# RAF Tholthorpe

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Royal Air Force base in Yorkshire, England

RAF Tholthorpe Easingwold, North Yorkshire in England Old huts at the site of RAF Tholthorpe Site information Type Royal Air Force satellite station Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Controlled by RAF Bomber Command Location RAF Tholthorpe Shown within North Yorkshire Show map of North Yorkshire RAF Tholthorpe RAF Tholthorpe (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 54°06′15″N 001°15′30″W / 54.10417°N 1.25833°W / 54.10417; -1.25833 Site history Built 1940 (1940) In use 1940 - 1945 (1945) Battles/wars European theatre of World War II Airfield information Runways Direction Length and surface 06/24 Concrete 10/28 Concrete 16/34 Concrete

**Royal Air Force Tholthorpe'** or more simply **RAF Tholthorpe** is a former [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) [satellite station](/source/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations) located near [Easingwold](/source/Easingwold), [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), England. It was operational during the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II); having been opened during the 1930s as a grass airfield. It was controlled by [RAF Bomber Command](/source/RAF_Bomber_Command), as a sub-station of [RAF Linton-on-Ouse](/source/RAF_Linton-on-Ouse).

## History

From August 1940 to December 1940, Tholthorpe was a landing field for [Armstrong Whitworth Whitley](/source/Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley) bombers of [No. 58 Squadron RAF](/source/No._58_Squadron_RAF) and [No. 51 Squadron RAF](/source/No._51_Squadron_RAF) based at Linton.

From January 1941 to June 1943, Tholthorpe underwent maintenance to upgrade to Class A standards, with three intersecting concrete runways designated main 10-28 at 2,000 yards, 06-24 at 1,430 yards and 16-34 at 1,400 yards.

Tholthorpe was assigned to [No. 6 Group RCAF](/source/No._6_Group_RCAF) in June 1943. [RCAF](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force) squadrons stationed here included [No. 434 Squadron](/source/434_Operational_Test_and_Evaluation_Squadron) "Bluenose", [431 Squadron](/source/Snowbirds_(aerobatic_team)) "Iroquois", [420 Squadron](/source/No._420_Squadron_RCAF) "Snowy Owl", and [425 Squadron](/source/425_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron) "Alouette".

No. 434 Squadron, flying Halifax bombers, was formed and headquartered at Tholthorpe airfield from June 1943 until the squadron was moved to [Croft](/source/RAF_Croft). In July 1943, 431 Squadron moved to Tholthorpe airfield from [Burn](/source/RAF_Burn). It was later moved to Croft airfield as well. Not only were the operational squadrons quartered here, also their service echelons, -respectively Nos. 9431 and 9434 Service Echelon[1]- which were formed from the ground crew of nos. 431 and 434 Squadron on 3 November 1943 and who moved with their squadrons on to Croft in December 1943.

In December 1943 No. 420 and No. 425 Squadrons (together with their service echelons, nos. 9420 and 9425 Service Echelon[1]) were moved to Tholthorpe airfield from [Dalton](/source/RAF_Dalton) and [Dishforth](/source/RAF_Dishforth) respectively. These squadrons had returned from service with [Vickers Wellingtons](/source/Vickers_Wellington) in North Africa, and it took them several weeks to work up on the newly acquired Halifax bombers. They were therefore unable to fly their first raids from Tholthorpe until mid-February 1944. No. 420 Squadron flew 160 operations from Tholthorpe airfield and lost 25 Halifaxes. No. 425 Squadron flew 162 operations from Tholthorpe airfield and lost 28 Halifaxes. In all, 119 Halifax bombers were lost from Tholthorpe.[2] In April and May 1945 Nos. 420 and 425 Squadron converted to [Avro Lancasters](/source/Avro_Lancaster), which they took with them when they left for [RCAF Debert](/source/CFS_Debert), [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia), [Canada](/source/Canada) in June 1945.[3]

The station closed in June 1945.

## Operational units and aircraft

data from[3][4] Unit From To Aircraft Version No. 420 Squadron RCAF 12 December 1943 12 June 1945 Handley Page Halifax Avro Lancaster Mk.III (1943–1945) Mk.X (1945) No. 425 Squadron RCAF 12 December 1943 13 June 1945 Handley Page Halifax Avro Lancaster Mk.III (1943–1945) Mk.X (1945) No. 431 Squadron RCAF 15 July 1943 10 December 1943 Handley Page Halifax Mk.V No. 434 Squadron RCAF 13 June 1943 11 December 1943 Handley Page Halifax Mk.V

## Postwar

In the 1980s the airfield was used for a short time for private flying. Within a decade, most of the buildings were abandoned and the runways became farm roads. The control tower has been turned into a family residence.

A monument of Canadian granite, and the avenue of oaks and maples between this village and the airfield, honour the fallen airmen who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons and the citizens of the community who supported them.

## See also

- [List of former Royal Air Force stations](/source/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations)

## References

### Citations

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SturtivantHamlin2007p249_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SturtivantHamlin2007p249_1-1) [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 249.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [RAF Bomber Command, story of Tholthorpe airfield](http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s95.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070823061450/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s95.html) 23 August 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jefford2001pp92-93_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jefford2001pp92-93_3-1) [Jefford 2001](#CITEREFJefford2001), pp. 92–93.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Halley 1988](#CITEREFHalley1988), pp. 505, 508–509, 512–513.

### Bibliography

- Halley, James J. (1988). *The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988*. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85130-164-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85130-164-9).

- Jefford, C. G. (2001) [1988]. *RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912* (second ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85310-053-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85310-053-6).

- Moyes, Philip J. R. (1976). *Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft* (2nd ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-354-01027-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-354-01027-1).

- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). *RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912*. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-85130-365-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-85130-365-9).

## External links

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

- [Crash Landing 16 March 1944](https://web.archive.org/web/20060821205124/http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/crashlanding.htm) Story of crash landing of plane from RCAF 425 Squadron, which was for a time based at Tholthorpe.

- [Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation](https://web.archive.org/web/20090823000530/http://rafweb.org/Sqn431-443.htm) 434 (Bluenose) Squadron was formed at Tholthorpe on 13 June 1943 as a bomber unit within No 6 (RCAF) Group

- [Photos of Tholthorpe airfield Control towers](http://www.controltowers.co.uk/T-V/Tholthorpe.htm)

- [No. 6 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Group](https://web.archive.org/web/20071025022317/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h6gp.html) Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary

- [Photo of Memorial Plaque](http://www.6grouprcaf.com/Villagegreentholthorpe.html) Memorial Plaque, Tholthorpe Village Green, Tholthorpe, dedicated to 420, 425, 431, and 434 Squadrons

- [No. 434 (Bluenose) Squadron information from RCAF.com](http://www.rcaf.com/Squadrons/squadronDetail.php?No.-434-Squadron-10)

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

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