# RAF Riccall > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Riccall > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RAF_Riccall.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Riccall > Source revision: 1303676396 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England RAF Riccall Riccall, North Yorkshire in England Site information Type Royal Air Force satellite station Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Controlled by RAF Bomber Command Location RAF Riccall Shown within North Yorkshire Show map of North Yorkshire RAF Riccall RAF Riccall (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 53°49′26″N 001°01′50″W / 53.82389°N 1.03056°W / 53.82389; -1.03056 Site history Built 1941 (1941) In use 1942 - 1958 (1958) Battles/wars European theatre of World War II Airfield information Elevation 10 metres (33 ft) AMSL Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00 1,810 metres (5,938 ft) Asphalt 00/00 1,310 metres (4,298 ft) Asphalt 00/00 1,410 metres (4,626 ft) Asphalt **RAF Riccall** is a former [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) [satellite station](/source/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations) located 3.1 miles (5 km) north east of [Selby](/source/Selby), [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire) and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) south west of [Elvington](/source/Elvington%2C_City_of_York), North Yorkshire, [England](/source/England). ## History The airfield was opened in September 1942 as a satellite to [RAF Marston Moor](/source/RAF_Marston_Moor).[1] It had three runways of the [A-style airfield](/source/Class_A_airfield); the longest was 5,940 feet (1,810 m) long, the second was 4,290 feet (1,310 m) long and the third was 4,620 feet (1,410 m) long. All were 50 yards (46 m) wide.[2][3] The technical site consisted of six T2 hangars and one B1 hangar.[4] The first runways built on the site sank into the soft earth of the low-lying ground, and had to be built back up again.[5] During October 1942, No. 76 and No. 80 Conversion Flights (along with No. 10 Conversion Flight from another airfield) joined together to make [No. 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF](/source/No._1658_Heavy_Conversion_Unit_RAF).[6][7] The following units were based at the airfield: - [No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF](/source/No._35_Maintenance_Unit_RAF).[8] - [No. 91 Maintenance Unit RAF](/source/No._91_Maintenance_Unit_RAF).[8] - [No. 261 Maintenance Unit RAF](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No._261_Maintenance_Unit_RAF&action=edit&redlink=1).[8] - [No. 268 Maintenance Unit RAF](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No._268_Maintenance_Unit_RAF&action=edit&redlink=1).[8] - [No. 939 (West Riding) Balloon Squadron AAF](/source/Barrage_Balloon_Organisations_of_the_Royal_Auxiliary_Air_Force#Barrage_Balloon_Squadrons).[8] - [No. 1332 (Transport) Heavy Conversion Unit RAF](/source/No._1332_(Transport)_Heavy_Conversion_Unit_RAF).[8] - [No. 1341 (Special Duties) Flight RAF](/source/No._1341_(Special_Duties)_Flight_RAF).[8] - [Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment](/source/Airborne_Forces_Experimental_Establishment).[8] - [York & District Flying Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=York_%26_District_Flying_Group&action=edit&redlink=1).[8] After 1945, flying ceased, although the site was used as storage until 1958. The south west side of the airfield and storage area is now part of [Skipwith Common](/source/Skipwith_Common) [National Nature Reserve](/source/National_Nature_Reserve).[9] Part of the site was also used for mining coal as part of the [Selby Coalfield](/source/Selby_Coalfield) operation between the 1980s and 2004.[10] ## Current use The site is now used for farming.[8] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["RAF Riccall Airfield"](http://www.controltowers.co.uk/R/Riccall.htm). *controltowers.co.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHalpenny1982157_2-0)** [Halpenny 1982](#CITEREFHalpenny1982), p. 157. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve2006212_3-0)** [Delve 2006](#CITEREFDelve2006), p. 212. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOtter1998210_4-0)** [Otter 1998](#CITEREFOtter1998), p. 210. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Riccall in World War II*. Riccall Local History Group. 2004. p. 85. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-903833-58-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-903833-58-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDelve2006211–213_6-0)** [Delve 2006](#CITEREFDelve2006), pp. 211–213. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["RAF Riccall \[concept\]"](https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/collections/document/6464). *ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk*. Retrieved 17 March 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-ABCT_8-9) ["Riccall"](http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/riccall). *abct.org.uk*. Retrieved 6 December 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Schofield, Peter (September 2010). [Skipwith Common North Yorkshire, Phase 3; Airfield Survey and archaeological Landscape Survey](https://library.thehumanjourney.net/4952/1/L10235_SkipwithPhase3FullReport.pdf) (PDF). *library.thehumanjourney.net* (Report). Natural England. p. 21. Retrieved 17 March 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJacobs202197_10-0)** [Jacobs 2021](#CITEREFJacobs2021), p. 97. ### 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). - Jacobs, Peter (2021). *Bomber Command Airfields of Yorkshire*. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78346-331-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78346-331-2). - Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore (1982). *Action stations 4: military airfields of Yorkshire*. Wellingborough: Stephens. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85059-532-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85059-532-0). - Jefford, C. G. (2001). *RAF squadrons : a comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912* (2 ed.). Shrewsbury: Airlife. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-141-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-141-2). - Lake, Alan (1999). *Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912*. Shrewsbury: Airlife. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-086-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-086-6). - Otter, Patrick (1998). *Yorkshire airfields in the Second World War*. Newbury: Countryside Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85306-542-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85306-542-0). ## External links - [Atlantik Wall - RAF Riccall](https://web.archive.org/web/20111230035338/http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/yorkshire/riccall01/html/page01.htm) - [Image of RAF Riccall from 1947](https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw011497) 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 Riccall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Riccall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Riccall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.