226 SQUADRON – THIRSK

[malcolmjameswilson]

226 Squadron is listed in a few publications as having returned from France in June 1940 to its new base at Thirsk, North Yorkshire. It later moved to Sydenham, Northern Ireland.

Can any Forum member tell me what airfield "Thirsk" refers too?

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Leendert]

Malcolm,

RAF Topcliffe and RAF Skipton-on-Swale (only from 1942 on?) are/were nearest to Thirsk, but RAF Dishforth is also connected with this town.... Latter one was operational in 1940, so perhaps a candidate.

Somehow I found no real references to "RAF Thirsk" proper.

Regards,

Leendert

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Leendert,

Thank you for the helpful reply.

Several publications concerning Squadron movements all list 'Thirsk' – but Iike you I can find no "RAF Thirsk"!

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Graham Boak]

I have three books on Yorkshire airfields - none mention 226 Sq at Topcliffe or Dishforth at this time, or in their index (when they have one). Skipton on Swale didn't open until 1942.

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Graham,

Thank you for looking this up.

I think Thirsk racecourse had been used as a grass landing strip before WW2. I wonder if this could be a possibility.
The Battle pilots were all experienced by this time with rough landing strips!

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Larry]

Action Stations 4. - Military Airfields of Yorkshire by PSL mentions Thirsk and says it was a WW1 landing ground on a racecourse, and mentions that it was too small for heavies - but I agree a Battle could certainly use this strip.

[dp_burke]

A useful source for information would have been the Flight magazine archives.
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/

Popping Thirsk into their search engine gives a few hits referring to the race course etc from the 1930's.

regards
Dennis

[malcolmjameswilson]

Hello Larry,

Thank you for the reply.

I believe 226 were only based at "Thirsk" for a few days before leaving for Northern Ireland. Perhaps the racecourse may be a strong possibility?

Kind regards, Malcolm.

[Martin Gleeson]

I was recently looking on The National Archives online catalogue for an ORB number for Thirsk for June 1940. However it appears there is no ORB for this airfield for any period. If it was an emergency landing ground then it probably did not have a permanent staff. Maybe some personnel were seconded from other larger nearby airfields and perhaps they are treated as a temporary detactment in the ORB of the larger airfield ?

Regards,

Martin.

[Leendert]

This website has (a) "Thirsk" as a pre WW 2 private strip...http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/0...ields_T-Z9.htm

Regards,

Leendert