RAF Dishforth

RAF Dishforth (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGXD) is a Royal Air Force/British Army station in North Yorkshire, England. It is currently an Army Air Corps helicopter base and a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The RAFGSA (Royal Air Force Gliding and Soaring Association) Clevelands Gliding Club used to operate from there but was closed on 29 April 2009. It is located next to the A1(M) at Junction 49 with the A168. RAF Dishforth is built over part of the Great North Road which is also the old A1.

Dishforth opened in 1936. At the beginning of the Second World War it became part of 4 Group, RAF Bomber Command, and was used for recruit training. Between September 1939 and April 1941, No. 78 Squadron RAF used it to launch night operations using Armstrong Whitworth Whitley medium bombers. Between 1943 and 1945 the station was used by No. 6 (RCAF) Group Bomber Command and was a sub-station of RAF Topcliffe. Immediately after the war the station was used to convert aircrew to the Douglas Dakota transport aircraft.

Dishforth was transferred from the RAF to Army Air Corps use by 9 Regiment AAC in 1992.

Dishforth was the first base to receive the Apache helicopter, and had 16, divided between 2 squadrons. Following a reshuffle of AAC units in 2006/2007 Apaches were concentrated on Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk. Dishforth now has 3 Squadrons of Lynx Mk.7 helicopters.

Operational units

• Army Air Corps
• 9 Regiment, Army Air Corps

659 Squadron, 669 Squadron, 672 Squadron

External links

• Airport information for EGXD at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
• Clevelands Gliding Club

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