The Wartime Memories Project - RAF Clifton, York

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Search this site:     Home     Index of Memories.     Index of Photographs  Features     Airfields     Allied Forces     Axis Forces     Home Front     Prisoner of War     Secret Places of WW2     Ships of WWII     Women at War     World War One  Submissions     How to add Memories     Add Your Memories     Can you Answer?     Message Board     View the Guestbook     Sign the Guestbook     Printable Memories Form  Schools     School`s Study Center     Children's Bookshop  Information     Your Family History     Contact us     News     Bookshop     About     Links    Newsletter. World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII

Information. The site at Clifton Moor began its aviation life as York`s civil aerodrome in 1933, No.52 Elementary Reserve Flying Training School was established there shortly afterwards. In September 1939 the aerodrome was taken over by the Air Ministry and used as a relief landing ground for Linton-on-Ouse. to For the first few weeks of the war 'A Flight' of No.51 Squadron with its Whitley Mk.2 bombers stayed at Clifton Aerodrome. Because there were no living facilities the airmen were billeted in civilian digs. In the Spring of 1940 the Air Ministry made plans to fully develop the airfield, and quickly erected many wooden huts and buildings around the club house area in the south west corner. A canvas hangar was also provided prior to a steel 'T1 type' being erected later in 1941. Later still in 1941 a complete RAF Station was built at the south east side, and further in this direction living sites were built with accommodation for 500 personnel. A Civilian Repair Unit (C.R.U) was created at Clifton in 1941, three concrete runways were constructed to enable Halifax bombers to land. After the war ended in May 1945 nearly 1,000 surplus Halifax's were flown in from all over the country, and for the next two years the main task was the stripping down of these old war horses. A huge pile of metal some 80 feet high could be seen near Rawcliffe village. The airfield was sold in 1955 to York Corporation and in the 1980`s was redeveloped into an industrial park. The Wartime Memories Project would like to hear from anyone who was stationed at Clifton during the war years, or anyone who lived nearby. We would love to hear your recollections of life on the base and the surrounding area. Please contact us: Click to send an email. or Click here to complete the online form. I would dearly like to read up on any history of the use of the drome by the RASC during and post World War 2. Even more dearly I would like to make contact with any RASC male or female personnel who were stationed or camped on the drome. I was stationed there for around 18 months when I was attached / seconded to the RASC and when concluding my Army service and demobbed at Fulford York end of 1947. Plan of the Airfield Photographs Hangers now used as industrial units. List of those who served here. Ron Jones. RASC Read his story If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed, please get in touch. Links Airfields in Yorkshire Clifton Clifton Airfield If you have a story which you would like to share, or a website dedicated to an airfield or aircrew, please get in touch. Send an E-mail to The Wartime Memories Project Airfields Index The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation. This website is run out of our own pockets and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Or by cheque to: PO Box 325, Stockton on Tees, TS20 1XL. Website and ALL Material © Copyright MM - All Rights Reserved