Carnaby
CARNABY: Military aerodrome later civil aerodrome
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Yet another example of how a WW2 airfield has been adapted for commercial/industrial use.
Military user: RAF Bomber Command 4 Group Emergency runway
Operated by: 1980s/1990s: East Yorkshire Borough Council
Manufacturing: Post WW2: Blackburn & General Aircraft, also Handley Page.
Location: Mainly SW of Carnaby village. Between the A614 & A165 roads, 5nm SW of Bridlington
Period of operation: Military: 1944 to 1963 Civil: 1980s only?
Runway: WW2: 08/26 2743x229 hard
1990: 07/25 800x46 hard
NOTES: One of very few examples of extra large Emergency Runways in Britain during WW2. RAF WOODBRIDGE in SUFFOLK was another along with RAF MANSTON in KENT being another, although Manston was also later available for civil airliner emergency use for many years just after WW2. Have I missed one?
A COMMENT
It will never cease to amaze me just how complicated UK aviation history is. And this complex history is of course part and parcel of our aviation heritage. An aspect of UK history which is very quickly in recent years especially, being as often as not discarded and ignored. Why?
ANOTHER ASPECT
I found this record in Ron Smiths book British Built Aircraft Vol.5 regarding the history of Handley Page, (and General Aircraft), at CARNABY: “The Handley Page HP.88 was an experimental design built in support of the Handley Page Victor programme.
The HP88 was made up from a Supermarine designed fuselage, (the Supermarine Type 521, which closely resembled a Supermarine 510/Attacker), fitted with a low wing of crescent planform and a new empennage with high-set tailplane. General Aircraft Ltd initially carried out the wing and tail design, and manufacture, the work being transferred to BROUGH following the formation of Blackburn & General Aircraft.”
He goes on to explain the type then gained a new designation as the Blackburn YB.2. The sole aircraft, VX330, was first flown at CARNABY on the 21st June 1951. He then states this aircraft was destroyed at STANSTED on the 26th August 1951 after just 28 flights! Was the project a total waste of effort and money - or -did they learn something so profound it was pointless going any further?
AND SOME MORE
It appears CARNABY was also used by Blackburn & General Aircraft, (Again from Ron Smith), “…for a small number of the early development flights of the GAL.60 Universal WF320 in 1951-1952.” He states that although the main testing of this type was centred on BROUGH, the use of some other nearby airfields such as FULL SUTTON and HOLME-upon-SPALDING MOOR were also involved.
This quite remarkable aircraft later entered RAF service as the Blackburn Beverely transport type.
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