The farming land was compulsory purchased by the Air Ministry in 1939.

George Wimpy won the contract to build the aerodrome. This company was responsible for the general layout of the drome: concreting of the runways, dispersal points and the perimeter track and the roads in the camp.

Tarrans of Hull put up most of the wooden huts. Another sub-contractor was Greenhams of Hounslow. Most of the materials for building the 'drome were brought on railway trucks to the goods yard at Pocklington Railway Station then loaded on to lorries for the journey to the aerodrome.

Of the three farms on Back Lane, Barmby Moor lost all their land to the aerodrome. Tom Triffit, who had farmed Church Farm, took a farm at Full Sutton.

Allan Smith, who had tenanted Common Farm, moved to a small farm in Bolton Lane. Two farms in the village, Slate Pit Farm, farmed by Mr Smith, and Laurels Farm, farmed by Mr John Richardson, lost a lot of their land.

The Creighton family farm at Barmby Grange lost all its land. The outbuildings were demolished and the farmhouse was used as a small Officers' Mess for higher ranks. The farmhouse still stands.

Little Grange Farm stood where the Gliding Club hangar is; it was demolished with a bungalow built in the early 1930s. When the war ended the camp was full of redundant aircrew. The airfield became a holding unit for these flyers.

At the end of hostilities Stirling bombers arrived to be converted into troop carriers. Fitters from Short's Factory in Belfast were tasked with making them into troop-carrying aircraft.

In 1947 the army was in residence – the first to arrive were The Royal Signals Regiment, then came the REME (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers), followed by the RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). They departed in the early 1950s.

In 1953 the army took over most of the wooden huts and hangars for storing equipment. The airfield became known as No.19 NCOSD (Northern Command Ordnance Sub Depot), employing more than 100 local civilians.

The MCA (Ministry for Civil Aviation) took over the oval-topped hangar.
Eventually the airfield was put up for sale. Mr Robert Massey, the Market Weighton industrialist, bought part of the 'drome. Mr Hessle bought some of the hutted area, Mr Thirsk bought his land back. The land that had belonged to the farmers down Back Lane, Barmby Moor, before the war was now farmed by John Richardson at Laurels Farm in the village.

Wellington and Halifax bombers flew from Pocklington Airfield during the war.

I lived in Back Lane, Barmby Moor, during the war and saw the aerodrome being built. Three members of my family worked on the aerodrome during the war. I spent many happy hours watching aircraft being prepared for battle.


Gerald Fountain, Sancton