Finningley
FINNINGLEY: Military aerodrome, later an air base and finally a regional airport.
Military aerodrome in WW1 known as BANCROFT FARM (see seperate listing). Later a WW2 aerodrome. In 2005 to become ROBIN HOOD AIRPORT (DONCASTER - SHEFFIELD) - what a mouthful!
(Note: I thought EAST MIDLANDS had taken the ROBIN HOOD title?)
Note: Pictures by the author, taken in June 2015. (All through perspex).
IATA code: DSA ICAO code: EGCN
Operated by: From 2005 - Robin Hood Airport
Military users: Inter-war years: Bomber Command
76 Sqdn (Vickers Wellesleys, later Handley Page Hampdens & Avro Ansons)
77 Sqdn (Hawker Audaxs later Vickers Wellesleys)
WW2: RAF Bomber Command 91 Group
7 & 106 Squadrons (Handley Page Hampdens)*
12 Sqdn (Fairey Battles)
18 (Polish) Sqdn (Bristol Blenheims)
OTU (Vickers Wellingtons)
1521 BATF
Note: These three smashing postcard scans were very kindly sent to me by Mike Charlton in September 2017. He has an amazing collection of British aviation postcards, see - www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
Post 1945:
18 Sqdn (Vickers Valiants)
Note: 18 Squadron were 199 Squadron whilst based at RAF HONNINGTON.
57 Sqdn (Handley Page Victors)
230 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) (Avro Vulcans)
101 Sqdn (Avro Vulcans)
By 1980 the ‘V-bomber’ Force Vulcans and later Victors had departed.
6 FTS (Dominies, Jetstreams, Jet Provosts)
22 Sqdn (Westland Wessex)
202 Sqdn (Westland Sea Kings)
9 AEF (DHC.1 Chipmunks)
Yorkshire UAS [University Air Squadron] (Beagle Bulldogs)
1975: (Vickers Varsitys, Hunting-Percival Jet Provosts & H.S. Dominies)
100 Sqdn (H.S. Hawks)
British airline users: Post 2005: Airtours, easyJet, First Choice, Flybe, Links Air, Nouvelair, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomson Airways
Foreign airline users: Post 2005: Aer Lingus, BH Air, Evelop Airlines, FlyGlobeSpan, Ryanair, TUI, Wizz Air
Location: E of A638, W of A614, SW of Finningley village, and 7nm SE of Doncaster
Period of operation: Military: 1936 to 1996 Civil: 2005 -
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014:
Runways: WW2: 02/20 1829x46 hard 07/25 1280x46 hard
12/30 1280x46 hard
1990: 02/20 2741x61 hard
2014: 02/20 2895x60 hard
NOTES: *It appears 106 Sqdn may also have had Avro Ansons initially (?) and then progressed to Avro Manchesters. A secondary RAF bomber base in 1944 with 2416 personnel on station including 435 WAAFs.
THE KING’S CUP AIR RACES
From 1980 to 1983 the annual King’s Cup Race were held here. Exactly why this came about appears to remain a mystery? After the first event at CROYDON in 1922, the race took place in 1923 from RAF HENDON, then RNAS LEE-on-SOLENT in 1924 and RAF HENDON once again in 1926. Neither of which could be regarded as front-line RAF bases.
On the 21st September 1980 the 103 mile course, with just twelve entrants, was won by Mr A.J. Spiller flying the Cessna 180, G-ASIT. The next year on the 19th September 1981 there were twenty-two entrants for the 103 mile course and this was won by Josephine O’Donnell flying the Piper PA-18 Super Cub G-NICK at an average speed of 102mph – the second women to win this race since Miss Winifred Brown won in 1930 at HANWORTH (LONDON) competing against by far the greatest number of entrants ever for the King’s Cup – with eighty-eight aircraft competing.
The next year on the 4th September 1982 Geoffrey Richardson won flying the Bölkow Bo 209 Monsun, G-AZOB at an average speed of 154.81mph. 1983 was the last year the King’s Cup was held here and the winner over the 105 mile course with twenty-nine entrants was Mr Don Sainsbury in a Piper PA-28R Cherokee Arrow at an average of 166.54mph.
OTHER NOTES
In 1977 the Percival P.30 Proctor 2E G-AKZN (ZF197) was reported as being based here. It was on the UK register but was it airworthy?
It was in 1991 that a press releases announced that Flight Lieutenant Julie Ann Gibson would make history on Friday the 14th of June, when she graduated as the first female pilot in the seventy year old history of the RAF.
Due to the length and width of the runway FINNINGLEY had the unusual distinction, among UK airfields, of being an emergency diversion airfield for the Space Shuttle
THE AVRO VULCAN XH558
After being restored to flying condition at BRUNTINGTHORPE (LEICESTERSHIRE) in 2007, the decision to move the Vulcan here was implemented in 2010. I cannot seem to find the reason for the move. Either way the 'writing was on the wall' and after the 2015 air-show season XH558 was grounded for good it seems.
It seems uncertain if XH558 will be used for taxying demonstrations? Unlike XM655 at WELLESBOURNE MOUNTFORD, and XL426 at SOUTHEND.
A SECOND CAREER
Probably the second major UK military air base to revert to being a major regional airport since the end of ‘The Cold War?’. NEWQUAY (St MAWGAN) in CORNWALL being the first? But, FINNINGLEY had, for a while at least, long haul international operations taking place by FlyGlobeSpan. Scheduled passenger services started here in April 2005. Thompsonfly were to be the initial operators along with Ryanair and Thomas Cook Airlines.
Since opening as a civil airport DONCASTER SHEFFIELD has seen quite a range of fluctuations regarding passenger volumes; the highest (up till 2014) being 2.28 million pax in 2007 compared to, for example, 700,000 in 2012. It is interesting to see how some airlines have made a success of being based here, whereas others such as easyJet stayed for just a couple of years - proving that judging the best range of services being offered can be a very tricky business even for operators who have been hugely successful elsewhere.
Robert Wainman
This comment was written on: 2016-11-02 13:21:06What an interesting site. My Grandfather John Gill, was landlord of the "Eagle and Child' at Auckley, the next village to Finningley during WW2 and I grew up with stories of wonderful evenings (some humorous and a few sad) spent in the pub by the RAF. In the early days of Hampden's the aircrew, many of whom were very friendly with my grandparents and Nora, my mother - would attempt to impress by 'bombing' the car park - more than once! The pub would be sea of blue - RAF uniforms and cigarette smoke packed out the blacked out warm and cosy little pub every evening, my Grandfather played the piano . . . and of course the airmen had their own words to the songs! The aircrew lived for the day, never knowing what may become of them, which naturally heightened the emotions of the time. Once, before the airfield was extended over a former road, my mother was on a local Leon bus when the conductress shouted "Get Down" - as a German plane gave them a very close shave! The "Eagle" was loved by the RAF from Finningley and I feel really privileged or know of so many stories and to understand something of the atmosphere of the time. Years later, the highlight of the year for me was always the "At Home" day air display, with wonderful memories of Vulcan Scrambles when the aircrew had to run to the planes and be airborne I believe in two minutes. I'm pleased that the airfield lives on as Robin Hood airport and of course the home of Vulcan 558.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Dear Robert, Many thanks indeed for these lovely memories. I shall keep your comment posted. My best regards, Dick
Michael Mcintosh
This comment was written on: 2018-01-18 14:11:08lived at finningley from 1961 to1966 my dad was electrician on the Vulcans our married quarters were right at he end of the runway brought up on the Vulcan howl and the smell of av fuel happy days
Ian
This comment was written on: 2018-04-25 11:35:14Love the comments about the Eagle and Child pub. I live in one of RAF Finningly's old Married Quarters which we bought about 19 years ago. My wife and I occasionally eat and drink "int' Eagle" at Auckley, the neighbouring village. I was told that the Camp was linked to Finningly village by a small access road which disappeared when the runway was extended to take V bombers. Subsequently the old Finningly quarters are now designated as part of Auckley parish. The eagle and Child pub, once a great favourite of the RAF has changed hands 3 times since I've been here. Happily it is thriving under the management of a former Artilleryman.
Catherine Sherwin
This comment was written on: 2019-03-16 16:06:00My father was stationed at RAF Finningley 1954 to 1957/58. I was only little but I remember such good times there. I went to the little school on the camp and my sisters and I had a fabulous few years there with freedom and safety. Would love to go back but I understand the Officers Quarters have been demolished. Pity. Much history.
Raphael Merriman
This comment was written on: 2019-11-24 20:47:41I lived at 53 Elm Road between 1973 and 1975 (my dad was stationed at Finningley at that time), and went to the infants and then junior schools (I left long before I was old enough to attend the "big" school, but I enjoyed spending time in the library there, especially after I discovered the joys of dinosaurs!) We used to play around the stream and the woods just behind Elm Road. Some great childhood memories include the air shows.
K Nicholls
This comment was written on: 2020-03-17 20:02:07I've just read the comment from Catherine Sherwin reference married quarters and the little station school (usually for infants and juniors). Yes that was me too! It touched home and filled me with memories. Being the proud child of an RAF serviceman, the 1960's especially was a unique and special time. Secure and well looked after, we all felt the RAF was one big family and that each RAF station was home. Each one was well resourced and had everything one could ever need. We all went to the RAF church on Sunday with our parents (the C.O. with his family sitting at the front!), some of us sang in the choir and we went each week to choir practice. Life on the station was very orderly and strict for everyone, we enjoyed simple things but we were always happy, even if it did mean the inevitable postings when we had to leave familiar surroundings and make new friends. Getting used to unfamiliar new places in the UK or overseas was sometimes tough, especially on the mums, but provided much variety. I am so sorry to read that the married quarters where she lived are no longer there. Keith Nicholls. Son of W/O Nicholls (electrical).
Donald Sang
This comment was written on: 2020-05-11 11:01:33My dad was stationed at RAF Finningley from 1952-56 when we moved to Malaya. I recall we lived at 107 West Barrier and, as with many childhood memories, it was a magical time. I have photographs of our house, the school near/on the camp and some class photographs. We'd arrived from Jamaica and settled easily into RAF life. Perhaps it was different for my parents but as a child, brilliant. I recall trying to scrump apples from the trees in the CO's garden (?) on the way to school, the Astra Cinema, the NAAFI and of course the Christmas parties (more photographs), the aeroplanes we watched from the gated road across to the village, the sirens that used to sound and playing tig on the walls of the old air raid shelters. Thankfully no 'fun=police' in those days. Too many tales to tell, but what times.
stuart
This comment was written on: 2020-06-09 21:00:27hi we lived there in the 1960s my dad was stationed there he was flight crew i was was very young but remember it as do most of the bases we lived at we were in married quarters around 1966 but i cant remember the street name or area they were in was it on the base or the village can anyone let me know thanks in advance Ian perhaps
Susan Smith
This comment was written on: 2020-06-29 16:10:37We lived at Finningley from 1976 to 1979, lived in the Gatehouse estate facing “Lotties”shop ... wonderful years living here. Husband was in Air Traffic Joe Dunn. Loved living here!
Kit Rabson
This comment was written on: 2020-11-24 01:23:11I lived on Beech Avenue between 1970 and 1973, and attended the junior school at the end of Beech Avenue before going to the then recently-opened Hayfield Comprehensive. Does anyone remember the “Crossroads Fishery”? It’s incredible to think that such a busy RAF station is now history and much of it has been demolished. But I think the Married Quarters have survived, if Google Maps can be relied-on...
JANE STIRLING
This comment was written on: 2021-01-19 13:24:06Lived in Almond Close 1967 - 1969, then Dad was posted to Singapore - RAF Tengah. George Tedford, he was ATC, sadly passed in 2017 at the age of 84. We lived at the end of the runway, Mum was afraid me and my wee brother wouldn't be able to sleep because of the noise of the Vulcans - no worries to us kids!! The houses have all gone now, but soooo many happy memories - the Air Shows, right outside your front door!
Liz Rogers
This comment was written on: 2021-06-15 11:06:45Hi…we were stationed in the early 60’s having moved there from RAF Calshot I was only a toddler but funny how you remember good times. Loved that my brother used to come pick me up on his bike from nursery on camp. So many comments about how safe it was and I think how sad it is today. It was thought nothing of allowing us to walk up to the post office to get sweets and I recall a pond where we used to net tadpoles! Also feeling of family as a trip at Christmas was always organised for families. We next moved to Siloth when my Dad was posted to Aden. My Dad was Flight Sargent Eric Fisher, a PTI Thanks for evoking so many memories!
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