The Handley Page HALIFAX
Croft Airfield
Work started at Croft in 1940 and was completed in 1941 to the usual standard 3 runway airfield. Although called Croft, this can be confusing as the locals called it Neasham and it just west of the village of Dalton, off the A167.
Oct 1941 - June 1942 --- 78 Sqn
Oct 1942 - Nov 1942 --- 419 Sqn RACF
Nov 1942 - May 1943 --- 427 Sqn RCAF
May 1943 - Dec 1943 --- 1664 HCU
Dec 1943 - 1945 --- 431 Sqn RCAF
Dec 1943 - 1945 --- 434 Sqn RCAF
Travelling south on the A167 from Darlington, the airfield can be found after passing through Croft and, on approaching Dalton, follow the signs for the racing circuit.
On a visit to the airfield on the 7th October 1999, I found the following.....part of one runway still remained, although this is now being used extensively for static units and car-parking for the racing circuit The northern end of the runway is used for the storage of hay. The only buildings remaining are the sentry-post, (known to the locals as the 'picket'), which was at the entrance to the base and is now at the entrance to the Moorhouse Farm, parts of some buildings in a field next to the farm and a few piles of rubble. The control tower was demolished in the early 1960s when the base became a racing circuit. A memorial to the RCAF and RAF Squadrons which served at Croft has been erected at the southern entrance to Dalton village. Plaques to 434 & 431 RCAF Squadrons which are on the memorial can been viewed on the Squadrons respective web pages.).
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