This was the 4th stop of the solo trip up north. I was getting late in the day as i arrived, would have loved to have spent more time here but as light was fading i missed a few buildings, but enjoyed my visit all the same.
history
Prewar
Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable farming land and was close to an existing airfield 2 mi away at Sherburn. Despite the protests construction started in early 1936 on the 260 acres site, a mixture of private and West Riding County Council-owned farm land.
On 1 April 1937 the station was declared open and on 19 April the first station commander Wing Commander W.E. Swann assumed command. Within two months No. 71 Squadron RAF had arrived with the Gloster Gladiator.
Second World War
Opened in 1937, it saw the peak of its activity during the years of the Second World War, when it served within the defence network of fighter bases of the RAF providing protection for the Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Humberside industrial regions.
During September 1940 it became home to the first RAF "Eagle squadron" of American volunteers being No. 71 Squadron RAF initially with the Brewster Buffalo I for one month before changing to the Hawker Hurricane I. The airfield was also home to both the first all-Canadian and all-Polish squadrons, with No. 242 Squadron RAF for the Canadians and No. 306 Squadron RAF for the Polish.
As technologies evolved, the first night fighter Operational Training Unit (No. 54 OTU) was formed at Church Fenton in 1940 and stayed until 1942. Some of the squadrons stationed there flew the famous de Havilland Mosquito.
The site was sold on 23 December 2014 to Makins Yorkshire Strawberries with the exception of a section containing the Air Cadets. Makins intends to keep the airfield operational.
In February 2015, Makins Enterprises (the new airfield owners) launched their new website, renaming the airfield. It will now be known as 'Leeds East Airport', with the slogan "Yorkshire's newest aviation destination."[37] It is believed that Makins Enterprises will target the business jet market, while also running a flying school and other ventures
on with the photos
1 by JSP 77, on Flickr
2 by JSP 77, on Flickr
3 by JSP 77, on Flickr
4 by JSP 77, on Flickr
5 by JSP 77, on Flickr
6 by JSP 77, on Flickr
7 by JSP 77, on Flickr
8 by JSP 77, on Flickr
9 by JSP 77, on Flickr
10 by JSP 77, on Flickr
11 by JSP 77, on Flickr
12 by JSP 77, on Flickr
13 by JSP 77, on Flickr
14 by JSP 77, on Flickr
15 by JSP 77, on Flickr
16 by JSP 77, on Flickr
17 by JSP 77, on Flickr
18 by JSP 77, on Flickr
19 by JSP 77, on Flickr
20 by JSP 77, on Flickr
21 by JSP 77, on Flickr
thanks for looking
history
Prewar
Plans for a new airfield adjacent to the village of Church Fenton were announced in June 1935, it was subject to protest from the local population particularly concerning the waste of valuable farming land and was close to an existing airfield 2 mi away at Sherburn. Despite the protests construction started in early 1936 on the 260 acres site, a mixture of private and West Riding County Council-owned farm land.
On 1 April 1937 the station was declared open and on 19 April the first station commander Wing Commander W.E. Swann assumed command. Within two months No. 71 Squadron RAF had arrived with the Gloster Gladiator.
Second World War
Opened in 1937, it saw the peak of its activity during the years of the Second World War, when it served within the defence network of fighter bases of the RAF providing protection for the Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Humberside industrial regions.
During September 1940 it became home to the first RAF "Eagle squadron" of American volunteers being No. 71 Squadron RAF initially with the Brewster Buffalo I for one month before changing to the Hawker Hurricane I. The airfield was also home to both the first all-Canadian and all-Polish squadrons, with No. 242 Squadron RAF for the Canadians and No. 306 Squadron RAF for the Polish.
As technologies evolved, the first night fighter Operational Training Unit (No. 54 OTU) was formed at Church Fenton in 1940 and stayed until 1942. Some of the squadrons stationed there flew the famous de Havilland Mosquito.
The site was sold on 23 December 2014 to Makins Yorkshire Strawberries with the exception of a section containing the Air Cadets. Makins intends to keep the airfield operational.
In February 2015, Makins Enterprises (the new airfield owners) launched their new website, renaming the airfield. It will now be known as 'Leeds East Airport', with the slogan "Yorkshire's newest aviation destination."[37] It is believed that Makins Enterprises will target the business jet market, while also running a flying school and other ventures
on with the photos
1 by JSP 77, on Flickr
2 by JSP 77, on Flickr
3 by JSP 77, on Flickr
4 by JSP 77, on Flickr
5 by JSP 77, on Flickr
6 by JSP 77, on Flickr
7 by JSP 77, on Flickr
8 by JSP 77, on Flickr
9 by JSP 77, on Flickr
10 by JSP 77, on Flickr
11 by JSP 77, on Flickr
12 by JSP 77, on Flickr
13 by JSP 77, on Flickr
14 by JSP 77, on Flickr
15 by JSP 77, on Flickr
16 by JSP 77, on Flickr
17 by JSP 77, on Flickr
18 by JSP 77, on Flickr
19 by JSP 77, on Flickr
20 by JSP 77, on Flickr
21 by JSP 77, on Flickr
thanks for looking