RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor

RAF Holme-on-Spalding Moor, or more simply RAF Holme is a former Royal Air Force station located in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.

The site was built during the Second World War, it was used during the war by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber station, and after the war as a transport airfield and bomb store before being "mothballed". In the 1950s, the RAF used the station as a training camp before it was transferred to the United States Air Force (USAF) as a reserve station during the Cold War. After USAF use, it became a testing airfield for Blackburn Aircraft and its successor British Aerospace until 1983, when the airfield was closed. Many of the airfield buildings survive as an industrial estate, but most of the runways have been demolished.

Second World War

Construction and layout

Construction of the airfield began in late 1940, and the airfield was built with three concrete runways and hardstandings for 36 aircraft. The runway headings and lengths were as follows:

Main Runway 12/30 120° and 300° 1,800 yards (1,646 m)

Runway 04/22 40° and 220° 1,200 yards (1,097 m)

Runway 08/26 80° and 260° 1,100 yards (1,006 m)

A year later, all three runways were extended; Runway 12/30 to 2,000 yards (1,829 m), 04/22 to 1,400 yards (1,280 m) and 08/26 to 1,500 yards (1,372 m).

Three hangars were constructed, a and five Type T2s. The technical buildings, including the administration and control buildings, were to the north east of the runways. The accommodation area was further to the north east of the site, and at its maximum housed over 2,000 service personnel.