Skipton-on-Swale
SKIPTON-on-SWALE: Military aerodrome
Note: This picture (2009) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Military user: WW2: RAF Bomber Command 6 RCAF Group
420 (RCAF) Sqdn (Handley Page Hampdens)
432 (RCAF) Sqdn (Vickers Wellingtons)
424 & 433 (RCAF) Sqdns (Handley Page Halifaxs)
Location: N of A61, W of A167, SW of Sandhutton & SE of Holme villages, 4nm W of Thirsk
Period of operation: 1942 to 1945
Runways: 04/22 1829x46 hard 09/27 1280x46 hard
15/33 1280x46 hard
NOTES: In late 1944 it was recorded that 1924 RCAF personnel were on station…plus 166 WRAFs.
Right from the start of WW2 the Dominions fully supported the war effort against Germany. However, at many airfields like this one, RAF Bomber Command especially was playing out it’s own disgraceful episode in this period of WW2 history. Aircrews forming RAF squadrons from the Dominions were invariably given sub-standard aircraft and asked to hit the hardest targets, with the obvious result they suffered the greatest proportion of injuries and fatalities. This situation got so bad that to a large extent it was redressed later on, but why was it allowed to develop in the first place?
A COUPLE OF NOTES ON WW2
As Patrick Bishop points out in his excellent book Wings: “At the start of the war only Fighter Command could be said to be in a condition to face the tasks ahead. By the end of the war all branches were operating with superb efficiency, laying waste an evil enemy and protecting the innocent over land and sea.” A fine sentiment perhaps but I doubt the hapless civilians in most German cities would agree? “By VE Day the RAF had more than 9,000 aircraft on charge, and more than a million men and women in its ranks, from all across the British dominions.”
He then mentions something dear to my heart. “The contribution of the ground crews, ‘the forgotten ones’ as Philip Joubert called them in his book commemorating their deeds, was vital. In the words of John Terraine, a great historian of the RAF, many would ‘rather die than admit to any pride in their part in what they would like to present as a most almighty “eff-up” from beginning to end’.
I think, after many years of study, I can understand this attitude. At face value no reasonable person could claim ‘pride’ to the devastation wreaked on Germany let alone elsewhere? I would now disagree. Faced with the choice they had, surely they had no option? Put bluntly it was, very simply, a question of survival against an utterly deranged regime. Against which, as has been proven, even the most draconian countermeasures had little effect right up until the bitter end.
SOMETHING STILL TO BE EXPLAINED
As pointed out elsewhere in this ‘Guide’ it seems at times quite impossible to understand why so many bombing raids appeared to have been deliberately arranged to inflict maximum casualties on Bomber Command crews. A question which surely has to be answered?
Nevertheless, in the final analysis – what was their choice? Given that most agreed that domination by the Nazi regime was not an option, I do now honestly believe these people can be well satisfied, and indeed, should take some pride in the outcome. Given what they were presented with. But at what a cost in lives lost. And of course the aircrews were deliberately kept in the dark as to how the overall campaign was going.
But, did the outcome they were promised, regarding the bombing of Germany resulting in an early surrender - no it did not. But hindsight is wonderful.
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