RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

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RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

Information

As I have so many photos of RAF Riccall I have split it into three parts: -
RAF Riccall Airfield Site.
RAF Riccall Domestic Sites.
RAF Riccall Operations Block.

Details

The airfield was built in 1942 and opened in December that year as a satellite to RAF Marston Moor. It consisted of three concrete and asphalt runways, six T2 and one B1 hangers. Although officially opened in December 1942 the Halifax conversion units of 76 Sqn. and 78 Sqn. moved into Riccall 3 months prior in September. In October they formally merged to form 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) and in November they were joined by 158 Conversion Unit which formed 'C' Flight 1658, bringing the unit up to 32 Halifax aircraft. The unit prepared thousands of aircrew for service on Halifax squadrons. They paid a high price with loss of 72 aircraft during their time at Riccall. The HCU was disbanded just before the end of the war. Riccall then became home to 1332 Transport Conversion Unit flying Avro Yorks and Short Stirlings RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. converted to a transport role. 1332TCU stopped using the airfield on 7 November 1945 and it was then put on care and maintenance. Various Maintenance Units used it as a sub site for storage until February 1957.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

Information

Plan of RAF Riccall.

Details

Green areas to the both sides of the A163 are the domestic sites. Site No1. Site No2. Site No3. Site No4. Site No5. Site No6. Site No7. Communal site No1. Communal site No2. WAAF site No1. WAAF site No2. Sick Qtrs. WT Site. .

Handley Page Halifax.

Early Halifax bombers.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

WAAF site No.1.

Details

WAAF sergeants, Officer & Air women's quarters. Institutes, dinning rooms, latrines, bathrooms, decontamination, etc. Quite a large women's site..

Site plan, WAAF site No.1.

WAAF site No.1..

Plan Combined bath, NSI and decontamination centre in TB 157 on plan (12861/41).

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Communal Site No.1.

Details

8 - airman's dining room 8221/40. 9 - fuel compound 1943/41. 10 - ration store 8221/40. 11 - picket post 8218/40. 12 - locker room 6508/42. 13 - sgt's & airman's ablutions 6508/42. 14 - airman's showers & abl's 8182/40. 15 - airman's latrines 8182/40. 16 - gymnasium & chancel 14604/40-16429/40. 17 - barbers, tailors & shoemakers w/shop. 18 - fuel store. 19 - standby set house. 20 - grocery. 21 - institute 8222/40..

Communal Site No.1.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Gymnasium & Chancel Annexe 16.

Details

I cannot see a Chancel Annexe which would have been an extended building on this end of the Gym. The nine air vents are all original and the low level buildings on the side are changing rooms and toilets. Here sports would be held to keep the men and officers fit for duty..

Plan.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Communal Site No.2.

Details

A mix of Nissen and TB hutting with a fuel compound for coal or coke with a wire mesh and barbed wire fence around it. This was the fuel for all the fire places in huts and main buildings..

Communal Site No.2.

Fuel compound [35] 9108/41.

Fuel compound [35] 9108/41 showing a low brick wall and a chain link fence above.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Local Garage & Two half Handcraft Huts.

Details

This garage is not on the plan and there were/are no Handcraft huts used at RAF Riccall that I can see on the plan and they may have come from another camp.

Hand Craft Hut made of asbestos pre formed sheets needing no support and could be bolted together and any form of closure front and back, here brick, in the main picture a brick garage front.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Entrance to Site No.3.

Details

Site No.3 quarters, the idea of dispersing these site around the countryside was so if an airfield was bombed the men would be dispersed all over the place and in these sites officers, sergeants and airmen shared the area.

Plan.

Plan Site No.3.

RAF Riccall, Yorkshire. Domestic Sites.

06 April 2010

Information

Site No.3.

Details

All temporary brick huts, men would have a bed and a locker space and thats all, Sergeants would have a bed, locker space and a bit more space maybe for a soft leather chair. The officers had a lot more room and may have had a walled room to them selves and an airman servant to look after a few officers to make them tea and then wake them up and clean their rooms and keep their kit washed and ironed. The men did all their own cleaning and tidying..

Some information here.

Inside a hut.