The Yorkshire Air Museum - Elvington
Situated on the outskirts of York just off the A64 ring road the Yorkshire air museum lies just outside the small village of Elvington on the B1228. The museum has been created on the site of what was RAF Elvington home of a WW11 Bomber Command Squadron.
When RAF Elvington was first created it had a grass air strip, this was completely rebuilt with three hardened runways and re-opened in October 1942, the arrival of 77 Squadon RAF as a sub-station of RAF Pocklington and grouped with RAF Melbourne, the three airfields became known as ’42 Base’. The history of the airfield is quite interesting and fascinating and well worth following as you wander around this quite special museum.
In the early 1960s, the Blackburn Aircraft Company at Brough, near Hull, used the runway for test flying the prototype Buccaneer aircraft. Afterwards, the RAF flying training schools at Church Fenton and Linton-on-Ouse used the runway to practise circuits and landings. RAF Elvington finally closed in March 1992.
The Yorkshire Air Museum opened in 1985 and is one of the largest independent aviation history museums in the country. The aircraft collection covers the history of manned flight from its origins here in Yorkshire through to the supersonic age. The museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of allied aircrews of all nations, from WWI to the present day and is based on what life was like at RAF Elvington a WWII Bomber Command base, the only such station to be operated by French RAF Bomber Command Squadrons. There is lots to see around the base including exhibitions and displays like the Bomber Command exhibition, the restored Control Tower, Air Gunners Room, Archives & Uniform Displays, Airborne Forces Display, Squadron Memorial Rooms and much more. The attractive Memorial Gardens offer a tranquil place to reflect on those who gave their lives in defence of the nation.
There is an excellent cafe which provides hot and cold meals, snacks and refreshments in an atmospheric setting, reminiscent of a war-time ‘NAAFI’ and makes an ideal place to have a break on your walk around the museum.
There is also a full range of activities held at the site throughout the year so it is well worth following on social media or in the local press to keep up to date with what is going on there. It makes for a great day out.
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| Against the Odds - D Day 1944 |
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| Sunday 2nd June 2019 |
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| Friday 17th July 2020 |
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| Monday 11th April 2022 |
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| Saturday 7th May 2022 |
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| Saturday 6th May 2023 |
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| Minutes to Midnight - Hot Jets in the Cold War |
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| Saturday 11th May 2024 |
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