Dishforth Airfield

Dishforth Airfield (ICAO: EGXD) is a Royal Air Force/British Army station in North Yorkshire, England. It was an Army Air Corps helicopter base and a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The current Unit based at Dishforth is 6 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps. It is located next to the A1(M) at Junction 49 with the A168. Dishforth airfield is built over part of the Great North Road which is also the old A1.

Dishforth Airfield
Dishforth, North Yorkshire
The Control Tower
EGXD
Location in North Yorkshire
Coordinates54°08′13″N 001°25′12″W
TypeArmy Air Corps airfield
RAF Relief Landing Ground
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Controlled byBritish Army's Army Air Corps
Site history
Built1992 (1992)
In use1992 – present
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGXD, WMO: 03261
Elevation36 metres (118 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
10/28 1,362 metres (4,469 ft) Asphalt
15/33 1,858 metres (6,096 ft) Asphalt

History

The airfield is situated on the former site of RAF Dishforth which opened in 1936 and ceased operations with the Royal Air Force in 1992 to become Dishforth Airfield.[1]

Dishforth was the first base to receive the Apache helicopter,[2] and had 16, divided between 2 squadrons. Following a reshuffle of AAC units in 2006/2007 Apaches were concentrated on Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk. Between 2007 and 2016, Dishforth had three squadrons of Lynx Mk.7 helicopters & Lynx Mk.9A helicopters. In 2007, personnel and Apache helicopters from the Army Air Corps took part in the rescue mission at Jugroom Fort,[3] which involved marines being strapped to the sides of the helicopter as it flew into Taliban held territory to recover their dead colleague.[4]

Dishforth Airfield recently underwent a major expansion as 6 Force Logistic Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps moved from Gutersloh in Germany to Dishforth.[5] The official handover took place on 30 June 2016. 9 Regiment Army Air Corps disbanded and most of its soldiers merged with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps who also moved from Germany to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.[6]

In November 2016 the Ministry of Defence announced that the site would close in 2031.[7]

Operational units

Former operational units
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References
  1. "Dishforth". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  2. Ripley, Tim (2011). "13: AH Force". British Army Aviation in Action. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-84884-670-8.
  3. Minting, Stuart (27 October 2015). "Army sergeant accused of £30k fraud and £8k theft from frontline regiment". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. Norton-Taylor, Richard (16 August 2008). "Poor training, confusion and friendly fire, the real story behind brave Apache rescue". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. Chapman, Hannah (17 June 2016). "Regiment hold parade to mark end of an era in Germany before a return to North Yorkshire". Darlington & Stockton Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  6. "9 Regiment Army Air Corps". army.mod.uk. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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