i love black and white pics but ive been told thay dont show the decay very well so im going to start mixing them a bit

Went here in Feb, bloody owl scared the shit outta me lol! Cracking report, love this place

Looks like an interesting splore, thanks