Monument record MYO3205 - Rufforth WW2 Airfield

Summary

A former World War Two military airfield, opened in 1942 and closed in 1954. Associated bomb store and dispersed camps (now demolished) have been identified on air photographs. The wartime airfield was an operational base for Royal Air Force Bomber Command 7 Group. It was equipped with three tarmac runways, aircraft hangars (Type T2 and Type B1) and suitable heavy bomber hard standings. The site is now mainly used for recreational use and light industry.

Location

Grid reference Centred SE 5383 5093 (1904m by 2430m) (8 map features)
Map sheet SE55SW
Civil Parish Rufforth and Knapton, City of York, North Yorkshire
Unitary Authority City of York, North Yorkshire

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Rufforth airfield centred at SE 5361 5064 was operational during the Second World War, from November 1942. An associated bomb store was located beside the south-east perimeter at SE 5438 5011. Dispersed camps associated with the airfield lay to the north, over an area 1200m by 800m, and centred at SE 5392 5174. The airfield ceased to be operational in 1954. Both the bomb store and the camps have been demolished. The airfield is now mainly used by light industry and for recreational use. (1)

Rufforth Airfield, Yorkshire SE 535 505, opened 1942, closed 1954. During WWII the airfield was an operational airfield for RAF Bomber Command (7 Group). It was equipped with three tarmac runways, 3 aircraft hangars (two Type T2 and one Type B1) and 36 heavy bomber hard standings. As of december 1944 there were 1531 male and 251 female personnel stationed at the airfield in "temporary" accommodation. (2)

NMR Information:

Same description provided as above.
Rufforth Airfield, SE 5361 5064. (3)
Sources:
1 Vertical aerial photograph reference number RAF 106G/UK 921 4067 15-OCT-1945
3 Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945 167 Steve Willis and Barry Holliss
4 Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date) 1:10000, 1970


English Heritage, 2011, Vale of York National Mapping Project AMIE data (Unpublished document). SYO1458.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2011. Vale of York National Mapping Project AMIE data.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (60)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Apr 17 2023 3:55PM

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