# RAF Manywells Height > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Manywells_Height > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Manywells_Height.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Manywells_Height > Source revision: 1339777136 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England RAF Manywells Height RAF Cullingworth Cullingworth, West Yorkshire in England Looking eastwards across the site of RAF Manywells Height towards the Aire Valley Site information Type Royal Air Force station Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Location RAF Manywells Height Shown within West Yorkshire Show map of West Yorkshire RAF Manywells Height RAF Manywells Height (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 53°48′59.2″N 1°54′07.8″W / 53.816444°N 1.902167°W / 53.816444; -1.902167 Site history Built 1916 (1916) In use 1916 - 1919 (1919) Battles/wars First World War Airfield information Elevation 273 metres (896 ft) AMSL Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00 Grass **Royal Air Force Manywells Height** (also known as **Royal Flying Corps Manywells Height**, **Royal Flying Corps Cullingworth** and **Royal Air Force Cullingworth**)[1] was a grassed airstrip in use as Home Defence during the [First World War](/source/World_War_I). The site was just south of the village of [Cullingworth](/source/Cullingworth) which is south of [Keighley](/source/Keighley) and north west of [Bradford](/source/Bradford) in [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire). It was considered as a civilian airfield for West Yorkshire on decommissioning, but [Yeadon](/source/Yeadon%2C_West_Yorkshire) became the hub of civilian flights as [Leeds Bradford International Airport.](/source/Leeds_Bradford_Airport) It was used by aircraft from 1913 and commissioned as an airfield by the [Royal Flying Corps](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps) in 1916 with closure by the [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) (its eventual owner) in 1919. Whilst it was used in 1919 in a civilian capacity, it was abandoned in that same year. ## History On 13 October 1913, Manywells Height was first used as a landing strip when Captain Maclean landed his [Royal Aircraft Factory](/source/Royal_Aircraft_Establishment) [BE2A](/source/Royal_Aircraft_Factory_B.E.2) aeroplane en route to [Montrose](/source/Montrose%2C_Angus). Foul weather prevented him from taking off again on the same day and it wasn't until the following Monday (15 October 1913) that he was able to get airborne.[2] During the First World War, Manywells Height was pressed into service by the Royal Flying Corps as a Relief Landing Ground for two Home Defence Squadrons ([33](/source/No._33_Squadron_RAF) and [76](/source/No._76_Squadron_RAF) Squadrons).[3] The airfield and its environs totalled 40 acres (16 ha)[4] but facilities were basic and ran to just one wooden and canvas hangar with accompanying grassed strip.[5] The whole landing ground covered only 40 acres (16 ha) and the strip itself was 550 yards (500 m) by 420 yards (380 m).[6] 33 and 76 Squadrons were officially billeted at [RAF Kirton in Lindsey](/source/RAF_Kirton_in_Lindsey) and [RFC Ripon](/source/Royal_Flying_Corps_Ripon) respectively,[7] though detachments and flights were also billeted at Gainsborough and Tadcaster.[6] The airfield was designated for night operations when combatting German Airships. Aircraft from 33 and 76 Squadrons would have visited occasionally by day to check suitability for operations, but there is no evidence that it was ever used in its intended capacity.[8] On the formation of the Royal Air Force from the Royal Flying Corps and the [Royal Naval Air Service](/source/Royal_Naval_Air_Service) on 1 April 1918,[9] RFC Manywells Height became RAF Manywells Height. It was active until the 26 June 1919[6] when its use was discontinued by the Royal Air Force.[10] "Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing "Manywell Heights" as a "civil station". The strip was on an official [Air Ministry](/source/Air_Ministry) notification[2] detailing aerial postal services from [Hounslow Aerodrome](/source/Hounslow_Aerodrome) to Manywells Height via Sheffield.[11] The site was considered a poor choice for a civilian airport due to the surrounding hilly area, its height above sea level and its often inclement weather. Yeadon was chosen as a suitable site instead despite being only 217 feet (66 m) lower than Manywells Height.[2] ## Current usage The site has been returned to grass and farmland. Its northern edge has been used as part of a [landfill site](/source/Landfill_site) known as Manywells Tip.[12] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Cullingworth (Manywells Height)"](http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/cullingworth-manywells-height/). *Airfields of Britain conservation trust*. Retrieved 30 April 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) Goff, Derek (2006). "Early flying machine visits Cullingworth". *Cullingworth - a glimpse of the past volume 2*. Cullingworth: Cullingworth History Group. pp. 63–68. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780955305405](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780955305405). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Lewis, Peter (1968). *Squadron Histories*. London: Puttnam & Company. pp. 25, 42. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0370000226](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0370000226). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Hughes, Kathryn (2014). *Great War Britain Bradford*. Stroud: History Press. p. 45. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780750953863](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780750953863). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Phillips, Alan (1994). *Sixty Years of Leeds Bradford Airport*. Beverley: Hutton Press. p. 13. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-872167-64-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-872167-64-0). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChorlton2014212_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChorlton2014212_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChorlton2014212_6-2) [Chorlton 2014](#CITEREFChorlton2014), p. 212. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Halley, James J (1980). *The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force*. Tonbridge: Air Britain. pp. 64, 114. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85130-083-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85130-083-9). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Delve, Ken (2006). *The military airfields of Britain: Northern England - County Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire*. Marlborough: Crowood Press. p. 292. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-86126-809-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-86126-809-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Get ready to start the celebrations to mark RAF 100". *RAF News* (1392). High Wycombe: Royal Air Force: 5. 8 April 2016. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0035-8614](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0035-8614). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [474096693](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/474096693). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Philpott, Ian (2013). "Airfields, Landing Grounds and Seaplane Bases". *The Birth of the Royal Air Force*. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 269. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781473833128](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781473833128). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Phillips, Alan (2012). "Searching for an ideal site". *Leeds Bradford Airport through time*. Stroud: Amberley. p. 5. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781445606095](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781445606095). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Lower tip, landfill firm told"](http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8050687.Lower_tip__landfill_firm_told/). *Telegraph and Argus*. 11 October 2000. Retrieved 30 April 2016. ### Bibliography - Chorlton, Martyn (2014). *Forgotten aerodromes of World War I*. Manchester, UK: Crecy. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780859791816](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780859791816). 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 Manywells Height](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Manywells_Height) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Manywells_Height?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.