|
|
|
|
Yeadon
Images taken during 609 Squadrons stay at Yeadon Aerodrome (now the Leeds Bradford Airport), the Squadrons first home from formation on 10th February 1936 until 27th August 1939 when they moved to Catterick (not returning again until 1946).
The Squadron's area covered a large part of the Aerodrome, and the authority in charge gave notice for 609 to leave. In the end however, the Air Ministry agreed to rent the neccesary space on the aerodrome from the airport authority for 14 years at a sum of £1,500 per annum (rising to £1,750 by the end of this time). By January 1939, two hangars had been erected on the site for the aircraft, along with living quarters, engineering workshops and Squadron offices. It was now, having built a brand new home for themselves, that 609 was posted to Catterick.
On reforming in May 1946, 609 returned to Yeadon with their Mosquito MK.XXX aircraft, which proved difficult due to the runways being too short to comfortably operate these aircraft. Safety speed (that which the aircraft needs to be flown and controlled on a single engine) was not reached until over flying central Leeds if taking off in that direction - with obviously drastic results should things go wrong on take-off. In addition, the airfield sloped downhill, meaning that it was neccessary to land at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (20 miles away) if the wind was coming from the wrong direction. Eventually the Air Ministry re-equipped 609 with Spitfire LFXVIs This was sufficient as a short-term measure, but the grass airstrip was not ideally suited to Spitfire operations, and so it was decided that 609 Squadron should move to the hard runways of RAF Church Fenton in October 1950, which had become a neccesity once it had become neccesary to change over to first Jet-powered De Havilland Vampires, and then Gloster Meteors.
Situated to the North-east of Leeds, the Leeds/Bradford Municipal Aerodrome first opened on 17th October 1931, where it was run for the joint airport committee by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club, commencing passenger services in 1935 with the establishment of North Eastern Airways on the airfield. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, civil flying was suspended throughout the UK, and, like so many other aerodromes, Yeadon was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and became part of firstly 13 Group, then 12 Group at a later date. Once 609 (West Riding) Squadron left for Catterick, Yeadon served as a Flying Training School, bomber maintenance unit, and a scatter airfield. In January 1942 it was transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, whereupon Avro built a shadow factory for the production of Albermarles, Anson's, Lancasters, Yorks, and Lincolns. It was also used by Hawker Aircraft for development work on its Tornado design. The Royal Air Force remained a part of Yeadons life until 1957, operating Austers, Supermarine Spitfires, De Havilland Mosquitoes out of here. RAF Yeadon finally closed in 1959. These days, Yeadon is known as the Leeds and Bradford Airport, and contains a memorial to its wartime heritage in the shape of a 609 Squadron Memorial. |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
Archives
|
