RAF Leconfield
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| RAF Leconfield | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Leconfield-600.jpg Station Crest | ||
| Role | Defence School of Transport | |
| Location | Beverley, Yorkshire | |
| Date Opened | 1936 | |
| Date Closed | 199? | |
RAF Leconfield was a Royal Air Force station in Leconfield (near Beverley), East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The site is now used by the MOD Defence School of Transport.
History
Leconfield opened in December 1936 as part of RAF Bomber Command. Handley Page Heyford bombers were flown from there from 1937. On the night of the 3 September 1939, the first night of the war, ten Whitely bombers from Leconfield became the first British aircraft to penetrate German air space, dropping propaganda leaflets over Germany. In October 1939 it was taken over by Fighter Command and the Spitfires of 72 squadron arrived from RAF Church Fenton. During the Battle of Britain, the station was a temporary home to many other squadrons of Fighter Command which made short stays here to rest and re-group. During this period there was also a decoy airfield at nearby Routh.
In the 1950s Leconfield was a 'dispersal base' for the RAF V-bomber force. Bristol Sycamore helicopters of 275 Squadron arrived there in 1957. At one point it was the home of the Fighter Weapons School. The aircraft then flown were Vampires, Meteors Mk 7 (single seater), Mk 8 (two seater) and Venom T11s (two seater).
In the 1970s the control tower at Leconfield developed a reputation for being haunted by a Flight Lieutenant who had been killed on the station.
Current Role
Leconfield is now in the hands of the British Army as the Defence School of Transport, Europe's largest driver training establishment.
Although flying operations are not now the main role of Leconfield, two Sea King helicopters of 'E' Flight, 202 Sqn are based here in the Search and Rescue role.