RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire was a wartime operational bomber base. Opened in 1940 as a satellite for RAF Pocklington & gradually became a a full bomber station in its own rite & closed in 1946. The first user’s of Melbourne were 10 Squadron with Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys. This was a grass field and by 1941 it desperately needed upgrading to a modern bomber station. When the station re opened 10 Squadron returned and spent most of the rest of the war there. 1943/4 and FIDO was installed on the main runway. (More on FIDO near then end). The Halifax’s an 10 Squadron transferred to Transport Command and replaced its aging Halifax’s for new Dakotas. All very different. Gradually the airfield went into Care & Maintenance and then 91 MU moved in and that usually meant the storage of bombs left over from the war and they were gradually disposed of. The Airfield went back to farming, but for some reason all the runways and perimeter track has survived. A drag racing track now uses the main runway. The Control Tower has been restored and a Nissen hut built next too it and now open as a museum.

Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

35 x Frying pan dispersals
1 x Watch Office F.C.W. 4514.
There are several Blister hangars to the north, they could be a repair depot??
2 x Petrol Installation [aviation] 18439-40.
2 x T2 hangars Steel 3553-42.
1 x B1 hangar Steel GI 2272.
FIDO tanks J.G. 4934. FIDO is a system of burning fuel to clear fog. Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation.
A full bomb store.

Halifax.

Crew.

FIDO lit up.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Main entrance.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Main entrance.     [The plan is not very clear so numbers may not be exact] [TB - Temporary Brick] [N - Nissan]
ARS - Air-raid shelter.
  1. Station headquarters - TB - 9023/41.
  7. Petrol compound (MT) 17747/40
11. Sub Station - TB - 12813/40.
12. AMWD hut & yard - 10312/42.
18. Guard house - TB - 10311/42.
39. Barrack stores - ex contractors.
55. Fire tender house - N - 12410/41.
56. Fire party hut - N - 2965/42.
87. Link trainer - TB - 4188/42.
89. M&E plinth - TB -.
105. Station office - N - 12400/41.
109. Latrine - TB - 12400/41 RAF.
110. Latrine - TB - 12400/41 WAAF.

Plan.

Latrines.

Guard house.

M&E plinth.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Memorial to the 10th.
Melrose Farm main entrance & memorial to No.10 Squadron RAF which arrived here 1942 from RAF Leeming with Whitleys and soon converted to Halifax’s.

No.10 Squadron RAF.

Halifax bomber.

Crew.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

No. 10 'Shiny Ten' Squadron RAF formed at Farnborough in 1915, when WW2 opened they were flying Whitley's. Then converted to Halifax's and moved here to Melbourne and stayed the rest of the war losing 128 planes. 
10 Sqn. was a member of No. 4 Group, Bomber Command and carried out raids all over Europe from Melbourne mostly flying Handley Page Halifax BI, BII & BIII's.

Crew.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Handley Page Halifax

Cockpit.

Controls.

Pilots Notes.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

1. Station headquarters - TB - 9023/41. This is where the OC of the airfield ran the camp, his job was discipline, food, accommodation, basically looking after whom ever is using his station.

Plan.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Around the back of the SHQ are, 12. AMWD hut & yard - 10312/42. The civilians works yard. Basically a small building company to look after the structure of the camp.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Around the back of the SHQ is 12. AMWD hut & yard - 10312/42. The civilians works yard. Basically a small building company to look after the structure of the camp.

Plan 12. AMWD hut & yard - 10312/42.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

 

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

6. Petrol Installation [Aviation] - 18439/40.
7. Petrol Compound [MT] - 17767/40.
8. Bulk Oil Compound - 17702/40.
16. MT standing - ---------------
42. Technical Latrine - TB - 9026/41.
50. MT Shed Marston - 8140/43.
52. RU Pyro Stores - TB - 5488/42.
53. MT Wash down Workshop & Yard - C - 7445/43.
54. Lubricant & Inflammable Stores - TB - 17706/40.
57. Link Trainer Building - TB - -----/41.
63. Main Workshops - N - 3031/42.
64. MT Shed & Yard 4bay & workshop - N -
69. Technical Latrine TB - 9025/41 [RAF].
77. Petrol MT [2No Pumps] - 4728/42.
96. Bulk Petrol Instillation - 9941/41 [48000galls].

 

 

Crew bus.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

77. Petrol MT [2 No. Pumps] - 4728/42.

RAF Petrol pump.

MT petrol tank.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

64. MT Shed & Yard 4bay & workshop - TB - 12774/41.
The Motor Transport was quite large on a station. There were staff cars, small pick ups, buses to transport crew,s to their planes. Tractors, bomb trolleys, fuel bowser’s, light and heavy lorries and then there were the bicycle, hundreds of them.

3 bay workshop plan.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

64. MT Shed & Yard 4bay & workshop - N - end wall.

Plan.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

View towards what was the 38. Squadron A Flight Offices - TB 9884/42.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Between here and the long TB hut were two Romney huts:
58. Main Store - R - 2883/43. The TB long hut was, 47. Equipment Store & Office - TB - 2883/43 & 48. Rubber Store - 2883/43.

Plan red .remaining buildings and yellow now removed.

Romney hut.

Main Store.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Parachute & Dingy Store. The silver Romney hut is not on the plan. The yellow building is the Squadron A Flight Offices.

Parachute Store.

Parachute Store.

Dingy Store.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Buildings still extant.
106. Dingy Shed - TB - 2901/43.
  61. Parachute Stores - TB - 10825/42.
    6. Petrol Instillation [Aviation] 18436/40. 24000 gals.
  44. Armoury - TB - 17705/40.
  45. Maintenance Unit - TB - 17705/40.
  93. Crew Briefing Room - TB- 4701/43.
    3. Watch Office - TB - 4514.
One aircraft Dispersal.

Crew briefing.

Aircraft repair.

Armoury.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

The parachute store would be a very busy place, every flying crew member would have one and they had to be constantly checked, a meticulous records kept and every so many weeks, opened out, hung up and dried. Then re packed and ready for use.

Halifax crew.

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

 3. Watch Office - TB - 4514.

Fire crew.

Signal Square.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

 3. Watch Office - TB - 4514. Unfortunately I did not make it to the CT in 2011.

details

WAAF in a watch office.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

 3. Watch Office - TB - 4514.
Where once bombers were controlled day and night for all those years and when the war ended a hole was bashed in its side and an old fire engine stored inside. But now look at it a small museum.

Ambulance outside a watch office.

Airfield lighting plan.

Radio room.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Second Entrance to the B1 Hangar. Aircraft returning from operations could be horribly shot up. It was decided that the RAF repairers living amongst the crews should not do the sometimes gruesome repairs and a MAP (Ministry of Aircraft Production) should have their own hangar and civilian work force. A MAP B1 hangar was then added to most RAF bomber airfields.

B1 Hangar.

Inside a B1 hangar

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

115. Aircraft Shed - ST - GI 2272 - B1 type.

B1 door.

B1 roof section.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

111. Aircraft Shed - ST - 3553/42 - T2 type.
115. Aircraft Shed - ST - GI 2272 - B1 type.

Circular or Frying Pan dispersals.

Perimeter track 50ft.

Runways 150ft.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

111. Aircraft Shed - ST - 3553/42 - T2 type. T2 a standard RAF hangar used on most RAF airfields all over the world in WW2. The hanger was designed to be transportable and could be dismantled and moved to another airfield if needed. Made by the Teesside Bridge & Engineering Works, LTD.

Teesside Bridge & Engineering Works, LTD.

T2 hangar.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

I cannot find this one on the plan so may have been an addition later. Its Romney hut probably part of the Maintenance section. For some unknown reason on the plan all Romney huts are called N Nissen type?

Romney hut inside.

Plan.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Perimeter Track from the T2 & B1 Hangars

Plan.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

95. Bulk Petrol Instillation [Aviation] - 9846/41 - 72000 gal. Entrance off the road.

Plan.

Plan.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

95. Bulk Petrol Instillation [Aviation] - 9846/41 - 72000 gal heading off to the left.

Plan.

 

Fuel tanks would be buried underground.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

95. Bulk Petrol Instillation [Aviation] - 9846/41 - 72000 gal.

Bedford articulated fuel tanker collected and delivered fuel to airfields from the civilian POOL system.

POOL tanker.

Matador fuel bowser.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

N /S Runway.

Plan.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

N /S Runway.

 

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Memorial at the Apex of the Runways

Plan.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Set into the base of a landing light.

Modern landing lights.

Landing light.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

NE/SW Runway now a Drag Track looking East.

Plan.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Dispersal and Bomb Store Area and Dispersal

Plan.

Bomb store.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Dispersal and Bomb Store Area and Dispersal.
120. Fuzing Point Building - light - 15964/40.
121. Fuzing Point Building - Heavy light - 15964/40.
122. Fuzing Point Building - Ultra heavy - 7900/41.
124-5-6-7 Bomb Stores - 'D' - 3164/42.
128. Component Store - 18185/42.
129. Fuzed & Spare Bombs - 4780/42.
132. Incendiary Bomb Store - 18185/42.
137. Incendiary & Pyro Store - 18185/42.
140. S.B.C. Stores No.4 -
141. Pyro Store - N - 1272/41.

Bomb store - 'D' - 3164/42..

Bomb train.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Dispersed area, unfortunately I only have the Airfield Site Plan MEL:135:44 not the dispersed plan.

 

 

Pea before you go.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

This looks like an Ablutions Block.

details

7665/39 site plan.

Water tank in tower.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Concrete sink.

Plan of bathrooms and showers.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Nissen hut.

 

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

The concrete road connecting the dispersed sites to the airfield.

 

 

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Nissen hut.

Nissen hut.

Nissen hut under construction

Dispersed accommodation/

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Remains in a field, the tower is a water tower and the chimney out of the top from the heating to heat water for washing. So another ablutions block which also could be used as a decontamination hut.

Boiler in an ablutions block.

Heating.

 

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Another ablutions, seems to be a lot left around in 2011. The tower was to hold a water tank to give a head of water pressure for the toilets & showers.

Water tank in the tower.

Washing area.

Sinks and taps.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Standby set house. If the mains power failed, the standby engines would either automatically start up and power the camp.

details

Generators.

Volt meter.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

Sets of thee Blister hangars. These are out, just off the airfield and may have been an engineering workshops remaining damaged aircraft Items and maybe even engine repair. I have no idea why they are there. They could even be put there by an enterprising farmer buying them up after the war and rebuilding them on his farm as storage.

Three Blister hangars.

Enlarged Blister.

Miskins Blister hangar.

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)

Details

  70. Technical Latrine - 9025/41.
  78. Maintenance Unit - N - 12777/41.
  79. Armoury MU - N - 12777/41.
  80. Maintenance & Staff Block - N -.
  89. M&E Plinth - TB -.
  98. Fido Instillation - Tanks - J.G. -4--3-.
  99. Fido Instillation - Sleeping Quarters - N.
100.Fido Instillation - Stores - N.
101. Fido Instillation - Static Water Tank - B.
102. Fido Instillation - Fire Tender Hut - N.
103. Fido Instillation - Pump House - TB.
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO) (which was sometimes referred to as "Fog Intense Dispersal Operation" or "Fog, Intense Dispersal Of") was a system used for dispersing fog and pea soup fog (dense smog) from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely. The device was developed by Arthur Hartley for RAF bomber stations, allowing the landing of aircraft returning in poor visibility by burning fuel in rows on either side of the runway. Wiki.

FIDO from the air.

The burning of FIDO..

FIDO layout on the main runway at RAF Melbourne..

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Information

RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire

Details

RAF Melbourne Menu

© 2013 Richard Drew