RAF Thornaby and 608 Squadron
The Royal Air Force at Thornaby
The Royal Flying Corps (later to be The Royal Air Force from 1918) had used Thornaby as a base during the First World War. After this time, the Air Ministry wanted to operate a full-time airfied at Thornaby and between 1925 and 1929 bought around 400 acres of primarily farmland. This included Franklands Farm, Thornaby Lodge Farm, The Vale Farm and Thornaby Grange. The Officer's Mess was located in Thornaby Hall, which had belonged to the Crosthwaite family.
Construction of the Aerodrome began late 1929, becoming active in 1930, and the site included the barrack block, an armoury, aeroplane shed, parachute store, officer's quarters, machine gun range, dining room, tennis court and so on.
The Aerodrome closed to flying in October, 1958. In 1962 the land was bought by Thornaby-on-Tees Borough Council. Since then it has been re-developed with a mix of housing and parkland and light industrial units.
Traces of the Aerodrome are still evident in some aerial photographs. And, in 1997 a RAF memorial was erected at Thornaby, to commemorate the achievements of the people who served there, across the years, including during the Second World War.
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force 608 Squadron:
written by Craig Willis (the full text for each decade is accessible via links)
1930s
608 Squadron was formed at Thornaby on 17 March 1930 as 608 County of York (North Riding) Bomber Squadron. This consisted of Officer-Flight Lieutenant C L Falconer and eleven airmen. Squadron Leader William Howard Davies was appointed to command the Squadron from April 1930.
The first aircraft of the unit was an Avro 504N allocated on 7 May 1930 but owing to a lack of accommodation was kept at RAF Catterick until the first hanger was completed in July 1930. Other aircraft that were used at this time were Westland Wapiti Bombers.
The first training camp was held at the home base from 9 to 22 July 1931 during which Pilot Officers Shaw, Thompson and Wilson gained their wings.
Other Squadrons would visit 608 at Thornaby, such as 4 Bulldogs of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron on 9 April 1932.
The Squadrons' command changed on 20 February 1933 when Squadron Leader William Howard Davies resigned his commission with flying officer I.W.H. Thompson being promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader and taking command. The Squadron continued to recruit, and by the time of the summer camp at RAF Manston in August 1933 had grown to 12 Auxilliary Officers, 89 Auxilliary Airmen, 2 regular Officers and 41 regular Airmen. By 26 May 1934, the Squadron had an establishment of 9 Westland Waspiti’s and 3 Avro 504N’s. Annual camp was again held at RAF Manston between 11 to 25 August with 11 Officers and 103 Airmen.
During September of the same year the Squadron were helping Flight Lieutenant Shaw from RAF Mildenhall in his preparation for the Mac Robertson (London to Melbourne) Air Race. Unfortunately, he was forced out of the race when his British Klemm Eagle’s undercarriage was damaged at Bushire, Iraq.
Throughout 1935 further affiliation work was carried out, this time with 32 Squadron and their Bristol Bulldogs. And from 1 to 7 July 608 Squadron took part in the Royal review held at RAF Mildenhall where four of the Squadrons' Waspiti’s were used. Pilots attending were Squadron Leader G. H. Ambler (Commanding Officer since December 1935) and Officers Newhouse, Garnett, Watts and Vaux.
On 22 May 1936 Viscount Swinton CBE, MC, the Secretary of State for Air, was appointed as the Honorary Air Commodore of the Squadron.
1937 brought changes for 608 Squadron when the Air Ministry re-designated them from a Bomber Squadron to a Fighter Squadron and they were renamed 608 (North Riding) Fighter Squadron. They were re-equipped with Hawker Demon Fighter’s on 14 January 1937.
Download the 1930s full text here
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1940s
In June 1940 the Squadron were equipped with Blackburn Botha’s and used these for their Coastal Command duties between August and November. This aircraft proved to be unsatisfactory and 608 reverted to Avro Anson’s before rearming with Bristol Blenheim’s. These were soon replaced by Lockheed Hudson Mk.V’s, an aircraft that enabled the Squadron to carry out more offensive operations further afield, such as attacks on enemy convoys, submarines, airfields and leaflet dropping, or ‘Nickeling’ as it was known.
608s Commanding Officer Wing Commander G. Shaw, along with his crew, were sadly lost on 5 November 1941 in their Hudson aircraft. Wing commander P.D.R. Hutchings would become their new Commanding Officer following this loss.
In January 1942 the Squadron saw its first move from RAF Thornaby to RAF Wick in the north of Scotland continuing their same duties. On 16 June 1942 they attacked the German cruiser Prince Eugen. By this time the Squadron had become more cosmopolitan with Canadians, Australians, Polish, and Americans, as well as the pre-war Yorkshire auxiliaries. On 5 August they again moved, this time to RAF Sumburgh in the Shetlands, where they were tasked with attacking targets off the Norwegian coast and protecting convoys on their way to Russia. In the next three months they moved south to Gosport and in September to RAF North Coates, followed by a move to Exeter. On 11 November they left the UK for Gibraltar. In Gibraltar the Squadron aircraft were painted white. The Squadron took part in “Operation Torch” and by 10 December 608 moved to Blida in Algeria to allow them to escalate attacks on U-Boats.
By March 1943 a new Commanding Officer was in post, Wing Commander C.M.M. Grece. The Squadron moved yet again to Protville, Tunisia. In September further moves were made to Augusta, Borizzo and finally Palermo as the war moved in to Italy. In November 608 were on the move again to Montecorvino, Grottaghi and Gando where they would cover the landings at Anzio.
On 31 July 1944 608 Squadron was disbanded at Pomigliano, bringing to an end an almost five years in RAF Coastal Command. However, 608 reformed the next day as part of the Light Night Striking Force in No. 8 Group, Bomber Command at RAF Downham Market in Norfolk operating in de Havilland Mosquitos with a new Commanding Officer Commander W.W. Scott. And, during the final months of the war, 608 Squadron would continue to use DeHavilland Mosquitos to carry out night attacks on Germany. This would be done under Wing Commander R.C. Alabaster followed by Wing Commander R.C. Gray.
On 2 May 1945 the Squadron would drop their last bomb of the war on Kiel Harbour after which 608 were disbanded at RAF Downham Market on 28 August 1945.
Following the war 608 would reform at RAF Thornaby-on-Tees under Squadron Leader William Appleby-Brown DFC. In February 1947 flying ceased for six weeks because of the severe snowfall. In April the Squadron had a strength of 10 Mosquitos, 2 Oxford and 1 Harvard and the Squadron was now a Fighter Squadron. In May 2 Spitfires were added to the Squadron and by the end of May the aircraft strength was 13 Spitfires, 12 Mosquitos and 2 Harvard’s.
In February 1949 during a night exercise P. II Jefferies was killed on the moors on Commondale during his first solo flight in a Spitfire. By the end of December of that year 608 aircraft consisted of 14 Spitfires, 3 Harvards and 1 Oxford along with 10 Officers, 9 Aircrew and 111 Airmen making up the Squadron. But end of the 1940s saw the piston engine era over for 608 and the jet age would soon be ushered in.
Download the 1940s full text here
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1950s
By the end of April 1950 the Squadron had received its first two Gloster Meteor T.7. two-seater trainer jet aircraft. On 23 April the Squadron was visited by Secretary of State for Air Mr. Arthur Henderson K. C. MP who addressed the Squadron and thanked them for an escort of six Spitfires.
In May 1950, 608 began the conversion from piston power to jet with the arrival Vampire aircraft together with the command of Squadron Leader F.A. Robinson D.F.C.
By the end of August emphasis was placed on instrument flying which gave pilots a chance to accustom themselves to flying Vampires in bad visibility. The Squadron was also busy practicing for the upcoming Battle of Britain Display.
During a busy programme on 14 January 1951 an engine failure forced Sergeant Stewart to crash land on the runway. On 15 January the last of the Spitfires were flown away for breaking up. On the 1 February 1951 the Squadron held a ball at Palis De Dance at Stockton to celebrate the Twenty-First Anniversary of the Squadron.
An operation order of June 1951 required the Squadron to move north to RAF Acklington in Northumberland. Following a further move to RAF Leuchers the Squadron would lose Sereant Piklot Yarrow who failed to return from a flight on 29 June 1951. His body later washed up ashore at St. Andrews, Fife. He was conveyed to Thornaby prior to a full military funeral at his hometown of West Hartlepool on 19 November 1951.
608 returned to Thornaby in July 1951. The Squadron took part in the 1951 Battle of Britain Display in September. Prior to the display Sergeant Pilot H. Mincher took off in his Vampire to practice for the display when he crashed at Hutton Rudby, sadly losing his life. And, during the Battle of Britain Display, Sergeant Kelly, a visiting pilot from RAF Tern Hill, was killed whilst demonstrating in his Harvard. He was given full military honours and buried in Thornaby cemetery.
By the end of March 1952 the Squadron consisted of 4 RAF Officers, 52 RAF other ranks, 18 R. Aux. A.F Officers and 136 R. Aux. F. other ranks. On 22 May 1952 Squadron Leader G.A. Martin took up the role of Commanding Officer.
Following the Squadrons' training camp at R.N.A.S. Takali, Malta, another accident occurred when Flight Lieutenant T. A. Willis was killed when taking off from El Aouina.
On returning home the Squadron took part in the Battle of Britain Week at Home and on 3 October 1952 a pilot's party was held at the Pathfinders pub in Maltby followed by a Squadron dance on 17 October held in the Drill Hall in aid of the children’s Christmas Party Fund. By the end of the year, the Squadron comprised of 4 Officers, 54 Airman of the RAF and 16 Officers, 3 Aircrew and 128 Airmen of the R. Aux. A.F.
At the end of April 1953, the Squadron Commander remarked on the poor state of the Vampire V’s received a year earlier and the fact that civilian contractors were taking six months to complete major inspections, severely impacting the efficiency of the Squadron. By 4 July 1953 the Squadron consisted of 10 Vampires, 4 Meteors and 1 Harvard. By the end of the year 608 consisted of 5 Officers and 50 Airmen of the RAF and 20 Officers, 5 Airmen Aircrew of the R. Aux. A.F.
On 21 February 1954 another accident was to befall the Squadron when Pilot Officer Webster was killed after his Vampire crashed near Old Lackenby during a practice stall. He was buried at Brotton Cemetery. On 27 March yet another close call for the Squadron occurred when two aircraft each from 607 and 608 Squadrons collided head on during a manoeuvre with one landing with its wheels up and one landing wheels down at Ouston. Fortunately both pilots were unhurt.
During September 608 Squadron carried out close formation, cine and practice flying for that years “At Home” display which took place on 18 September with the Secretary of State For Air, Lord De L’Isle and Dudley and A.O.C. Air Vice Marshall W. J. Grisham C.B., C.B.E. in attendance.
Both January and February 1955 saw the worst weather experienced in twelve months, completely ruining the planned flying programme. By the end of the month the Squadron had a strength of 4 Officers and 57 Regular airmen and 20 Officers, 5 Airmen Aircrew and 107 Airmen of the R. Aux. A.F.
On 16 April 1955 a Stag Party was held to say farewell to Commanding Officer of three years Squadron Leader G.A. Martin D.F.C., A.F.C. and his wife at the Squadron Club. The new Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader H.D. Costain was in post on 25 April 1955.
The 1955 Battle of Britain Week “At Home” took place on 17 September with around 11,000 in attendance.
On 13 November the Squadron suffered another incident when a Vampire flown by Pilot Officer K. Temple suffered brake failure when landing and the front wheels collapsed after exiting the runway and going into a field but the pilot was uninjured.
By the end of December the strength was 4 Officers and 45 Regular Airmen and 24 Officers, 2 Airmen Aircrew and 98 R. Aux. A.F. airmen.
On 13 March 1956 Officer H. Bates made a 'First Class' forced landing at Stainsby Hill Farm, Acklam due to engine failure. The aircraft was written off but thankfully the pilot escaped only with minor cuts and bruises.
On 4 June 1956 the Squadron carried out a fly past and escorted the Royal Yacht Britannia down the River Tees when her Majesty visited the area.
At the end of December the Squadron consisted of 3 Officers and 41 Regular Airmen and 12 Officers, 2 Airmen aircrew of the R. Aux. A.F.
Although there had been rumours circulating that the R. Aux. A.F. was to be disbanded members of the Squadron were unaware if this was true or not.
Extract from the 608 Squadron Operations Record Book:
On 10 January 1957 the Squadron Commander was called to a conference of Auxiliary Unit Commanders at the Air Ministry where the disbandment of most of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force including 608 Squadron was announced. However, as the Prime Minister (Anthony Eden) had resigned the previous evening there was no Air Minister to announce in the House of Commons. For this reason, the Squadron Commander was bound to secrecy until the following week.
During the month all officers and airmen were interviewed and their futures ascertained. They were joining 3608 F.C.U., the R.A.F.V.R. and R. Aux. A.F.R. and taking discharge in approximately equal numbers.
The Squadron's Commanders final remark was this:
It is with deep regret that at a conference of R. Aux. A.F. Commanding Officers the Chief of Staff announced that the Royal Auxiliary Air Force was to be disbanded. The reaction of the Squadron personnel was naturally one of extreme disappointment and may be summed up in the following verse.
“When we could serve by flying we gave up our lives and flew, but now it appears our country has nothing for us to do. No doubt the boffins have got it taped but we like to make it clear, if they ever find anything else for us, they will find us here.”
H.D. Costain, Squadron Leader, 608 (N.R.) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The 608 Squadron Standard had already been approved prior to disbanding but was not ready before disbandment. Final presentation was carried out at R.A.F. Middleton St. George in 1959 by former Commanding Officer Air Vice Marshall G.H. Ambler to Flight Lieutenant R.W.H. Goodrum D.F.C.
The standard was laid up in York Minster on 14 November 1959 where it can still be seen today.