{{Short description|First World War military aerodrome in North Yorkshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=March 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox military installation | name = Redcar Aerodrome | ensign = [[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px]][[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|60px]] | native_name = <small>RNAS Redcar, RAF Redcar</small> | location = [[Redcar]], [[North Yorkshire]] | country = England | image = West Dyke Road, Redcar - geograph.org.uk - 220487.jpg | alt = An image of a road with houses beyond | caption = West Dyke Road, Redcar; site of the base | type = Aerodrome | coordinates = {{Coord|54.602|-1.069|display=inline, title}} | gridref = NZ601234 | pushpin_map = North Yorkshire | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_alt = Relief map of North Yorkshire | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_image = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mark = | pushpin_marksize = | ownership = [[Air Ministry]] | operator = [[RNAS]]<br>[[RAF]] | controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force --> | open_to_public = | site_area = {{convert|140|acre}} | built = {{Start date|1915}} | used = July 1915 – {{End date|1919|12}} | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = Used for housing | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> }} '''Redcar Aerodrome''' is a former [[First World War]] airfield located in [[Redcar]], [[North Yorkshire]], England. The site hosted an elementary flying school for newly entered pilots into the [[Royal Naval Air Service]], though some offensive and defensive operations were flown from Redcar as well. The base was created as part of chain of new air stations after the [[German Navy|German]] naval bombardment of east coast towns in December 1914. The base had a brief operational lifespan between July 1915 and December 1919, after which it was decided not to retain Redcar as an active station, and much of the site has been re-used for housing.
==History== The aerodrome was opened in the early part of the [[First World War]], though its first unit did not form until July 1915.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Delve |first1=Ken |title=Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire |date=2006 |publisher=Crowood |location=Ramsbury |isbn=1-86126-809-2 |page=302}}</ref> Redcar was developed along with many other sites in response to the [[raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby]], a German naval bombardment in which over 100 civilians were killed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hartlepool bombing: British Navy 'did not rule the waves' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-30296381 |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=16 December 2014}}</ref> This task fell to the Royal Naval Air Service as opposed to the [[Royal Flying Corps]], who on the outbreak of the war, were largely sent to the Front.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sotheran |first1=Peter |title=Redcar in old picture postcards |date=1993 |publisher=European Library |location=Zaltbommel |isbn=978-90-288-5599-1|at=70}}</ref> Rather than using the existing grassed area of [[Redcar Racecourse]], the site was immediately to the west and was initially used for flying training only.{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=155}} Redcar was one of four (RNAS) sites used to train pilots on their elementary flying training (the others being [[Chingford]], [[RAF Eastchurch|Eastchurch]] and [[Vendome]], although [[RAF Eastbourne|Eastbourne]] and [[RAF Manston|Manston]] were also used).{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=64}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goulter |first1=Christina J. M. |title=A forgotten offensive : Royal Air Force Coastal Command's anti-shipping campaign, 1940-1945 |date=1995 |publisher=Frank Cass |location=Portland, Or. |isbn=0-7146-4147-2 |page=22}}</ref> Records show that Redcar was also used to train existing pilots in instructor duties, so most of those transiting through, would already be familiar to flying.{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|p=169}} Other Flying Instructors School(s) (FIS), were located at [[RAF Ayr|Ayr]], [[Curragh]], [[RAF Gosport|Gosport]], [[RAF Lilbourne|Lilbourne]] and [[RAF Shoreham|Shoreham]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cooksley |first1=Peter G. |title=The Royal Flying Corps 1914-18 |date=2014 |publisher=The History Press |location=Stroud |isbn=9780750960052 |page=204}}</ref>
Redcar covered over {{convert|140|acre}} and grew to have four aircraft sheds, three measuring {{convert|180|ft}} by {{convert|60|ft}}, and the fourth, {{convert|200|ft}} by {{convert|100|ft}}.{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|p=169}} However, the station wasn't equipped with an officers' mess, and trainee pilots were hosted in the local village, requiring them to walk to and from the aerodrome four times a day.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gunn |first1=Roger |title=Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight |date=2013 |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=9781459706606 |page=33}}</ref>
On the night of 8/9 August 1916, the aerodrome was attacked by a [[Zeppelin]]. No lasting damage or injuries occurred, but the electricity supply to the camp was severed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Redcar Aerodrome |url=https://www.nelsam.org.uk/NEAR/Airfields/Histories/Redcar.htm |website=nelsam.org.uk |access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref> It was recognised that the aircraft of the RNAS were quite ineffective at night combat against Zeppelins, and an admiralty report stated that aircraft were not reliable enough to be launched from land, and advocated using seaplanes and the closure of aerodromes at [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[Whitley Bay]], [[Hornsea]] and Redcar in favour of seaplane stations.{{sfn|Jones|2007|p=65}}
Although designated as a training airfield, and used mostly as that, some defensive and offensive operations were launched from Redcar, most notable from 1917 when it became a Temporary Marine Operations (Aeroplane) station.{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|pp=169–170}} In September 1917, four [[Handley Page 0/100]] aircraft were detached from 7 (Naval) Squadron (later [[No. 207 Squadron RAF|No. 207 Squadron]]), to engage in [[Anti-Submarine Warfare]] (ASW).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Taylor |first1=Anne |last2=Taylor |first2=Roger |title=Frank Thomas Digby, DSC, DSO, CdeG, RNAS & RAF Service Career |journal=Cross and Cockade |date=Autumn 2020 |volume=51 |issue=3 |page=164 |publisher=C&C |location=Wetherby |issn=1360-9009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=207 Squadron RAF History - 7 Squadron RNAS - HP O/100s - 1917 |url=http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/ww1/hpo100.htm |website=www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Peter C. |title=Royal Air Force squadron badges |date=1974 |publisher=Balfour Publications |location=St. Ives |isbn=0859440125 |page=44}}</ref> This task was also undertaken in 1918 by detachments of [[Bristol Scout|Bristol Scouts]] from [[No. 273 Squadron RAF|No. 273 Squadron]], which was based at [[Burgh Castle]] at the time.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=252}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=Ian |title=The birth of the Royal Air Force |date=2013 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-78159-333-2 |page=271}}</ref> [[File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 16+ (map).jpg|thumb|upright|left|"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, published in 1919, showing Redcar as a "civil station"]] In April 1918, the North Eastern Flying Instructors School formed at the base, and in October of the same year, No. 63 Training Squadron arrived from [[RAF Joyce Green]].{{sfn|Philpott|2005|p=245}}
In December 1919, an order was released stating that Redcar was not to be used as it was in the process of closing down.{{sfn|Philpott|2005|p=212}} The western edge of the base, which hosted the technical site, has been re-used for housing.{{sfn|Halpenny|1982|p=157}} The base was left alone after 1919 and not broken up until 1923, when explosives were used to dislodge the hardcore. This was then re-used in a local road to [[Eston]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sotheran |first1=Peter |title=Redcar in old picture postcards |date=1993 |publisher=European Library |location=Zaltbommel |isbn=978-90-288-5599-1 |at=74}}</ref>
==Crashes== It was estimated that at least 8,000 aircrew died in training accidents during the First World War.<ref>{{cite news |title=War Memorials to Airmen Listed to Mark Centenary of the Royal Air Force {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/war-memorials-to-airmen-listed-to-mark-centenary-of-raf/ |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=Historic England |date=28 March 2018}}</ref> Just like many other First World War aerodromes, the attrition rate for pilots at Redcar was high, especially among the training cadre. Over 130 crashes involving aircraft which had RNAS/RAF Redcar as a home base between July 1915 and April 1918 have been recorded.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire |url=http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/yorksother/ww1yorkshire.html |website=www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref> Probationary officer Francis Titcomb crashed his aircraft near [[Egton]] on his first solo flight in April 1917. Whilst he survived the crash, he succumbed to his wounds in a nearby farmhouse. A [[grade II listed]] cross marks the site of the crash.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Memorial cross for Probationary Flight Officer Francis Titcomb (the Swinsty Cross)|num=1453942|grade=II|accessdate=14 February 2021}}</ref>
On 2 April 1918, Charles Edward Pattison crashed his [[Sopwith Camel]] aircraft at Redcar after hitting overhead wires. Pattison died from his injuries becoming one of the first casualties of the newly-formed [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ranter |first1=Harro |title=Accident Sopwith Camel B5720, 02 Apr 1918 |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/145123 |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ashworth |first1=Chris |title=Encyclopaedia of modern Royal Air Force squadrons |date=1989 |publisher=Stephens |location=Wellingborough |isbn=1-85260-013-6 |pages=6–7}}</ref>
==Based units== Between 1915 and 1919, the following units were based at Redcar:<ref>{{cite web |title=Redcar - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK |url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/redcar/ |website=abct.org.uk |access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ Units at RNAS/RAF Redcar !Unit !Dates !Details !Ref |- |[[No. 207 Squadron RAF|7 Squadron RNAS]] |September 1917 – October 1917 |Detached from [[Coudekerque-Village|Coedekerque]], left for [[RAF Manston|Manston]] |{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|p=171}} |- |C Flight (No. 510 Special Duty Flight) |June 1918 – November 1918 |This detachment used [[Dh6]] aircraft on convoy escort duties. Later became part of [[No. 251 Squadron RAF]] and [[No. 252 Squadron RAF]]; No 510 Flight was moved to [[West Ayton]]. |{{sfn|Lake|1999|pp=79, 248}}{{sfn|Philpott|2005|p=245}}{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|p=170}} |- |Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School |July 1918 – May 1919 |Absorbed by Northwestern Area Flying Instructors School |{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=141}} |- |Northwestern Area Flying Instructors' School |January 1918 – June 1919 |Posted in from RAF Ayr, disbanded in June 1919 |{{sfn|Philpott|2005|p=247}} |- |School of Special Flying |April 1918 – July 1918 |Disbanded to become Northeastern Area Flying Instructors School |{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=183}} |- |No. 63 Training Squadron |October 1918 – September 1919 |Moved to Redcar from Joyce Green, No. 63 TS disbanded at Redcar in September 1919 |{{sfn|Chorlton|2014|pp=170–171}} |}
==Notable personnel== Some pilots have erroneously been recorded as having postings to Redcar, when in fact they were sent to [[Marske Aerodrome]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Hugh A |title=Air Force: The fighter pilot who hated killing |url=https://legionmagazine.com/en/2015/09/air-force-the-fighter-pilot-who-hated-killing/ |website=legionmagazine.com |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=23 September 2015}}</ref> some {{convert|2|km|order=flip}} to the east.<ref>{{cite map|title =Middlesbrough & Hartlepool |map =306 |year =2015 |scale =1:25,000 |series =Explorer |publisher =Ordnance Survey |isbn =978-0-319-24558-3 }}</ref> Due to the proximity of both aerodromes, and as the postal town for Marske was Redcar, some errors have crept in. <!-- Only insert names into this list if you have a citation/source. Thank you --> *[[Raymond Collishaw]], trained at the base between February and July 1916<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gunn |first1=Roger |title=Raymond Collishaw and the Black Flight |date=2013 |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=9781459706606 |pages=34–37}}</ref> *[[Richard Bell Davies]], made commanding officer of Redcar in January 1916 (along with Killingholme, Whitley Bay and Scarborough air stations)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bowyer |first1=Chaz |title=For valour : the air VCs |date=2002 |publisher=Caxton Editions |location=London |isbn=1840672404 |page=60}}</ref> *[[Bruno De Roeper]], flew defensive patrols from the base<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shores |first1=Christopher F. |title=Above the trenches : a complete record of the fighter aces and units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 |date=1990 |publisher=Fortress |location=Ontario |isbn=978-0-948817-19-9 |page=139}}</ref> *[[Pruett Mullens Dennett]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Walmer Airfield Memorial |url=http://www.kentfallen.com/PDF%20REPORTS/WALMER%20AIRFIELD.pdf |website=kentfallen.com |access-date=4 March 2021 |page=30 |format=PDF}}</ref> *[[Thomas Gerrard (RAF officer)|Thomas Gerrard]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire -Caudron GIII 3868 at Redcar aerodrome |url=http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/yorkshire/yorksother/3868b.html |website=www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> *[[Walter G. R. Hinchliffe]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Sopwith Camel aces of World War I |date=2003 |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-84176-534-1 |page=47}}</ref><ref>{{Lives of WWI |id= 6855068 | name= Walter George Raymond Hinchliffe Dfc }} </ref> *[[Oliver LeBoutillier]], student at Redcar in 1917<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mortimer |first1=Gavin |title=The first eagles : the Fearless American aces who flew with the RAF in World War I |date=2014 |publisher=Zenith Press |location=Minneapolis |isbn=9780760346396 |page=77}}</ref> *[[Edwin Swale]], trained at Redcar<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marsden |first1=Barry M. |title=Camel Combat Ace : the Great War Flying Career of Edwin Swale CBE OBE DFC*. |date=2016 |publisher=Pen and Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=9781473866867 |page=5}}</ref> *[[Ronald Sykes]], trained at Redcar<ref>{{cite web |title=Sykes, Ronald (Oral history) |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80000300 |website=iwm.org.uk |access-date=3 March 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} ===Sources=== *{{cite book |last1=Chorlton |first1=Martyn |title=Forgotten airfields of World War I |date=2014 |publisher=Crécy |location=Manchester |isbn=9780859791816}} *{{cite book |last1=Halpenny |first1=Bruce Barrymore |title=Action stations 4; Military Airfields of Yorkshire |date=1982 |publisher=Stephens |location=Cambridge |isbn=0-85059-532-0}} *{{cite report|last=Jones|first=Benjamin|title=Ashore, Afloat and Airborne : the Logistics of British Naval Airpower, 1914-1945|year=2007|publisher=University of London|location=London|oclc=1006036927}} *{{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=Alan |title=Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912 |date=1999 |publisher=Airlife |location=Shrewsbury |isbn=1-84037-086-6}} *{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=I. M. |title=The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years |date=2005 |publisher=Pen & Sword Aviation |location=Barnsley |isbn=1844151549}}
==External links== *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02304vl BBC Sounds interview with pieces about Redcar Aerdrome]
{{Royal Navy locations in Yorkshire}} {{RAF stations in Yorkshire}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Redcar Aerodrome}} [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1915]] [[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Yorkshire|Redcar]] [[Category:World War I airfields]] [[Category:World War I sites in England]] [[Category:Redcar]] [[Category:Military history of North Yorkshire]]