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RAF Catfoss
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Catfoss was originally used as a grass airfield in the 1930s. On 1 January 1932, No. 1 Armament Training Camp was formed there, with a wide variety of aircraft that used the nearby gunnery ranges to teach air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery, and bombing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> In 1935 a number of <a href="/facts/Handley_Page_Heyford/sRrX5Ixj">Handley Page Heyford</a> heavy bombers were based at Catfoss with <a href="/facts/No._97_Squadron_RAF/JbWqobAm">97 Squadron</a>. The armament camp continued to be busy into the late 1930s, being renamed No. 1 Armament Training Station. With the approach of war, it was decided that the east coast was too vulnerable to attack for training and the unit moved out during 1939.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>A detachment of <a href="/facts/Supermarine_Spitfire/7qD9ujY6">Supermarine Spitfires</a> of <a href="/facts/No._616_Squadron_RAF/IIlJ4E7M">No. 616 Squadron RAF</a> from <a href="/facts/RAF_Leconfield/2KVMApd4">RAF Leconfield</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> arrived for air defence in 1940. The airfield was expanded and re-opened in August that year.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> From July to October, <a href="/facts/No._16_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF/fDRcqvnI">No. 16 Operational Training Unit RAF</a> (OTU) used the station and nearby ranges for night-bomber training. The airfield was then transferred to <a href="/facts/RAF_Coastal_Command/bv5aWBWg">RAF Coastal Command</a> and <a href="/facts/No._2_(Coastal)_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF/n2jSoCgF">No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF</a> was formed on 1 October 1940 to train crews on the command's twin-engined fighter and strike aircraft.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> The airfield became very busy with different aircraft types and training courses and three concrete runways were built at the end of 1942.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>The unit also trained <a href="/facts/Bristol_Beaufighter/oHKx6dQv">Bristol Beaufighter</a> crews for deployment to Far East and Middle East squadrons. Having completed this work, the OTU was disbanded in October 1944.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>The Central Gunnery School transferred in from <a href="/facts/RAF_Sutton_Bridge/lnoySGMW">RAF Sutton Bridge</a> in March 1944, continuing its role of training experienced aircrew to become Gunnery Instructors for both <a href="/facts/RAF_Fighter_Command/j77Rw6Md">Fighter</a> and <a href="/facts/RAF_Bomber_Command/XzVaU9Jp">Bomber</a> Commands. (For further detail of training undertaken see <a href="/facts/RAF_Sutton_Bridge/lnoySGMW">RAF Sutton Bridge</a>). The principal aircraft used were Spitfires and <a href="/facts/Vickers_Wellington/LU8KTDm0">Vickers Wellingtons</a>, together with support aircraft for roles such as target towing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> With the end of the Second World War the number of students reduced and the school moved to <a href="/facts/RAF_Leconfield/2KVMApd4">RAF Leconfield</a> in October 1945. The station was closed down on 12 November 1945.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>A proposal was announced in 1947 to turn Catfoss into a civil airport, but this never eventuated. In 1958 the need to base the new <a href="/facts/PGM-17_Thor/rgrE9hEB">PGM-17 Thor</a> intermediate-range ballistic missile led to a massive concrete launch site being built in the centre of the airfield, under the control of <a href="/facts/No._226_Squadron_RAF/TMqxzw57">No. 226 Squadron RAF</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> The site began operating on 1 August 1959. The missiles were withdrawn from service on 9 March 1963 and the airfield was again closed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="raf-units-and-aircraft">RAF units and aircraft</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Unit</th><th>Dates</th><th>Aircraft</th><th>Variant</th><th>Notes</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/No._97_Squadron_RAF/JbWqobAm">No. 97 Squadron RAF</a></td><td>1935</td><td><a href="/facts/Handley_Page_Heyford/sRrX5Ixj">Handley Page Heyford</a></td><td>IA</td><td>Twin-engined heavy biplane bomber only posted here for a few weeks in September.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/No._226_Squadron_RAF/TMqxzw57">No. 226 Squadron RAF</a></td><td>1959–1963</td><td><a href="/facts/PGM-17_Thor/rgrE9hEB">PGM-17 Thor</a></td><td></td><td>Intermediate-range ballistic missile.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/No._616_Squadron_RAF/IIlJ4E7M">No. 616 Squadron RAF</a></td><td>1939–1940</td><td><a href="/facts/Supermarine_Spitfire/7qD9ujY6">Supermarine Spitfire</a></td><td>I</td><td>Air defence detachment from <a href="/facts/RAF_Leconfield/2KVMApd4">RAF Leconfield</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/No._2_(Coastal)_Operational_Training_Unit_RAF/n2jSoCgF">No. 2 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF</a></td><td>1940–1944</td><td><a href="/facts/Bristol_Blenheim/38sVDLte">Bristol Blenheim</a><a href="/facts/Avro_Anson/BDUydH7F">Avro Anson</a><a href="/facts/Bristol_Beaufighter/oHKx6dQv">Bristol Beaufighter</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/RAF_Coastal_Command/bv5aWBWg">RAF Coastal Command</a> training unit<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>Central Gunnery School (1944–1945)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li>No. 1 Armament Training Camp (1932–1938)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>No. 1 Armament Training Station (1938–1939)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="current-use">Current use</h2> <p>The site is now used by various businesses and is called the Catfoss Industrial Estate.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p> <h3>Citations</h3> <h3>Bibliography</h3> <ul><li>Jefford, C. G. <i>RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912</i>. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 1-84037-141-2.</li> <li>Lake, A. <i>Flying Units of the RAF</i>. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 1-84037-086-6.</li> <li>Sturtivant, R. <i>RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912</i>. Air Britain, 2007. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 0-85130-365-X.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Catfoss. <ul><li><a href="http://www.airfieldinformationexchange.org/community/showthread.php?170-RAF-Catfoss-Yorkshire">Airfield Information Exchange</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Lake 1999, p. 33. - Lake, A. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 53. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 100. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Lake 1999, p. 144. - Lake, A. Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1999. ISBN 1-84037-086-6. <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Historic England. "RAF Catfoss (912166)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 18 June 2012. <a href="/wiki/Historic_England" target="_blank">/wiki/Historic_England</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"RAF Catfoss". Control Towers. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm" target="_blank">http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Catfoss.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 73. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 73. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 73. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Jefford 1988, p. 73. - Jefford, C. G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2. <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Sturtivant 2007, p. 124. - Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X. <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Sturtivant 2007, p. 124. - Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X. <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Sturtivant 2007, p. 124. - Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X. <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Sturtivant 2007, p. 124. - Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X. <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Catfoss". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 12 June 2012. <a href="http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/catfoss" target="_blank">http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/catfoss</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>