Previously Derbyshire, now in
S.Yorkshire.
Not to be confused with nearby 'RAF Norton', which was a balloon depot in
WWII and had no airstrip, at map Ref:N53:20:21 (53.339221) W1:26:16
(-1.437716)
In 1915 the RFC opened a training airfield and landing strip at Coal Aston,
near to Norton Lane, just south of the now Norton Lane/Bochum Parkway
junction. It eventually grew to cover a large area around what's now the 4
Lane Ends roundabout at Meadowhead.
This site, along with one at Ecclesfield and another next to the Redmires
Camp were used for much of 1916 for night flights in defence of Sheffield.
Unlike the other 2 though,it remained as an RAF establishment well after the
war ended.
To begin with it was home to No 17 Training Squadron, RFC, and for some of
the time to flights from 33 Squadron, whose headquarters were at
Gainsborough.
The squadrons flew BE2c aircraft from a grass strip, but as its need as a
defensive site grew less, it became a unit for carrying out repairs to a
variety of aircraft, and eventually became Coal Aston - No.2 (Northern)
Aircraft Repair Depot (N.E Area).
• Engine Repair Section - RAF. 4a & BHP type aero-engines.
• Aeroplane Repair Section - handled repair of the following aircraft: RE 8,
AW, BE 12, FE 2b, Sopwith 1.5 Strutter, Fleet aircraft and Sopwith Scouts.
• MT Section - this was divided between a Section at Leeds and new Section
at Sheffield.
• Salvage Section - all the aircraft salvage from the North of England was
handled by this unit.
Formed: 12-10-1917.
Aerodrome: 1,800 acres by 600yds - 206 acres (90 acres occupied by station
buildings).
It became almost a small township with hangars, stores, messes, living
quarters and a church. It even had its own railway. Women from the Army's
Voluntary Aid Detachment eventually arrived to release RFC members for
active service.
Towards the end of the War PoW's were housed on part of the site. Government
interest in the site dwindled and by 1920 the airfield was unused. When it
went up for sale in 1922, it is said the City Council showed an interest in
acquiring it for the development of civil aviation, but nothing came of it. |