# RAF Snaith

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Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

RAF Snaith Snaith, East Riding of Yorkshire in England Watch Office at RAF Snaith Site information Type Royal Air Force station Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Controlled by RAF Bomber Command Location RAF Snaith Shown within East Riding of Yorkshire Show map of East Riding of Yorkshire RAF Snaith RAF Snaith (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 53°40′53″N 001°05′00″W / 53.68139°N 1.08333°W / 53.68139; -1.08333 Site history Built 1940 (1940)/41 In use 1941 - 1946 (1946) Battles/wars European theatre of World War II Airfield information Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00 Concrete 00/00 Concrete 00/00 Concrete

**Royal Air Force Snaith** or **RAF Snaith** is a former [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) [station](/source/Royal_Air_Force_station) which was located 7 miles (11 km) south west of [Goole](/source/Goole), [Yorkshire](/source/Yorkshire), [England](/source/England) and close to the village of [Pollington](/source/Pollington).

The airfield opened 1941 before closing in 1946.

## Based units

The airfield opened in July 1941, and was called RAF Snaith, rather than RAF Pollington (the village that it was nearest to), so as to avoid confusion with [RAF Pocklington](/source/RAF_Pocklington).[1]

A large number of different squadrons used the airfield firstly [No. 150 Squadron RAF](/source/No._150_Squadron_RAF) flew [Vickers Wellingtons](/source/Vickers_Wellington) between July 1941 and October 1942 before moving to [RAF Kirmington](/source/RAF_Kirmington),[2][3] then being replaced by [No. 51 Squadron RAF](/source/No._51_Squadron_RAF) from October 1942 until May 1945 using the [Handley Page Halifax](/source/Handley_Page_Halifax).[2][3] During this period the airfield also had another squadron join as a flight from No.51 Sqn RAF turned its aircraft and crew over to make another squadron which was [No. 578 Squadron RAF](/source/No._578_Squadron_RAF) which flew from the airfield temporarily between January 1944 until February 1944 before moving to the empty [RAF Burn](/source/RAF_Burn).[3]

A number of units also used the airfield such as No 6266 Servicing Echelon between 27 April 1944 and 6 May 1944 repairing the various aircraft[4] and No. 17 Air Crew Holding Unit between 20 June 1945 and 27 May 1946. During this time a small Beam Approach Flight using [Airspeed Oxfords](/source/Airspeed_Oxford) used the airfield for a short period learning beam approach landings.[2]

### Units and aircraft

Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes 51 Squadron October 1942 - April 1945 Handley Page Halifax II later III Re-equipped with Halifax III in January 1945 before moving to RAF Leconfield in April 1945.[5] 150 Squadron July 1941 - October 1942 Vickers Wellington IC later III [6] 266 Squadron April 1944 - May 1944 Hawker Typhoon IB Two-week stay.[7] 578 Squadron January 1944 - February 1944 Handley Page Halifax III Formed from C Flight of 51 Squadron before moving to RAF Burn.[8] No. 17 Air Crew Holding Unit[9] June 1944 - November 1945[10] No. 1508 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[11] September 1945 - April 1946 Airspeed Oxford Became No. 1508 (Acclimatisation) Flight RAF in November 1945 No. 1516 (Radio Aids Training) Flight RAF[12] September 1945 - May 1946 Airspeed Oxford No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF[9] Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment[9]

## Current use

During the construction of the [M62 motorway](/source/M62_motorway) the airfield was cut in half with the motorway going east to west through the top third of the airfield. However a number of technical buildings are still in place including the sergeants mess.[2]

The former WAAF buildings, located on Long Lane, Pollington, are the home of RAF Snaith Museum.[\[1\]](http://www.rafsnaithmuseum.co.uk/)

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Ford, Keith S. (1992). *Snaith days : life with 51 Squadron 1942/45*. Warrington: Compaid Graphics. p. 7. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9517965-1-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9517965-1-8).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RAFMOD_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RAFMOD_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RAFMOD_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-RAFMOD_2-3) ["Bomber Command"](https://web.archive.org/web/20040929060229/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s64.html). Royal Air Force. Archived from [the original](http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s64.html) on 29 September 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WM_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WM_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WM_3-2) ["RAF Snaith"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050115200205/http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/snaith.html). Wartime Memories. Archived from [the original](http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/airfields/snaith.html) on 15 January 2005. Retrieved 2 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RAFWEB_4-0)** ["RAF Snaith"](http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-S.htm#Snaith). Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 2 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford1988p41_5-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 41.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford1988p62_6-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 62.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford1988p81_7-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 81.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jefford1988p97_8-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 97.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ABCT_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ABCT_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ABCT_9-2) ["Snaith (Pollington)"](http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/snaith-pollington/). [Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust](/source/Airfields_of_Britain_Conservation_Trust). Retrieved 10 February 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHalpenny1982179_10-0)** [Halpenny 1982](#CITEREFHalpenny1982), p. 179.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELake199992_11-0)** [Lake 1999](#CITEREFLake1999), p. 92.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELake199993_12-0)** [Lake 1999](#CITEREFLake1999), p. 93.

### Bibliography

- Halpenny, Bruce. *Action Stations 4; Military airfields of Yorkshire*. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephen Publishing, 1982. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85059-532-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85059-532-0).

- Jefford, C G (1988). *RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912*. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-141-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-141-2).

- Lake, A (1999). *Flying units of the RAF*. [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury): Airlife. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84037-086-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84037-086-6).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [RAF Snaith](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:RAF_Snaith).

- [BBC History - Nearly a Somebody](https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/54/a5246354.shtml)

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

[http://www.rafsnaithmuseum.co.uk/](http://www.rafsnaithmuseum.co.uk/)

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