Breighton Aerodrome is a private aerodrome primarily used for general aviation flying located on the former Royal Air Force Breighton or more simply RAF Breighton, a former Royal Air Force station located near to the village of Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
History The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for No. 1 Group RAF, its first residents were the No. 460 Squadron RAAF.
From 1959 to 1963, as part of Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 240 Squadron RAF.
The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit (which operated the Bristol Bloodhound air-defence missile) withdrew.
Squadrons Squadron Equipment From To To Notes No. 78 Squadron RAF Handley Page Halifax II/III/VIDouglas Dakota 16 June 1943 20 September 1945 RAF Almaza No. 112 Squadron RAF Bristol Bloodhound I 7 November 1960 31 March 1964 Disbanded No. 240 Squadron RAF PGM-17 Thor 1 August 1959 8 January 1963 Disbanded No. 460 Squadron RAAF Vickers Wellington IVHandley Page Halifax IIAvro Lancaster I/III 4 January 1942 14 May 1943 RAF Binbrook
Units No. 20 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF (October 1941) became No. 1520 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (October 1941 - June 1944) Sub site for No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF (November 1945 - June 1951) Relief Landing Ground for No. 103 Flying Refresher School RAF (June - November 1951) Relief Landing Ground for No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF (November 1951 - June 1954) No. 460 Conversion Flight RAF (May - August 1942 & September - October 1942) became 'A' Flight of No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF (October - November 1942) No. 2716 Squadron RAF Regiment No. 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment
Current use
The original runways are covered in buildings but the outline of the runways, taxiways and dispersal stands are clearly visible using satellite imagery.
A part of the airfield is currently used by the Real Aeroplane Company to house and maintain private and historic aircraft and a home for the Breighton Flying Club which uses a separate grass runway located within the original airfield grounds.
Five people were injured in a helicopter crash at the airfield on 17 July 2016.
References Citations
Bibliography
External links
Real Aeroplane Company