During a walk through east park i came accross a set of wrought iron gates, reading the notice pinned to it i read that these gates belonged to an RAF base called sutton on hull, apparently in a village that was swallowed up by hull as it expanded.
now all that stands on this former base is a shopping centre and a council housing estate. the only indication that it exsisted are these gates in east park (10 mins drive away) and a few houses, apparently this base had runway etc does anyone have any history of hull own airfield and its function what aircraft etc any info, fotos etc would be appreciated.
By: Blue_2 - 11th October 2011 at 16:13
A couple more ‘victims’ here:
http://www.abpic.co.uk/search.php?q=RAF%20Sutton%20-%20on%20-%20Hull&u=location
By: Alpine - 11th October 2011 at 15:26
The black Spitfire
Many thanks Alpine for posting those shots. Not much to go on in identifying the Spit! Although … are those two machine gun ports in the leading edge? If so, it would seem to rule out the Black Spit (an LF16E) at least.
Cranswick
Yes i cant think it was the Black Spit pos one of the stock aircraft each aircraft was used two or three times for the practice burns the pilot i rescued was in fact a oil drum we did use dummy pilots i think they must have used the last one on that day boy was it hot on that wing but it was all good fun i only rescued one pilot in my 5 years as a Aerodrome Fireman a crashed Canberra at RAF Odiham in 1958 .The black Spitfire was immaculate when i last saw it i was back at Sutton for the Heavy Rescue course in 1955 i think it was the Gate Guardian then but i may be wrong after all it was a long time ago but i did get a chance to sit in the cockpit of the best Spitfire i have ever seen it was the AOCs personals transport before arriving at The Fire School Sutton on Hull i expect it was burnt after i was posted to Manston i hope not does any one out there know
By: Cranswick - 9th October 2011 at 11:17
Burning Spit
Crash Rescue practice 1954
Many thanks Alpine for posting those shots. Not much to go on in identifying the Spit! Although … are those two machine gun ports in the leading edge? If so, it would seem to rule out the Black Spit (an LF16E) at least.
Cranswick
By: WG-13 - 8th October 2011 at 21:38
As mentioned in the link provided by Biggles of 266, RAF Sutton on Hull was last occupied by 152 (City of Hull) Sqn ATC, who moved from the last remaining huts to East Park Barracks, Holderness Road, in about 1969/70, as the council commenced building Bransholme. The Shopping Centre occupies the site. Originally a barrage baloon depot, it later became a fire school, with airframes both obsolete and damaged brought in by road.
The gates are now almost opposite the Sqns present home. My older brother was on the Sqn while still at Sutton, and I joined them a few years after the move.
By: Alpine - 8th October 2011 at 13:01
Sutton on Hull
Attached photos were taken circa 1955. The Spit is TE199; serial of Lanc not known. Among aircraft used in training exercises at Sutton was Lanc ‘Spirit of Russia’ (109 ops with 9 Sqn as WS-R I believe); I am told it was burnt. The photos were taken by an old friend, the late Ken Charles who was killed in his Tipsy Nipper in 1972; he had belonged the ATC squadron there.
Not sure when the Fire School moved to Catterick (1958/9?) but later types were used at Sutton, including Hunter and Vampire.
Anyone have photos of other Sutton victims or know if ex-Luftwaffe airframes were used?
Crash Rescue practice 1954
By: SimonDav - 6th October 2011 at 18:13
There was a feature in Flypast about 25 years ago on the Lancaster ‘Spirit of Russia’, it included a photo of her at Sutton in a derelict semi-burnt state with some airmen in the cockpit.
By: Biggles of 266 - 6th October 2011 at 16:26
Full Monte:
http://www.17balloons.co.uk/
Looks very comprehensive history.
Guy
By: TonyT - 6th October 2011 at 16:22
I was at Sutton on Hull in 1954 and 1955 on a course training for Aerodrome Fireman as far as i remember we did burn a few ME 109s Spitfires Hurricanes i did see the black Spitfire i have some pictures
Welcome Alpine…..you vandal you, 😀
if you knew what you do now, I bet you would have spirited the odd one away and scattered ash where it sat……
Looking forward to your pictures if you manage to upload them….
By: Blue_2 - 6th October 2011 at 16:10
Having lived near Hull for many years I knew nothing of this establishment! So if anyone has any more photos to share… 🙂
So were the aircraft roaded in then?
By: Alpine - 6th October 2011 at 15:59
Raf Sutton on Hull
Attached photos were taken circa 1955. The Spit is TE199; serial of Lanc not known. Among aircraft used in training exercises at Sutton was Lanc ‘Spirit of Russia’ (109 ops with 9 Sqn as WS-R I believe); I am told it was burnt. The photos were taken by an old friend, the late Ken Charles who was killed in his Tipsy Nipper in 1972; he had belonged the ATC squadron there.
Not sure when the Fire School moved to Catterick (1958/9?) but later types were used at Sutton, including Hunter and Vampire.
Anyone have photos of other Sutton victims or know if ex-Luftwaffe airframes were used?
I was at Sutton on Hull in 1954 and 1955 on a course training for Aerodrome Fireman as far as i remember we did burn a few ME 109s Spitfires Hurricanes i did see the black Spitfire i have some pictures
By: WebPilot - 6th October 2006 at 13:48
I don’t think there were runways there – it was a barrage balloon base during the war and had large (high) hangars accordingly. It later became the home of the RAF Fire School – before it moved on the Catterick. There were rumours when I was at school (mid-fifties) that there were German aircraft among those consumed in the practice fires there. I do have some photos taken by a friend of mine that was in the Air Training Corps squadron that was based there – an anonymous Lanc and the all-black Spit 16 TE199. Will try and dig them out before I go on holiday next week.
RAF Sutton on Hull was not an airfield, so no runways. It closed in 1961 and the site is now North Point Shopping Centre. A nice site with a shot of the old gates here:
http://www.rhaywood.karoo.net/st-james/raf-sutton2.htm
By: Phillip Rhodes - 6th October 2006 at 13:01
landraver
If you go to the local history section in Hull’s central library, they have a locally published book on RAF Sutton on Hull. Excellent read.
By: landraver - 29th August 2006 at 19:48
thanks cranswick just out of curiosity how did they get them there if no runways? and what happened to the black spit?
By: Cranswick - 28th August 2006 at 10:41
RAF Sutton-on-Hull
Attached photos were taken circa 1955. The Spit is TE199; serial of Lanc not known. Among aircraft used in training exercises at Sutton was Lanc ‘Spirit of Russia’ (109 ops with 9 Sqn as WS-R I believe); I am told it was burnt. The photos were taken by an old friend, the late Ken Charles who was killed in his Tipsy Nipper in 1972; he had belonged the ATC squadron there.
Not sure when the Fire School moved to Catterick (1958/9?) but later types were used at Sutton, including Hunter and Vampire.
Anyone have photos of other Sutton victims or know if ex-Luftwaffe airframes were used?
By: bolmas - 27th August 2006 at 21:03
landraver, please e-mail me at [email]600bmw@tiscali.co.uk[/email] as i may be able to help you.
By: landraver - 26th August 2006 at 20:11
look forward to those there arnt even any fotos in hull museums of this place
By: Cranswick - 26th August 2006 at 19:52
RAF Sutton-on-Hull
I don’t think there were runways there – it was a barrage balloon base during the war and had large (high) hangars accordingly. It later became the home of the RAF Fire School – before it moved on the Catterick. There were rumours when I was at school (mid-fifties) that there were German aircraft among those consumed in the practice fires there. I do have some photos taken by a friend of mine that was in the Air Training Corps squadron that was based there – an anonymous Lanc and the all-black Spit 16 TE199. Will try and dig them out before I go on holiday next week.
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August 26, 2006 at 7:02 pm