# RAF Bellasize

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Former RAF flying station in Yorkshire, England

RAF Bellasize Gilberdyke, East Riding of Yorkshire in England Site information Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Controlled by RAF Flying Training Command Location RAF Bellasize RAF Bellasize Coordinates 53°44′13″N 0°45′43″W / 53.737°N 0.762°W / 53.737; -0.762 Grid reference SE817724 Area 33 acres (13 ha) Height 12 feet (3.7 m) Site history In use April 1916 – May 1919 (1919-05) November 1939 – July 1945 Battles/wars European theatre of World War II Airfield information Runways Direction Length and surface 2,000 feet (610 m) Grass

**Royal Air Force Bellasize**, also known as **RAF Bellasize**, was a former RAF airfield in the hamlet of [Bellasize](/source/Bellasize), near [Gilberdyke](/source/Gilberdyke), [East Riding of Yorkshire](/source/East_Riding_of_Yorkshire), England. Originally opened in 1916, Bellasize was one of only four Yorkshire-based RAF locations to see use in the [First](/source/First_World_War) and [Second World Wars](/source/World_War_II). Flying at Bellasize was sporadic and training based, with the site not being used in an offensive capacity during the Second World War.

## History

Bellasize appears to have been equipped with just one runway, which was a grass strip measuring 2,000 feet (610 m) angled in a north east/south west direction across a rectangular field. There are no records of any hangars or permanent buildings at the site.[1][2]

The site was opened in April 1916 as a 1st class landing ground.[3][note 1] It was originally used by [No. 33](/source/No._33_Squadron_RAF) and [No. 76 Squadrons](/source/No._76_Squadron_RAF) in the Home Defence (HD) role, even though its proximity to the [River Ouse](/source/River_Ouse%2C_Yorkshire) meant that the airfield was often flooded; Bellasize was only 12 feet (3.7 m) above sea level.[4][5] The site was handed over to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, and then relinquished a year later in April 1919.[6]

However, during the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), the site was reactivated, and covered an area of 33 acres (13 ha), measuring 420 yards (380 m) by 380 yards (350 m).[7] Bellasize was one of only four sites used by the RAF in the First and Second World Wars, (the other being [Driffield](/source/RAF_Driffield), [Doncaster](/source/RAF_Doncaster) and [Catterick](/source/RAF_Catterick)).[8] For the entire period of the war, Bellasize belonged to [RAF Flying Training Command](/source/RAF_Flying_Training_Command), and was used as relief landing ground (RLG) by [No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School RAF](/source/No._4_Elementary_Flying_Training_School_RAF) (No. 4 EFTS).[9] No. 4 EFTS was based at nearby [Brough Aerodrome](/source/Brough_Aerodrome),[10] and the increased use of Bellasize was due to the prevalence of aircraft movements at Brough originating from the aircraft factory.[11] Flying at RAF Bellasize ceased in July 1945.[1]

The site has been converted back to farmland.[12]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Spelling_4-0)** Philpott refers to the base as *Bellsize* rather than *Bellasize*.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve200644_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve200644_1-1) [Delve 2006](#CITEREFDelve2006), p. 44.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982). *Action stations*. Wellingborough: Stephens. p. 26. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85059-532-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85059-532-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Philpott, I. M. (2005). *The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years*. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. p. 243. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1844151549](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1844151549).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Philpott, Ian (2013). *The birth of the Royal Air Force*. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 267. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78159-333-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78159-333-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["RAF Bellasize – Hull & East Riding at War"](https://hullandeastridingatwar.co.uk/raf-bellasize/). *hullandeastridingatwar.co.uk*. Retrieved 3 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Spooner, Stanley, ed. (29 May 1919). "Relinquishment of landing grounds by the R.A.F.[sic]". *Flight International & Aircraft Engineer*. **XI** (544). London: Reed Business Information Ltd: 703. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0015-3710](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-3710). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [747807447](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/747807447).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Chorlton, Martyn (2014). *Forgotten airfields of World War I*. Manchester: Crecy. p. 41. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780859791816](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780859791816).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve200621_9-0)** [Delve 2006](#CITEREFDelve2006), p. 21.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Murland, Jerry (2008). *Departed warriors : the story of one family in war*. Leicester: Matador. p. 217. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1906510-701](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1906510-701).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Lake, Alan (1999). *Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912*. Shrewsbury: Airlife. p. 61. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-086-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-086-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Otter, Patrick (1998). *Yorkshire airfields in the Second World War*. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 298. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85306-542-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85306-542-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Bellasize - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK"](https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/bellasize/). *www.abct.org.uk*. Retrieved 26 September 2021.

### Sources

- Delve, Ken (2006). *Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire*. Ramsbury: Crowood. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-86126-809-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-86126-809-2).

v t e Royal Air Force stations in Yorkshire Flying stations Active Leeming Topcliffe1 Former Acaster Malbis Bellasize Beverley Bircotes Bramham Breighton2 Burn2 Carnaby Catfoss Catterick Church Fenton2 Clifton Coal Aston Cottam Croft Dalton Dishforth Doncaster Driffield East Moor Elvington Finningley2 Firbeck Full Sutton Hedon Helperby Holme-on-Spalding Moor Hornsea Mere Howden Hutton Cranswick Leconfield Lindholme Linton-on-Ouse Lissett Manywells Height Marske Marston Moor Melbourne Pocklington Redcar Riccall Ripon Rufforth2 Scorton Sherburn-in-Elmet2 Skipton-on-Swale Snaith Tholthorpe Thornaby Wombleton Yeadon2 Non-flying stations Active Fylingdales3 Menwith Hill3 Staxton Wold3 Former Bawtry Bempton3 Bent Rigg3 Bowes Moor Bridlington Cowden Danby Beacon3 Goldsborough3 Harrogate Holmpton3 Hunmanby Moor Misson Northallerton4 Norton Oxenhope Moor3 Patrington3 Shipton3 Sutton on Hull Notes 1: used for only for RAF gliders 2: now used for civilian aviation 3: communications or radar sites 4: RAF hospital

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RAF Bellasize](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Bellasize) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Bellasize?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.