RAF Doncaster

Also referred to as Doncaster Aerodrome.

The first Aviation meeting in England

In 1909, Doncaster and specifically Doncaster Racecourse was chosen as the venue for an airshow, after the world's first air display in Rheims in 1908. All the world's leading aviators were present. Samuel Cody in an attempt to win a prize offered by The Daily Mail for the first British pilot in a British aeroplane to fly a circular mile signed British naturalisation papers in front of the crowd with the band playing both the Star Spangled Banner and the National Anthem. Unfortunately, he crashed his British Army Aeroplane No.1 whilst taxiing.

World War I

During World War I Royal Flying Corps fighters based first from the racecourse, then a temporary airstrip near Finningley (later RAF Finningley and now Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield International Airport) and finally, in 1916, from a newly built airfield alongside the race course, were deployed to defend the east coast against Zeppelins. On a number of occasions fighters took off to search for the intruders but none were ever seen. The Royal Flying Corps station trained pilots for the war in France. Within months of the war ending the entire station was put up for sale and two of its three Belfast hangars, the same type of hangar that now forms the basis for the Royal Air Force museum at Hendon, were sold to a Sheffield motor manufacturing company for storage and assembly at Finningley. The third of the hangars stayed in place, mainly housing buses, until the 1970s when they were knocked down and replaced with modern buildings.

Aviation Centre

In 1920 the Government asked local authorities to assist in the formation of a chain of airfields so this country would not lack behind other nations in the provision of civil air services. Doncaster took heed and, with expert advice from Alan Cobham, on 26 May 1934, opened a grandly called 'aviation centre'. Development of the airfield continued and on 1 July 1936 an international service was open to Amsterdam. On 1 November 1938, after long discussions with the Air Ministry, 616 (South Yorkshire) fighter Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force was formed. Shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939 the squadron went to its battle station and played an honourable part in the Battle of Britain. 616 Squadron should be noted as the first Allied jet fighter squadron, who were equipped with the Gloster Meteor.

After the departure of 616 squadron its place was taken by the formation of 271 (Transport) Squadron composed mainly of requisitioned civilian aircraft and obsolescent twin engined bombers. In 1944, after being re-equipped with Dakotas, the squadron moved south to take part in operation 'Overlord' and later in the airborne invasion at Arnhem where Flight Lieutenant David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Post World War II

After the war the airfield reverted to civilian flying and finally closed in 1992.

The last original RAF buildings on the airfield now house [http://www.aeroventure.org.uk AeroVenture] / the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum.

[http://www.aeroventure.org.uk/mainnews2007.php#news-07-04-28 DC-3 Flight over AeroVenture / Former RAF Doncaster airfield April 2007]

References

*Bruce Barrymore Halpenny "Action Stations: Military Airfields of Yorkshire v. 4" (ISBN 978-0850595321)
*Bruce Barrymore Halpenny "Bomber Aircrew of World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat" (ISBN 978-1844150663 )
*Bruce Barrymore Halpenny "To Shatter the Sky: Bomber Airfield at War" (ISBN 978-0850596786)
* http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/doncaster.html
* https://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Leisure_in_Doncaster/Museums_and_history/Archives_and_Local_history/Aviation_In_Doncaster_1909_to_1992.asp
* http://www.aeroventure.org.uk/ - South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum based on the site of the former Airfield.
* Aviation in Doncaster 1908-1992 by Geoffrey Oakes