Breighton Aerodrome
Breighton Aerodrome is a private aerodrome primarily used for general aviation flying located on the former Royal Air Force Breighton or more simply RAF Breighton, a former Royal Air Force station located near to the village of Breighton, East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
History
The airfield was built between 1940 and 1942 for No. 1 Group RAF, its first residents were the No. 460 Squadron RAAF.From 1959 to 1963, as part of Project Emily, the base was a launch site for three nuclear-armed PGM-17 Thor intermediate-range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 240 Squadron RAF.
The base closed in March 1964, when the last active unit withdrew.
Squadrons
Units
- No. 20 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF became No. 1520 Flight RAF
- Sub site for No. 35 Maintenance Unit RAF
- Relief Landing Ground for No. 103 Flying Refresher School RAF
- Relief Landing Ground for No. 207 Advanced Flying School RAF
- No. 460 Conversion Flight RAF became 'A' Flight of No. 1656 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF
- No. 2716 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment
Current use
A part of the airfield is currently used by the Real Aeroplane Company to house and maintain private and historic aircraft and a home for the Breighton Flying Club which uses a separate grass runway located within the original airfield grounds.
Five people were injured in a helicopter crash at the airfield on 17 July 2016.