Monument record MYO2180 - Clifton Airfield

Summary

The former site of a Pre-War airfield and World War Two military airfield, now disused. It was a civilian aerodrome built in 1936. It formed an RAF airfield 1939-45, where Halifax bombers were overhauled and repaired. The wartime station was known as Clifton, York and also Rawcliffe. In 1942 the airfield was attacked by the Luftwaffe, destroying one hangar. The wartime airfield consisted of three concrete runways with Blister, T1 and B Robin design aircraft hangars as well as existing civil hangars. The airfield closed in 1952 and was subsequently built over for housing and a trading estate. The site of the airfield has been comprehensively redeveloped. There are few visible features which relate to the airfield. A plaque marks the site of the aerodrome dedicated in memory to those use served in WWII.

Location

Grid reference SE 5915 5514 (point)
Map sheet SE55NE
Civil Parish Rawcliffe, City of York, North Yorkshire
Civil Parish Skelton, City of York, North Yorkshire
Unitary Authority City of York, North Yorkshire
Civil Parish Clifton Without, City of York, North Yorkshire

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

NMR Information:

Clifton airfield, now disused. It was a civilian aerodrome built in 1936. It formed an RAF airfield 1939-45, where Halifax bombers were overhauled and repaired. (1)

Clifton was also known as York and Rawcliffe. In 1942 the airfield was attacked by the Luftwaffe, desyroying one hangar. Source 2 gives details of the Halifax repair and overhauling work and of the prewar civilian airfield. During the War the airfield was under the control of Army Cooperation Command for a short period and then mainly Bomber Command. (2)

York Airfield, SE 590 550. The wartime airfield consisted of three concrete runways with Blister, T1 and B Robin design aircraft hangars. Souce 3 notes that in December 1944 the aifield was under the control of 12 Group Fighter Command (this is not mentioned in souce 2). By 1985 the site was built over for housing. (3)

1 Vertical aerial photograph reference number NMR HLA 552 PRU 5 138 03-JUN-1942
3 Airfield review 4,5 9, 1988
4 Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945 224 Steve Willis and Barry Holliss


Ed Dennison, 2020, A1237 York Northern Outer Ring Road (Unpublished document). SYO2595.

York Archaeological Trust, 2020, Whitehall Grange, Wigginton Road EVA (Unpublished document). SYO2531.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • --- Unpublished document: York Archaeological Trust. 2020. Whitehall Grange, Wigginton Road EVA.
  • --- Unpublished document: Ed Dennison. 2020. A1237 York Northern Outer Ring Road.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (5)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Mar 25 2024 9:42AM

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