Leeds Bradford International Airport - RAF Yeadon

RAF Yeadon

609 (West Riding) Squadron formation on 10 February 1936 until 27 August 1939 when they moved to Catterick (not returning again until 1946). On reforming in May 1946, 609 returned to Yeadon with their Mosquito MK.XXX aircraft, which proved difficult due to the runways being too short to comfortably operate these aircraft. Safety speed (that which the aircraft needs to be flown and controlled on a single engine) was not reached until over flying central Leeds if taking off in that direction - with obviously drastic results should things go wrong on take-off. In addition, the airfield sloped downhill, meaning that it was necessary to land at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (20 miles away) if the wind was coming from the wrong direction. Eventually the Air Ministry re-equipped 609 with Spitfire LFXVIs This was sufficient as a short-term measure, but the grass airstrip was not ideally suited to Spitfire operations, and so it was decided that 609 Squadron should move to the hard runways of RAF Church Fenton in October 1950.

Yeadon was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and became part of firstly 13 Group, then 12 Group at a later date. Once 609 (West Riding) Squadron left for Catterick, Yeadon served as a Flying Training School, bomber maintenance unit, and a scatter airfield. In January 1942 it was transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, whereupon Avro built a shadow factory for the production of Albermarles, Anson's, Lancasters, Yorks, and Lincolns. It was also used by Hawker Aircraft for development work on its Tornado design. The Royal Air Force remained a part of Yeadons life until 1957, operating Austers, Supermarine Spitfires, De Havilland Mosquitoes out of here. RAF Yeadon finally closed in 1959.

• 609 (West Riding) Squadron 1936-1939, 1946–1950
• 23 Gliding School 1946-1950
• Leeds University Air Squadron 1955-1960
• 1970 Flight 1952-1957

Aircraft that would have been based at Yeadon.

• Hawker Hart 1936-1938
• Hawker Hind 1938-1939
• Supermarine Spitfire 1946
• De Havilland Mosquito 1946-1948
• Slingsby Cadet TX.1 1946-1950
• Slingsby Grunau Baby 1947-1950
• De Havilland Canada Chipmunk 1955-1960
• Auster 1952-1957