# RAF Firbeck

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Firbeck
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Firbeck.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Firbeck
> Source revision: 1303600641
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

RAF Firbeck Firbeck, South Yorkshire in England Site information Type Royal Air Force relief landing ground Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Controlled by RAF Army Cooperation Command Location RAF Firbeck Shown within South Yorkshire Show map of South Yorkshire RAF Firbeck RAF Firbeck (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 53°23′15″N 001°09′45″W / 53.38750°N 1.16250°W / 53.38750; -1.16250 Site history Built 1940 (1940) In use 1940 - 1948 (1948) Battles/wars European theatre of World War II Airfield information Elevation 65 metres (213 ft) AMSL Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00 Concrete 00/00 Concrete 00/00 Concrete

**Royal Air Force Firbeck** or more simply **RAF Firbeck** is a former [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) [relief landing ground](/source/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations) located west of [Firbeck](/source/Firbeck), [South Yorkshire](/source/South_Yorkshire), [England](/source/England).

The airfield was opened in September 1940[1] and was closed in 1948, during this time it was mainly used as a relief landing ground (RLG) and small planes such as the [Westland Lysander](/source/Westland_Lysander) and the [Taylorcraft Auster](/source/Taylorcraft_Auster). After the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II) had ended the airfield was used by two Royal Air Force (RAF) gliding schools.

## History

The airfield was first constructed in 1935 in conjunction with a country club opening up at Firbeck Hall. Cyril Nicholson invested money into the [Jacobean](/source/Jacobean_architecture) hall and its surroundings which attracted the rich and glamorous of that time. The then Prince of Wales (the future [Edward VIII](/source/Edward_VIII)) also flew into the airfield in his own [de Havilland Dragon Rapide](/source/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide) aircraft (the very aircraft that he flew to London on his accession to King in 1936).[2] On the outbreak of war, the airfield was pressed into service for the Royal Air Force under the Emergency Powers Act.[3][4]

The first squadron to use the airfield was [No. 613 Squadron RAF](/source/No._613_Squadron_RAF) which had moved from [RAF Netherthorpe](/source/Netherthorpe_Airfield) on 7 September 1940.[5] The unit had detachments at various other airfields such as [RAF Clifton](/source/RAF_Clifton), [RAF Netherthorpe](/source/Netherthorpe_Airfield), [RAF Sutton Bridge](/source/RAF_Sutton_Bridge), [RAF Doncaster](/source/RAF_Doncaster) and [RAF Martlesham Heath](/source/RAF_Martlesham_Heath) initially flying the [Westland Lysander](/source/Westland_Lysander) Mk. II before the addition of the Mk. III in January 1941.[6] The squadron moved to [RAF Doncaster](/source/RAF_Doncaster) on 8 July 1941. A short time after this on 19 July 1941 [No. 2 Squadron RAF](/source/No._2_Squadron_RAF) moved in from [RAF Sawbridgeworth](/source/RAF_Sawbridgeworth) flying the Lysander II for four days before moving back to Sawbridgeworth.[7][8]

Between July 1941 and 1 November 1945 Firbeck was used as a relief landing ground for [No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School RAF](/source/No._25_Elementary_Flying_Training_School_RAF) (EFTS).[8]

The next are both air observation post squadron which were used by [RAF Army Cooperation Command](/source/RAF_Army_Cooperation_Command) to help spot enemy positions. The first of these squadron was [No. 654 Squadron RAF](/source/No._654_Squadron_RAF) which started using RAF Firbeck from 15 September 1942 flying the [Taylorcraft Auster Plus C2](/source/Taylorcraft_Auster) and the Auster I before moving to [RAF Bottisham](/source/RAF_Bottisham) on 20 November 1942[9] and the second was [No. 659 Squadron RAF](/source/No._659_Squadron_RAF) which was formed at the airfield on 30 April 1943 and flew the Auster III before moving to [RAF Clifton](/source/RAF_Clifton) on 17 August 1943.[10]

In 1944 [No. 28 Gliding School RAF](/source/No._28_Gliding_School_RAF) took up residence with Cadet gliders staying until January 1946. However, after a short amount of time [No. 24 Gliding School RAF](/source/No._24_Gliding_School_RAF) took over the empty space in May 1946 and they stayed until February 1948.[8] The airfield closed during 1948.[11]

## Current use

There is a memorial at the airfield where the aircraft repair shop used to be located.[11] The airfield is currently open land.[12]

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHalpenny198195_1-0)** [Halpenny 1981](#CITEREFHalpenny1981), p. 95.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEPigott2005149_2-0)** [Pigott 2005](#CITEREFPigott2005), p. 149.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Clegg, Rachael (23 August 2011). ["Remembering those magnificent men in their flying machines"](http://www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk/what-s-on/out-about/remembering-those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-1-3703017). *Ilkeston Advertiser*. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Playground of the rich and famous"](http://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/playground-of-the-rich-and-famous-1-310197). *Sheffield Star*. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHalley1980333_5-0)** [Halley 1980](#CITEREFHalley1980), p. 333.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford2001p100_6-0)** [Jefford 2001](#CITEREFJefford2001), p. 100.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford2001p23_7-0)** [Jefford 2001](#CITEREFJefford2001), p. 23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RAFWEB_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RAFWEB_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RAFWEB_8-2) ["RAF Firbeck"](http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-F.htm#Firbeck). Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford2001p102_9-0)** [Jefford 2001](#CITEREFJefford2001), p. 102.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford2001p103_10-0)** [Jefford 2001](#CITEREFJefford2001), p. 103.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FAM_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FAM_11-1) ["Firbeck Airfield Memorial"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104527/http://www.firbeckairfieldmemorial.co.uk/). RAF Firbeck Memorial. Archived from [the original](http://www.firbeckairfieldmemorial.co.uk/) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["RAF Firbeck Memorial"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120111162950/http://www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/?page_id=87). The Airfield Research Group. Archived from [the original](http://www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/?page_id=87) on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.

### Bibliography

- Halley, James. *The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force*. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain Publishing, 1980. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85130-083-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85130-083-9).

- Halpenny, Bruce. *Action Stations 2; Military airfields of Lincolnshire and East Midlands*. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1981. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85059-484-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85059-484-7).

- Jefford, C.G. *RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912*. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-141-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-141-2).

- Pigott, Peter. *Royal transport : an inside look at the history of royal travel* Toronto, Canada: Dundurn Group Publishing, 2005. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781554882854](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781554882854).

v t e Royal Air Force Formations and units Units Commands Groups Wings Squadrons Flights Conversion units Operational Training units Schools / Training units Ferry units Glider units Misc units Stations Active Former Satellite Landing Grounds Station description Regiment Wings Squadrons Flights Branches and components Air Force Board RAF Regiment RAF Chaplains Branch RAF Intelligence RAF Legal Branch RAF Medical Services Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service RAF Police RAF ground trades RAF Music Services RAF Search and Rescue Force RAF Mountain Rescue Service RAF Marine Branch RAF Air Cadets Operations Reserve forces Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Volunteer Reserve Equipment List of RAF aircraft current future List of RAF missiles List of equipment of the RAF Regiment Personnel Officer ranks Other ranks List of notable personnel List of serving senior officers Personnel numbers Appointments Chief of Air Staff Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Air Member for Personnel Air Secretary Air Member for Materiel Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment Warrant Officer of the RAF Symbols and uniform Badge Ensign Heraldic badges Roundels Squadron standards and battle honours Uniform Associated civil organisations Air Training Corps Combined Cadet Force (RAF section) RAF Association RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine RAF Benevolent Fund RAF Football Association RAF Museum History Timeline Future

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

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