Last Linton-ou-Ouse residents fly out

On 1 December 2020, the last aircraft left RAF Linton-on-Ouse. Three Tutor T1 basic training aircraft operated by the Yorkshire University Air Squadron (UAS), registrations G-BYUD, G-BYWA and G-BYXT, flew to their new home base, RAF Leeming.

The aircraft will merge with the four Tutor T1 aircraft already present at RAF Leeming, registrations G-BYUF, G-BYWK, G-BYXJ and G-BYYA, into a joint pool. Northumbrian UAS, Yorkshire UAS and 11 Air Experience Flight (AEF) will all three use this joint fleet based on their requirements.

The departure of these three aircraft from Linton-on-Ouse ends RAF flying activities from this historic air station. Located approximately 16 km northwest of York, the RAF officially opened this airfield on 13 May 1937. It was used by RAF Bomber Command, initially by No.4 Group but later-on it was re-assigned to No.6 Group Royal Canadian Air Force. 

Post World War Two, the station was used by RAF Fighter Command and aircraft types like Meteors, Sabres and Hunters operated from here. On 9 September 1957, RAF Training Command took over, and 1 Flying Training School (1FTS) set up camp at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. This unit remained here until October 2019. In this month the Tucano T1 was withdrawn from use. The only unit remaining from that point in time was Yorkshire USA which now also packed up and left.