RAF Church Fenton - July 2016

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jsp77

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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

28290120301_6d853a1214_b.jpg1 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28289946751_c87f38f407_b.jpg2 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27753002293_91020de440_b.jpg3 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28264959522_ac81449d8c_b.jpg4 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27752058964_8d910d1d1b_b.jpg5 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28368566395_68e2a8fee0_b.jpg6 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28335071276_084c11b11b_b.jpg7 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28085920500_066ee43e75_b.jpg8 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27752894303_097b3cd45c_b.jpg9 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28335375256_cca3f6e94d_b.jpg10 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28086191200_c023483cfc_b.jpg11 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27753171753_ca90494ef2_b.jpg12 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27752307854_9892bb4586_b.jpg13 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28265501482_13a35e7983_b.jpg14 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27753145883_d92fe73942_b.jpg15 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28335099466_33f8f0dfe7_b.jpg16 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28265061402_ee5e0b36ed_b.jpg17 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28265051922_cd2ffceb4e_b.jpg18 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27752242714_a1ff0aba1f_b.jpg19 by JSP 77, on Flickr

28265013482_6d6bb04a0e_b.jpg20 by JSP 77, on Flickr

27752184394_fc4d1cca3a_b.jpg21 by JSP 77, on Flickr

thanks for looking
 
Nice one jsp..this still high on my list just going to drag someone with me to see it
 

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