RAF Skipton-on-Swale

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For other places with the same name, see Skipton (disambiguation).

RAF Skipton-on-Swale was a Royal Air Force air station operated by RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. The station was located at Skipton-on-Swale four miles east of Thirsk (near the present-day junction of the A61 and A167), North Yorkshire, UK. The village of Sandhutton is located just to the east. RAF Skipton-on-Swale was a sub-station of RAF Leeming.

[edit] History

The base opened in August 1942, becoming operational in May 1943.

Skipton-on-Swale was originally a 4 Group facility and first hosted 420 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which moved to RAF Middleton St. George in October 1942. Skipton was assigned to No. 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in January 1943. RCAF squadrons stationed here included 424 Squadron, No. 432 Squadron (which moved to RAF East Moor in September 1943), and 433 Squadron. Both squadrons flew the Halifax bomber until replaced by the Lancaster in January 1945. 424 Squadron lost 52 aircraft and 433 Squadron lost 38 aircraft.^{[citation needed]}

No. 424 and 433 Squadrons were disbanded in October 1945 and the airfield was closed. The station was not used again and has since reverted largely to farmland. The site is home to turkey and pig farms.