RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire.

A Handley Page Halifax Mark II Series 1of No. 10 Squadron RAF lands at Melbourne, Yorkshire, after a night raid to Turin, Italy.

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.

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.

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.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.

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].

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.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.

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

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.

  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.