RAF Leeming

 air force base, Second World War 1939-1945, military, RAF - Royal Air Force, training center

The primary role of RAF Leeming is to train for, deliver and support UK and expeditionary air operations. To accomplish this RAF Leeming is home to No 100 Squadron whose Hawk jet training aircraft undertake a multitude of training tasks. Incorporated within 100 Squadron is the Navigator Training Unit that conducts the final phase of training for navigators destined to fly either the Tornado F3 or Tornado GR4.

Also operating the Hawk is JFACTSU (Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit). Their primary role is to develop, standardise and teach forward air controlling. No 2 Force Protection Wings role is the Command and Co-ordination of FP assets in the air environment, in order to deliver combat-effective operating locations No 2 FP includes No 34 Squadron RAF Regiment and No 609 (West Riding) Squadron Royal Auxillary Air Force.

Order of Battle
Flying Units based at RAF Leeming

No. 100 Squadron RAF 1995-JFACTSU RAF 1995
www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/aboutus/100quadron.cfm

Northumbrian University Air Sqdrn. RAF 1970- incld. 11 AEF RAF 1980-

Ground Units based at RAF Leeming

609 (West Riding) RAF Auxiliary Squadron RAF 1998-
34 Squadron RAF Regiment RAF 2001-
135 Expeditionary Air Wing
Base Support Wing
Administrative Squadron

90 Signals Unit
Force Generation Wing
Tactical Communications Wing

2 Force Protection Wing
10 Royal Engineers Field Squadron

History

In 1937 an area of open meadowland adjacent to the Newton Grange estate, south of the village of Leeming, was acquired by Yorkshire Air Services for an aerodrome for club and passenger flying. However, no sooner was it established than the site was taken over for an expansion scheme RAF station. Five miles south-west of Northallerton, and adjacent to the A1 trunk road, Leeming airfield was built during 1939-40 to the standard pre-war specification with some economies made in the final stages of construction. The landing ground was enlarged with the three of the later Type C hangars in a crescent before the bombing circle, and a fourth and fifth placed behind the first and third. The camp, behind the hangar line, consisted of the usual brick-built buildings of a permanent station.

First used by Blenheim night fighters of No. 219 Squadron in June 1940, Leeming was allocated to No. 4 Group and in July No. 10 Squadron was transferred from Dishforth. Its Whitleys flew their first raid from the station on the night of July 20. Despite there being two operational squadrons at Leeming, the station was chosen to re-form No. 7 Squadron to operate the first of the new four engined heavy bombers, the Short Stirling. They were delivered in August so that training could be carried out in an area hopefully less troubled by the Luftwaffe. In the same month No. 102 Squadron moved in from Driffield, albeit that for much of the time its Whitleys were on detachment at Coastal Command stations. In October came relief as the Blenheim night fighters departed as did both No. 102 Squadron to Linton-on-Ouse and No. 7 Squadron to Oakington. No. 7 Squadron and its Stirlings were replaced by a squadron re-formed to fly the second of the new four-engined bombers, the Halifax, No. 35 Squadron arriving from Boscombe Down in early November. Only present for two weeks, the few Halifaxes departed for Linton-on-Ouse in December. Thereafter No. 10 Squadron and its Whitleys had Leeming all to themselves for ten months. In September 1941, No. 77 Squadron returned from Coastal Command bringing its Whitleys, only to be loaned back to Coastal the following May. No. 10 converted to the Halifax in November 1941 and was operational with the type from Leeming until August 1942.

The runways laid in 1940-41 were 17-35 at 1,650 yards, 02-22 at 1,200 yards and 13-31 at 1,100 yards, but by the end of 1941 work was in hand to extend the main to 1,950 yards, 0222 to 1,650 yards and 13-31 to 1,400 yards. Several pan hardstandings were put down the previous year and after completion of the runway there were 32 and four loops.

In preparation for Leeming being taken over by the RCAF group being raised in Bomber Command, No. 10 was sent to the new airfield at Melbourne. No. 419 Squadron and its Wellingtons were transferred in from No. 3 Group in August, spending four days at Leeming while awaiting transfer to Topcliffe. The following month No. 408 Squadron arrived from No. 5 Group bringing its Hampdens from Balderton and trading them for Halifaxes. In October 1942, to aid the re-equipment of RCAF squadrons with heavy bombers, No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Umt was formed at Leeming with Halifaxes. The conversion unit was moved out to Topcliffe in March 1943 and No. 405 Squadron moved into Leeming from that station. However No. 405's stay was short for a few weeks later it was selected to join No. 8 Pathfinder Group, taking its Halifaxes south to Gransden Lodge. Also in April No. 424 Squadron arrived from Topcliffe with Wellingtons only to move on to Dalton in early May. Then came No. 427 Squadron from Croft, which began exchanging its Wellingtons for Halifaxes. Yet another squadron came to Leeming to convert to Halifaxes: No. 429 from East Moor. Two weeks after its arrival, No. 408 Squadron was moved to Linton-on-Ouse. From thenceforth Nos. 427 and 429 became established as the Leeming squadrons with no further changes of units to the conclusion of the war in Europe. Both were re-equipped with Lancasters in March 1945 and ceased operations in late April. By this date the maximum personnel numbers that could be housed at Leeming were 2,392 males and 317 females.

By the end of the war Leeming had lost a total of 283 bombers on operations, 72 Whitleys, 208 Halifaxes, 2 Wellingtons and a solitary Lancaster. Unlike most RCAF squadrons, those at Leeming were not quickly disbanded but continued to serve Bomber Command after No. 6 Group was wound up at the end of August 1945. Both existed, if in decreasing strength, until June 1946 when disbandment was officially proclaimed. No. 54 OTU forsook the discomforts of East Moor soon after and remained in residence at Leeming until merging with No. 13 OTU to form No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit. Mosquitos and Brigands gave way to Meteors and later Javelins before the OCU was disbanded in 1961. In 1950, Mowlems constructed aircraft servicing platforms on the airfield and during the mid-`fifties runway extensions were carried out, although the station remained active during the reconstruction With No. 228 OCU's termination, No. 3 Flying Training School was re-formed at the station remaining until 1984 when it was moved, along with others at Leeming, as the station was to be used by fighters. This development, was delayed until 1987 when runway 16-34 (ex-17-35) was lengthened to 2,506 yards and facility rebuilding took place. Leeming then became the base for Tornado F3 fighters housing Nos. 11, 23 and 25 Squadrons. No. 23 Squadron disbanded in April 1994, since being reformed as an AWACS unit flying Sentry AEW1 from Waddington. No. 11 and 25 Squadrons were joined by No.100 Squadron in September 1995 flying Hawks in a target facilities role.

Only one Tornado F-3 squadron remains (No XXV Squadron)) which is also scheduled to disband in 2008. No. 100 Squadron operates the BAe Hawk.

Runway 16/34 2292 x 46 meters