| Title | Aerodrome. |
| Date | 1939 |
| Location | Yeadon |
| Photo ID | N981 |
| Comment | See below … |
Continued from page 4 – A Hawker Hind K8648, piloted by Flight Lieutenant John Dundas with Leading Aircraftman Hunter in the rear cockpit (RAF 609 Squadron), had engine failure on takeoff.
Flt. Lt. Dundas was unable to brake and crashed into the garden of a nearby house, the aircraft ended up nose down and tail up against the wall of the house.
Y653 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1939.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1939
The recently completed Municipal Hanger in May 1939 in the fashionable art deco style. It would be soon after painted in drab camouflage paint never to be again seen in its wonderful 1930’s style.
X757 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1940s
This image was donated by Valerie Krueger and is of an Anson airplane, staff and workers who worked at Yeadon Aerodrome c1940, including her grandma who was the ‘Tea Lady’ for them.
“My grandma was Mary Ileen Whiteoak (née Gargon) who was born in in Shipley, Bradford in 1893 and was widowed in 1937 leaving her to be breadwinner to her 8 surviving children (2 others died young). She lived in Jacob Street, Little Horton area in Bradford and had to catch a tram every morning around 6am to Aireborough/Yeadon and was the tea lady there.
On the photo, I believe taken in 1940, she is on the second row up from the bottom – starting with the lady in the checked coat on the left, she is the twelfth one along, peeping out between the two ladies in overalls; behind her is a lady (in white) with a “turban” headscarf.
I don’t know much else about her as I only met her once, when I was nearly 11, a few months before she died in 1968, so unfortunately I didn’t get to know her.
My mother was her 7th child who joined the Women’s Land Army in 1947. She was based down here in Oxfordshire and married my dad in 1949 who was an ex German P.O.W. – hence my surname and location.
I still have many cousins living in the Bradford area, who I seldom see, but we keep in touch via the Internet as we are all doing the family history together.
I hope this information will be of help and sorry it’s not more!”
X756 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1940s
A close up view of Valerie Krueger’s Grandma, left of the lady in the centre, circled.
Y689 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1940s
A Yeadon Built Avro Anson 1 LT592MY-O of 278 Air Sea Rescue Squadron. Location of photograph unknown.
Y670 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1940s
609 Squadron Pilot and Spitfire P8446. Location of photograph Unknown.
From Spitfire Association: –
The squadron was originally a light bomber unit equipped with Hawker Harts, Hawker Hinds and subsequently Fairey Battles. On 8th December 1938 it was transferred to Fighter Command but was not equipped with fighter aircraft until August 1939 when it received Supermarine Spitfire MKI’s. In May 1940, the squadron flew sorties in support of Operation Dynamo – the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. One third of the squadron’s pilots were lost during a 3-day period.
Y668 – Yeadon Aerodrome, c1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – c1940s
609 Squadron Spitfire P8098 at Biggin Hill c1940s with ground crew Note ‘City of Leads’ lettering under cockpit – it is likely this was added for the photo as P8098 was sponsored by Enfield.
To hear and see a Spitfire in flight, please – Click Here.
Y668A – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1940s.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1940s
A poor quality image of 609 Squadron crew at Biggin Hill enjoying some free time sport.
R696 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1941.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1941
A 609 Squadron invitation card with motif.
N980 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1946.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1946
An Avro York G-AHEW for British South American Airways outside a black flight shed. It later crashed at Yun Dum Aerodrome, North Africa with the loss of 24 lives.
Courtesy of Ken Cothliff.
X659 – Yeadon Aerodrome, c1946.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – c1946
World War II airplanes at an unknown location and although not Yeadon Aerodrome it was thought prudent to include them on the AHS website in memory of those who sacrificed all during this conflict.
They are: On the left is a Grumman TBM Avenger, then a Fairey Firefly, next is Blackburn Firebrand, EK626 MK IV torpedo bomber and finaly a Seafire XVI.
By the look of the markings they are still in wartime camouflage, and possibly taken at an end of war show. All the personnel are in naval uniform and therefore possibly members of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
Details from Ken Cothliff and Jack Brayshaw, whose late father Jack (Ginger) Brayshaw, served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during WWII.
Photo donated by Jane Blake.
Y688 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1947.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1947
The buildings are still in war time camouflage. On the right near the top the Avro factory is just visible in its camouflage can just be detected.
M953 – Yeadon Aerodrome, 1947.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – 1947
Harrogate Road (Victoria Avenue) runs horizontally across the image, the RAF camp straddles both sides of the road. In the foreground is Warren House Lane, after crossing Harrogate Road it becomes Whitehouse Lane (the current approach to the airport). Joining it on the left is a small road leading from the AVRO factory to the large black “finals” buildings.
Courtesy of Ken Cothliff and included in his new history of the airport Yeadon Above and Beyond.
FF193 – Yeadon Aerodrome, c1947.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – c1947
The aeroplane is a DH 86 B De Haviland Dragon Rapide. Reg No: GA – DGJ. It belonged to the Lancaster Aircraft Corporation, the LAC had bought up redundant surplus military aircraft post 1945, the managing director of the company was Eric Rylands.
From 1st February 1947 they were operating scheduled services from Yeadon to the Isle of Man and Jersey, by 1950 flights were also operating to Southampton, operations ceased in 1950.
FF193A – Yeadon Aerodrome, c1947.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – c1947
As above.
B420 – Yeadon Aerodrome, c1947.
Aerodrome & 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Yeadon – c1947
As above.
