RAF Elvington

RAF Elvington located at Elvington, south east of York in Yorkshire was the only airfield in the United Kingdom used by the remainder of the Free French Forces, flying Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers, during World War II. After the war the 400 acre airfield was extended for use by the United States Air Force but was never used. [cite book | last = Halpenny | first = Bruce Barrymore | authorlink = | author = Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore | title = Action Stations: Military Airfields of Yorkshire v. 4 | year = 1982 | publisher = PSL | id = ISBN 978-0850595321 ]

The United States Air Force built a new 3,094 m (10,152 ft) runway and a huge 19.8 hectare (49 acre) rectangular hardstanding to turn Elvington into a "Basic Operation Platform" which would have operated as a Strategic Air Command dispersal airfield. [cite book | last = Cocroft | first = Wayne | authorlink = | coauthors = Thomas, Roger | year = 2003 | title = Cold War: Building for Nuclear Confrontation 1946-1989 | publisher = English Heritage | location = Swindon | id = ISBN 1-873592-69-8 ]

Although the airfield was never used by SAC and was vacated in 1958 it retained its status as an RAF relief landing ground until September 1992. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-12-04/Writtens-2.html House of Commons Hansard] 4 December 1992 ]

The airfield is now owned by Elvington Park Ltd. The adjacent buildings and control tower have been restored, and serve as the Yorkshire Air Museum which has many varied and rare aircraft and exhibits, including one of the only complete Halifax bombers in the world. Once a year Elvington hosts a privately sponsored airshow in the UK, which incorporates modern military aircraft and classic aircraft as well as displays by the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Elvington is also a popular motorsports venue for motorcycle racing and the Auto 66 club.

On 20 September 2006 Elvington Airfield was the location of a serious crash involving the "Top Gear" presenter Richard Hammond. The jet-powered car he was driving crashed while travelling at 280mph. Hammond received serious brain injuries but made a full recovery. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/5365676.stm BBC News] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6303717.stm BBC airs Top Gear crash footage] ]

It is also an alternative landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle. [ cite web|url=http://www.elvingtonairfield.co.uk/ |title=History of Yorkshire |accessdate=2008-04-24 ]

References

*Bruce Barrymore Halpenny "Bomber Aircrew of World War II: True Stories of Frontline Air Combat" (ISBN 978-1844150663 )

External links

* [http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk/about_us/history.asp The History of RAF Elvington]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?&placesearch=Elvington&nr_of_rows=285&first_this_page=0&page_limit=15&sort_order=photo_id+DESC&nr_pages=19 Photographs of Elvington]