Scorton

Airfield
Aerial photograph of Scorton airfield looking north west, Scorton village is bottom right, 26 June 1941. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/4F/UK653. English Heritage (RAF Photography). eh-701.jpg RAF_4F_UK653_V_0377 Aerial photograph of Scorton airfield looking north west, Scorton village is bottom right, 26 June 1941. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/4F/UK653. English Heritage (RAF Photography). Historic England

IWM, English Heritage Collection

Object Number - RAF_4F_UK653_V_0377 - Aerial photograph of Scorton airfield looking north west, Scorton village is bottom right, 26 June 1941. Photograph taken on sortie number...

Opened in 1939 as a grass airfield satellite to RAF Catterick, Scorton was initially a day-fighter and then night-fighter base. Developed in 1941 to full station status, it eventually had three concrete runways, a concrete perimeter taxiway plus hardstandings, and 12 blister hangars. Although allocated to the Eighth Air Force as a tactical fighter base in 1943, the station was never occupied by Eighth Air Force units. It was, however, used as a night-fighter training base by the Ninth Air Force during May to July 1944, when occupied as temporary lodgers by the 422nd and 425th Squadrons, equipped with P-61s. Thereafter Scorton reverted to the status of satellite, with no RAF or USAAF resident squadrons, and was used by RAF Balloon command for storage. Closed in 1952, the site returned to agriculture from 1958, but much of the airfield became a quarry for sand and gravel extraction, some parts now water-filled.

Connections

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Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: Husslin Hussey
  • Unit: 422nd Night Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: Lady Gen
  • Unit: IX Air Support Command 422nd Night Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: Jukin Judy
  • Unit: 422nd Night Fighter Squadron
A P-61 Black Widow (serial number 42-5565) nicknamed "Double Trouble" of the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron. Image stamped on reverse: 'Charles E Brown.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 7 Sept 1944.' [stamp], 'Passed for publivation 24 Nov 1944.' [stamp] and '356680.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Northrup P-61 Black Widow Night Fighter.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: Double Trouble
  • Unit: 422nd Night Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-61 Black Widow
  • Nicknames: Lovely Lady
  • Unit: 422nd Night Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / Roger Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Manual (London, 2001)

Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, Action Stations 4: Military Airfields of Yorkshire (Cambridge, 1982)

http://www.forgottenairfields.com/united-kingdom/england/north-yorkshir…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Scorton

Scorton: Gallery (2 items)