Wikipedia

Redcar Aerodrome

Redcar Aerodrome is a former First World War airfield located in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England. The site hosted an elementary flying school for newly entered pilots into the Royal Naval Air Service, though some offensive and defensive operations were flown from Redcar as well. The base was created as part of chain of new air stations after the German naval bombardment of east coast towns in December 1914. The base had a brief operational lifespan between July 1915 and December 1919, after which it was decided not to retain Redcar as an active station, and much of the site has been re-used for housing.

Redcar Aerodrome
RNAS Redcar, RAF Redcar
Redcar, North Yorkshire in England
An image of a road with houses beyond
West Dyke Road, Redcar; site of the base
Relief map of North Yorkshire
Relief map of North Yorkshire
Redcar Aerodrome
Coordinates54°36′07″N 1°04′08″W / 54.602°N 1.069°W / 54.602; -1.069
Grid referenceNZ601234
TypeAerodrome
Area140 acres (57 ha)
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRNAS
RAF
Site history
Built1915 (1915)
In useJuly 1915 – December 1919 (1919-12)
FateUsed for housing

History edit

The aerodrome was opened in the early part of the First World War, though its first unit did not form until July 1915.[1] Redcar was developed along with many other sites in response to the raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, a German naval bombardment in which over 100 civilians were killed.[2] This task fell to the Royal Naval Air Service as opposed to the Royal Flying Corps, who on the outbreak of the war, were largely sent to the Front.[3] Rather than using the existing grassed area of Redcar Racecourse, the site was immediately to the west and was initially used for flying training only.[4] Redcar was one of four (RNAS) sites used to train pilots on their elementary flying training (the others being Chingford, Eastchurch and Vendome, although Eastbourne and Manston were also used).[5][6] Records show that Redcar was also used to train existing pilots in instructor duties, so most of those transiting through, would already be familiar to flying.[7] Other Flying Instructors School(s) (FIS), were located at Ayr, Curragh, Gosport, Lilbourne and Shoreham.[8]

Redcar covered over 140 acres (57 ha) and grew to have four aircraft sheds, three measuring 180 feet (55 m) by 60 feet (18 m), and the fourth, 200 feet (61 m) by 100 feet (30 m).[7] However, the station wasn't equipped with an officers' mess, and trainee pilots were hosted in the local village, requiring them to walk to and from the aerodrome four times a day.[9]

On the night of 8/9 August 1916, the aerodrome was attacked by a Zeppelin. No lasting damage or injuries occurred, but the electricity supply to the camp was severed.[10] It was recognised that the aircraft of the RNAS were quite ineffective at night combat against Zeppelins, and an admiralty report stated that aircraft were not reliable enough to be launched from land, and advocated using seaplanes and the closure of aerodromes at Scarborough, Whitley Bay, Hornsea and Redcar in favour of seaplane stations.[11]

Although designated as a training airfield, and used mostly as that, some defensive and offensive operations were launched from Redcar, most notable from 1917 when it became a Temporary Marine Operations (Aeroplane) station.[12] In September 1917, four Handley Page 0/100 aircraft were detached from 7 (Naval) Squadron (later No. 207 Squadron), to engage in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).[13][14][15] This task was also undertaken in 1918 by detachments of Bristol Scouts from No. 273 Squadron, which was based at Burgh Castle at the time.[16][17]

 
"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, published in 1919, showing Redcar as a "civil station"

In April 1918, the North Eastern Flying Instructors School formed at the base, and in October of the same year, No. 63 Training Squadron arrived from RAF Joyce Green.[18]

In December 1919, an order was released stating that Redcar was not to be used as it was in the process of closing down.[19] The western edge of the base, which hosted the technical site, has been re-used for housing.[20] The base was left alone after 1919 and not broken up until 1923, when explosives were used to dislodge the hardcore. This was then re-used in a local road to Eston.[21]

Crashes edit

It was estimated that at least 8,000 aircrew died in training accidents during the First World War.[22] Just like many other First World War aerodromes, the attrition rate for pilots at Redcar was high, especially among the training cadre. Over 130 crashes involving aircraft which had RNAS/RAF Redcar as a home base between July 1915 and April 1918 have been recorded.[23] Probationary officer Francis Titcomb crashed his aircraft near Egton on his first solo flight in April 1917. Whilst he survived the crash, he succumbed to his wounds in a nearby farmhouse. A grade II listed cross marks the site of the crash.[24]

On 2 April 1918, Charles Edward Pattison crashed his Sopwith Camel aircraft at Redcar after hitting overhead wires. Pattison died from his injuries becoming one of the first casualties of the newly-formed Royal Air Force.[25][26]

Based units edit

Between 1915 and 1919, the following units were based at Redcar:[27]

Units at RNAS/RAF Redcar
Unit Dates Details Ref
7 Squadron RNAS September 1917 – October 1917 Detached from Coedekerque, left for Manston [28]
C Flight (No. 510 Special Duty Flight) June 1918 – November 1918 This detachment used Dh6 aircraft on convoy escort duties. Later became part of No. 251 Squadron RAF and No. 252 Squadron RAF; No 510 Flight was moved to West Ayton. [29][18][30]
Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School July 1918 – May 1919 Absorbed by Northwestern Area Flying Instructors School [31]
Northwestern Area Flying Instructors' School January 1918 – June 1919 Posted in from RAF Ayr, disbanded in June 1919 [32]
School of Special Flying April 1918 – July 1918 Disbanded to become Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School [33]
No. 63 Training Squadron October 1918 – September 1919 Moved to Redcar from Joyce Green, No. 63 TS disbanded at Redcar in September 1919 [34]

Notable personnel edit

Some pilots have erroneously been recorded as having postings to Redcar, when in fact they were sent to Marske Aerodrome,[35] some 1.2 miles (2 km) to the east.[36] Due to the proximity of both aerodromes, and as the postal town for Marske was Redcar, some errors have crept in.

References edit

  1. ^ Delve, Ken (2006). Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Ramsbury: Crowood. p. 302. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
  2. ^ "Hartlepool bombing: British Navy 'did not rule the waves'". BBC News. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  3. ^ Sotheran, Peter (1993). Redcar in old picture postcards. Zaltbommel: European Library. 70. ISBN 978-90-288-5599-1.
  4. ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 155.
  5. ^ Jones 2007, p. 64.
  6. ^ Goulter, Christina J. M. (1995). A forgotten offensive : Royal Air Force Coastal Command's anti-shipping campaign, 1940-1945. Portland, Or.: Frank Cass. p. 22. ISBN 0-7146-4147-2.
  7. ^ a b Chorlton 2014, p. 169.
  8. ^ Cooksley, Peter G. (2014). The Royal Flying Corps 1914-18. Stroud: The History Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780750960052.
  9. ^ Gunn, Roger (2013). Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 33. ISBN 9781459706606.
  10. ^ "Redcar Aerodrome". nelsam.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  11. ^ Jones 2007, p. 65.
  12. ^ Chorlton 2014, pp. 169–170.
  13. ^ Taylor, Anne; Taylor, Roger (Autumn 2020). "Frank Thomas Digby, DSC, DSO, CdeG, RNAS & RAF Service Career". Cross and Cockade. 51 (3). Wetherby: C&C: 164. ISSN 1360-9009.
  14. ^ "207 Squadron RAF History - 7 Squadron RNAS - HP O/100s - 1917". www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. ^ Smith, Peter C. (1974). Royal Air Force squadron badges. St. Ives: Balfour Publications. p. 44. ISBN 0859440125.
  16. ^ Lake 1999, p. 252.
  17. ^ Philpott, Ian (2013). The birth of the Royal Air Force. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 271. ISBN 978-1-78159-333-2.
  18. ^ a b Philpott 2005, p. 245.
  19. ^ Philpott 2005, p. 212.
  20. ^ Halpenny 1982, p. 157.
  21. ^ Sotheran, Peter (1993). Redcar in old picture postcards. Zaltbommel: European Library. 74. ISBN 978-90-288-5599-1.
  22. ^ "War Memorials to Airmen Listed to Mark Centenary of the Royal Air Force | Historic England". Historic England. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire". www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  24. ^ Historic England. "Memorial cross for Probationary Flight Officer Francis Titcomb (the Swinsty Cross) (Grade II) (1453942)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  25. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Sopwith Camel B5720, 02 Apr 1918". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  26. ^ Ashworth, Chris (1989). Encyclopaedia of modern Royal Air Force squadrons. Wellingborough: Stephens. pp. 6–7. ISBN 1-85260-013-6.
  27. ^ "Redcar - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK". abct.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  28. ^ Chorlton 2014, p. 171.
  29. ^ Lake 1999, pp. 79, 248.
  30. ^ Chorlton 2014, p. 170.
  31. ^ Lake 1999, p. 141.
  32. ^ Philpott 2005, p. 247.
  33. ^ Lake 1999, p. 183.
  34. ^ Chorlton 2014, pp. 170–171.
  35. ^ Halliday, Hugh A (23 September 2015). "Air Force: The fighter pilot who hated killing". legionmagazine.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  36. ^ "306" (Map). Middlesbrough & Hartlepool. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2015. ISBN 978-0-319-24558-3.
  37. ^ Gunn, Roger (2013). Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 34–37. ISBN 9781459706606.
  38. ^ Bowyer, Chaz (2002). For valour : the air VCs. London: Caxton Editions. p. 60. ISBN 1840672404.
  39. ^ Shores, Christopher F. (1990). Above the trenches : a complete record of the fighter aces and units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Ontario: Fortress. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
  40. ^ "Walmer Airfield Memorial" (PDF). kentfallen.com. p. 30. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire -Caudron GIII 3868 at Redcar aerodrome". www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  42. ^ Sopwith Camel aces of World War I. Oxford: Osprey. 2003. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-84176-534-1.
  43. ^ Walter George Raymond Hinchliffe Dfc on Lives of the First World War
  44. ^ Mortimer, Gavin (2014). The first eagles : the Fearless American aces who flew with the RAF in World War I. Minneapolis: Zenith Press. p. 77. ISBN 9780760346396.
  45. ^ Marsden, Barry M. (2016). Camel Combat Ace : the Great War Flying Career of Edwin Swale CBE OBE DFC*. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. p. 5. ISBN 9781473866867.
  46. ^ "Sykes, Ronald (Oral history)". iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

Sources edit

  • Chorlton, Martyn (2014). Forgotten airfields of World War I. Manchester: Crécy. ISBN 9780859791816.
  • Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982). Action stations 4; Military Airfields of Yorkshire. Cambridge: Stephens. ISBN 0-85059-532-0.
  • Jones, Benjamin (2007). Ashore, Afloat and Airborne : the Logistics of British Naval Airpower, 1914-1945 (Report). London: University of London. OCLC 1006036927.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Philpott, I. M. (2005). The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. ISBN 1844151549.

External links edit

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