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Pontefract

Major
Also known as: Pontefract Landing Ground / Pontefract Park / Pontefract Racecourse / RAF Pontefract / RFC Pontefract
County: West Yorkshire
Current Status: Leisure activity
Date: April 1916 - October 1918
Current Use: Disused
Used By: RAF / RFC
Landing Surface Types: Unpaved
Aircraft Roles: Fighter

Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c and d fighters of No 33 Squadron initially had Pontefract available to them as a Home Defence landing ground during 1916. After this unit transferred to Lincolnshire in the autumn of that year, No 76 Squadron employed the airfield for its Royal Aircraft Factory BE2 plus BE12 variants types, these aircraft being replaced by Bristol F2bs in 1918.

Pontefract closed shortly before the end of World War One and saw racing restart on 30 April 1919. A model flying club continues to maintain a link with flying.

 

The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):

  • Friends of Pontefract Park
  • PANDAS (Pontefract and District Aeromodellers)
  • Pontefract & District Local History Society
  • Pontefract Library
  • Pontefract Park Race Co Ltd
  • Wakefield Council

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 33 Sqn
  • No 76 Sqn

Photographs and video from the memorial plaque unveiling at Pontefract on 18 June 2017:

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geograph-2118217-by-Ian-S.jpg

Pontefract Racecourse, 18 October 2010. © Ian S and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

geograph-259187-by-Bill-Henderson.jpg

Looking across the football pitches in the centre of Pontefract Racecourse, 6 October 2006. © Bill Henderson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

geograph-2739801-by-derek-dye.jpg

Pontefract Racecourse grandstand, 18 December 2011. © derek dye and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

geograph-5259651-by-Richard-Webb.jpg

Pontefract Racecourse, 21 May 2016. © Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s):

Tadcaster (Bramham Moor)

Home Defence Flight Station(s):

Beverley I / Catterick / Coal Aston I / Copmanthorpe / Helperby

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