RAF Snaith

Royal Air Force Snaith or RAF Snaith is a former Royal Air Force station which was located 7 miles (11 km) south west of Goole, Yorkshire, England and close to the village of Pollington.

RAF Snaith

Watch Office at RAF Snaith
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
LocationSnaith
Built1940
In use1941-1946
Elevation AMSL43 ft / 13 m
Coordinates53°40′53″N 001°05′00″W
Map
RAF Snaith is located in East Riding of Yorkshire
RAF Snaith
RAF Snaith
Location in East Riding of Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete
00/00 0 0 Concrete

The airfield opened 1941 before closing in 1946.

Based units

The airfield opened in July 1941, and was called RAF Snaith, rather than RAF Pollington (the village that it was nearest to), so as to avoid confusion with RAF Pocklington.[1]

A large number of different squadrons used the airfield firstly No. 150 Squadron RAF flew Vickers Wellingtons between July 1941 and October 1942 before moving to RAF Kirmington,[2][3] then being replaced by No. 51 Squadron RAF from October 1942 until May 1945 using the Handley Page Halifax.[2][3] During this period the airfield also had another squadron join as a flight from No.51 Sqn RAF turned its aircraft and crew over to make another squadron which was No. 578 Squadron RAF which flew from the airfield temporarily between January 1944 until February 1944 before moving to the empty RAF Burn.[3]

A number of units also used the airfield such as No 6266 Servicing Echelon between 27 April 1944 and 6 May 1944 repairing the various aircraft[4] and No. 17 Air Crew Holding Unit between 20 June 1945 and 27 May 1946. During this time a small Beam Approach Flight using Airspeed Oxfords used the airfield for a short period learning beam approach landings.[2]

Units and aircraft
Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
51 Squadron October 1942 - April 1945 Handley Page Halifax II later III Re-equipped with Halifax III in January 1945 before moving to RAF Leconfield in April 1945.[5]
150 Squadron July 1941 - October 1942 Vickers Wellington IC later III [6]
266 Squadron April 1944 - May 1944 Hawker Typhoon IB Two-week stay.[7]
578 Squadron January 1944 - February 1944 Handley Page Halifax III Formed from C Flight of 51 Squadron before moving to RAF Burn.[8]
No. 17 Air Crew Holding Unit[9] June 1944 - November 1945[10]
No. 1508 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[11] September 1945 - April 1946 Airspeed Oxford Became No. 1508 (Acclimatisation) Flight RAF in November 1945
No. 1516 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[12] September 1945 - May 1946 Airspeed Oxford
No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF[9]
Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment[9]

Current use

During the construction of the M62 motorway the airfield was cut in half with the motorway going east to west through the top third of the airfield. However a number of technical buildings are still in place including the sergeants mess.[2]

The former WAAF buildings, located on Long Lane, Pollington, are the home of RAF Snaith Museum.

References

Citations
  1. Ford, Keith S. (1992). Snaith days : life with 51 Squadron 1942/45. Warrington: Compaid Graphics. p. 7. ISBN 0-9517965-1-8.
  2. "Bomber Command". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 29 September 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  3. "RAF Snaith". Wartime Memories. Archived from the original on 15 January 2005. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  4. "RAF Snaith". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 81.
  8. Jefford 1988, p. 97.
  9. "Snaith (Pollington)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  10. Halpenny 1982, p. 179.
  11. Lake 1999, p. 92.
  12. Lake 1999, p. 93.

Bibliography
  • Halpenny, Bruce. Action Stations 4; Military airfields of Yorkshire. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1982. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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