Retford Gamston Airport
Encyclopedia
Retford Gamston Airport is a small English
airport, located 2 NM south of Retford
and close to Gamston
, Bassetlaw
, Nottinghamshire
. It is used mainly for small private aircraft as well as a base for several private flying schools.
Retford (Gamston) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P783) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Gamston Aviation Limited).
aerodrome, to the familiar three runway configuration (of which only one remains in common usage), and came into service in December 1942. It was part of the RAF Training Command
as well as a 'satellite' to Ossington Airfield, 8 mi (12.9 km) to the south. In May 1943 the field was transferred to 93 Group, Bomber Command
Training.
In June the same year Operational Training Unit No. 82 arrived with Wellington Mk. III
and Mk. X bombers, Martinets
(used for towing drogue targets) and Hawker Hurricane
s. A year later the unit became Operational Training Unit No. 86 with a new role; night training for Wellington Bomber crew.
By October 1944, Gamston was transferred to No. 7 Group, Bomber Command. A month later No. 3 Aircrew School joined them from Shepherds Grove.
1945 saw the disbanding of No. 3 Aircrew School and the arrival of No. 30 Operational Training Unit transferred from Hixon, Staffordshire
with more Wellington Bombers. After the end of World War II
all training ceased and the airport was closed.
In May 1953 the airport was reopened as a satellite for nearby Worksop Airport and 211 Advanced Flying School (later No. 4 Flying Training School) made it their base, flying Meteors
and Vampires
.
The airfield was withdrawn from military service in 1957 and was, for a while, used as a motor racing circuit by Nottingham Sports Car Club. The airport is today owned and operated by Gamston Aviation Limited which purchased the operation in July 1993.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
airport, located 2 NM south of Retford
Retford
Retford is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands of England, located 31 miles from the city of Nottingham, and 23 miles west of Lincoln, in the district of Bassetlaw. The town is situated in a valley with the River Idle and the Chesterfield Canal running through the centre of the...
and close to Gamston
Gamston, Bassetlaw
Gamston is a village four miles south of Retford in the county of Nottinghamshire. The village lies on the A638 road between Retford and the Markham Moor junction with the A1 and the A57 roads...
, Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw is the northernmost district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population according to the 2001 UK census of 107,713. The borough is predominantly rural, with two towns: Worksop, site of the borough offices, and Retford...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. It is used mainly for small private aircraft as well as a base for several private flying schools.
Retford (Gamston) Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P783) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Gamston Aviation Limited).
History
Gamston airport was originally built as an Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
aerodrome, to the familiar three runway configuration (of which only one remains in common usage), and came into service in December 1942. It was part of the RAF Training Command
RAF Training Command
Training Command was the RAF's command responsible for flying and ground training from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1968 to 1977.-History:Training Command was formed from Inland Area on 1 May 1936 and absorbed into RAF Support Command on 13 June 1977...
as well as a 'satellite' to Ossington Airfield, 8 mi (12.9 km) to the south. In May 1943 the field was transferred to 93 Group, Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
Training.
In June the same year Operational Training Unit No. 82 arrived with Wellington Mk. III
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
and Mk. X bombers, Martinets
Miles Martinet
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....
(used for towing drogue targets) and Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s. A year later the unit became Operational Training Unit No. 86 with a new role; night training for Wellington Bomber crew.
By October 1944, Gamston was transferred to No. 7 Group, Bomber Command. A month later No. 3 Aircrew School joined them from Shepherds Grove.
1945 saw the disbanding of No. 3 Aircrew School and the arrival of No. 30 Operational Training Unit transferred from Hixon, Staffordshire
Hixon, Staffordshire
Hixon is a village in the borough of Stafford, Staffordshire, England. It is about 8 km east of Stafford at .Hixon was served by a railway station which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway on May 1, 1849....
with more Wellington Bombers. After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
all training ceased and the airport was closed.
In May 1953 the airport was reopened as a satellite for nearby Worksop Airport and 211 Advanced Flying School (later No. 4 Flying Training School) made it their base, flying Meteors
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
and Vampires
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
.
The airfield was withdrawn from military service in 1957 and was, for a while, used as a motor racing circuit by Nottingham Sports Car Club. The airport is today owned and operated by Gamston Aviation Limited which purchased the operation in July 1993.