West Ayton
WEST AYTON: Military aerodrome
Note: The two maps were kindly provided by Mr Michael T Holder. The other three pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) and RAF (Royal Air Force)
No.505 [Special Duties] Flight of 251 Sqdn (Airco DH6)
Location: Just S of West Ayton village, roughly 5nm SW of Scarborough town centre
Period of operation: August 1918 to 1919
Landing area: 100 acres 768 x 594
NOTES: It is a constant problem trying to get the details correct for this 'Guide', and of course I need to rely heavily on published evidence.
This site is often referred to as RNAS WEST AYTON. However, if it did become operational in August 1918, as most experts seem to agree, it would have been in the charge of the RAF, which combined the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, when formed on the 1st April 1918. Which I suppose, begs the question as to how long the individual identities of these two services were maintained, after the Royal Air Force was formed?
It now appears that an increase in maritime reconnaissance operations occurred during the months before the Armistace, when a large increase in German submarine activity was noted in the North Sea.
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