Editing RAF Leeming (section)

==History==
The area at the extreme western edge of the base was used in the 1930s by local flying enthusiasts. It took the name of ''Londonderry Aerodrome'' as it was closest to the hamlet of [[Londonderry, North Yorkshire|Londonderry]] in North Yorkshire.{{sfn|Coupland|1997|p=xviii}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Air Day Aerodromes|journal=Flight Magazine |date=24 May 1934 |volume=26 |issue=1,326 |page=508 |publisher=Royal Aero Club |location=London |issn=0015-3710}}</ref> In the late 1930s, the Royal Air Force bought up the aerodrome and most of the surrounding land to convert it into an RAF airfield, which became known as Royal Air Force Leeming. Part of the buildup of the base included building a decoy airfield at [[Burneston]], some {{convert|4|mi}} to the south.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Halpenny |first1=Bruce Barrymore |title=Action stations 4; Military Airfields of Yorkshire |date=1982 |publisher=Patrick Stephens |location=Cambridge |isbn=0-85059-532-0 |page=107 |edition=2}}</ref>

===1940s===
[[File:Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bomber Command CH3139.jpg|thumb|This Stirling, N3641/MG-D, seen being prepared for a flight, was the second Stirling to be delivered to No. 7 Squadron at Leeming and took part in their first raid over [[Rotterdam]] on the night of 10–11 February 1941.|left]]
The station opened in June 1940 as a bomber station during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. In 1943 the station was assigned to [[No. 6 Group RCAF|No. 6 Group]] [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) with a sub-station at [[RAF Skipton-on-Swale]]. The main aircraft operated were [[Handley Page Halifax]] [[bomber]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Halley|1988|pp=494–510.}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Delve|1994|p=62.}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Sturtivant and Hamlin|2007|pp=97, 125–126.}}</ref>

A detachment of [[No. 219 Squadron RAF]] used the airfield between 4 October 1939 and 12 October 1940 when the main section of the squadron was at [[RAF Catterick]] flying the [[Bristol Blenheim]] IF.<ref name="Jefford1988p72">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=72.}}</ref>
*[[No. 10 Squadron RAF]] between 8 July 1940 and 5 July 1942 flying the [[Handley Page Halifax]] Mks I & II.<ref name="Jefford1988p27">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=27.}}</ref>
*[[No. 7 Squadron RAF]] reformed at the airfield on 1 August 1940 with the [[Short Stirling]] I before moving to [[RAF Oakington]] on 29 October 1940.<ref name="Jefford1988p26">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=26.}}</ref>
*[[No. 102 Squadron RAF]] between 25 August 1940 and 1 September 1940 flying the [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley]] V before moving to [[RAF Prestwick]].<ref name="Jefford1988p54">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=54.}}</ref>
*[[No. XXXV Squadron RAF|No. 35 Squadron RAF]] between 20 November 1940 and 5 December 1940 using the Halifax I before moving to [[RAF Linton-on-Ouse]].<ref name="Jefford1988p37">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=37.}}</ref>
*[[No. 77 Squadron RAF]] between 5 September 1941 and 6 May 1942 flying the Whitley V before moving to [[RAF Chivenor]].<ref name="Jefford1988p48">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=48.}}</ref>
*[[No. 408 Squadron RCAF]] between 14 September 1942 and 27 August 1943 with the Halifax V and I before moving to [[RAF Linton-on-Ouse]].<ref name="Jefford1988p90">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=90.}}</ref>
*1659 HCU RAF 1941–1942
*[[No. 424 Squadron RCAF]] between 8 April 1943 and 3 May 1943 using the [[Vickers Wellington]] X before moving to [[RAF Dalton]].<ref name="Jefford1988p91">{{Harvnb|Jefford|1988|p=91.}}</ref>
*[[No. 427 Squadron RCAF]] between 5 May 1943 and 31 May 1946 when the squadron disbanded. The squadron initially used the Halifax V and III before switching to the [[Avro Lancaster]] Mk.I and III in March 1945.<ref name="Jefford1988p91"/>
*[[No. 429 Squadron RCAF]] between 13 August 1943 and 31 May 1946 when the squadron disbanded. The squadron initially used the Halifax V and III before switching to the Lancaster Mk.I and III in March 1945.<ref name="Jefford1988p91"/>

===1950–1990===

Following the war, the station became a night-fighter base, equipped initially with [[de Havilland Mosquito]] and then [[Gloster Meteor]] and [[Gloster Javelin]] aircraft before becoming a [[RAF Flying Training Command|Flying Training Command]] airfield in 1961. The station was then home to [[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF|No. 3 Flying Training School]], equipped with the [[BAC Jet Provost]] aircraft.<ref>[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/DSC/NoiseInsulationGrantScheme/DscOhsNigsRafLeeming.htm History of Airfield] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115070940/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/DSC/NoiseInsulationGrantScheme/DscOhsNigsRafLeeming.htm |date=15 November 2007 }} from RAF Leeming Noise Insulation Grant Scheme survey report</ref>

There were also several other units using the airfield during the same period, these were:
*[[No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF|228 Operational Conversion Unit]] RAF 1948–1961<ref>{{Harvnb|Delve|2006|p=169}}</ref>
*[[No. 3 Flying Training School RAF]] 1961–1984<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwittering/aboutus/3fts.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072534/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwittering/aboutus/3fts.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 February 2018|title=No 3 Flight Training School and No. 6 Flying Training School|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>
*[[Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron]] 1974–Present<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/aboutus/nuas.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607060111/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleeming/aboutus/nuas.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2008|title=RAF – Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron|website=www.raf.mod.uk|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref>
*[[No. 11 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 11 Air Experience Flight]] 1980–Present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764794/12054.pdf|title=Information regarding air cadets and RAF air experience flights|date=8 October 2018|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref>

In January 1987, the airfield closed for one year to allow installation of [[hardened aircraft shelter]]s (HAS). RAF Leeming became the home base for three Tornado squadrons over the next twenty years.<ref>{{Harvnb|Delve|2006|p=170}}</ref>

===1990–present===

Leeming functioned as a training base until 1988 when it became a front line base in the air defence role equipped with [[Panavia Tornado ADV|Panavia Tornado F.3]]s. Its new runway was opened by Station Commander Wing Commander Kit Smith on 11 January 1988.{{sfn|March|1989|p=87}} Initially it hosted Nos [[No. 11 Squadron RAF|11(F)]], [[No. 23 Squadron RAF|23]], and [[No. XXV Squadron RAF|25(F)]] Squadrons, all flying the F3. 23 Squadron was disbanded on 1 March 1994 and its air and ground crews dispersed across the station's remaining two squadrons.{{sfn|Jefford|2001|p=35}} This left two Tornado squadrons, which were half of the air defence fighter squadrons of the RAF. 11 Squadron was disbanded in October 2005. The last Tornado squadron at Leeming, No 25(F) Squadron, disbanded on 4 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/no-25-squadron-returning-to-fly-the-hawk-t2/|title=No. 25 Squadron returning to fly the Hawk T2|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref> [[No. 100 Squadron RAF]] with Hawk T.1As arrived on 21 September 1995 from RAF Finningley.{{sfn|March|1996|p=80}}

[[No. 135 Expeditionary Air Wing]] was formed at Leeming on 1 April 2006 to create a deployable air force structure.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cotter|2008|p=33.}}</ref> Since that time it has deployed several times for [[Baltic Air Policing]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-typhoon-scramble-intercepts-russian-aircraft-over-the-romanian-black-sea/|title=RAF Typhoon scramble intercepts Russian aircraft over the Romanian Black Sea {{!}} Royal Air Force |website=www.raf.mod.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-07-28}}</ref>

The station's air traffic control unit was named the best in the Royal Air Force in February 2012, winning the Raytheon Falconer Trophy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/PeopleInDefence/LeemingsAirTrafficControlSquadronNamedBestInRaf.htm |title=Leeming's Air Traffic Control Squadron named best in RAF |date=27 February 2012 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref>

RAF Leeming had been host to a [[BAE Systems]] reverse assembly line process (Reduce to Produce (RTP)) programme in which redundant Tornado aircraft were brought into one of the hangars at RAF Leeming and stripped of all usable components. The process started with the F3 variant of the aircraft as it was the first to be withdrawn completely from service, and moved onto the [[Panavia Tornado|GR4]] variant later. In October 2017, it was announced that the full retirement of the Tornado aircraft from RAF service in 2019 meant that this process would end with the loss of 245 British Aerospace jobs between RAF Leeming and [[RAF Marham]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nearly 2,000 jobs at risk as BAE Systems adjusts to declining workload The Engineer |url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/nearly-2000-jobs-at-risk-as-bae-systems-adjusts-to-declining-workload/ |access-date=22 October 2017 |website=www.theengineer.co.uk|date=10 October 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=RAF Leeming RTP « News « Fast Air Photography |url=http://www.fast-air.co.uk/raf-leeming-rtp/ |access-date=22 October 2017 |website=www.fast-air.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Flanagan |first1=Emily |date=13 October 2017 |title=Jobs lost as BAE plans shake-up |page=5 |work=Darlington and Stockton Times |issue=41–2017 |issn=2040-3933}}</ref>

607 (County of Durham) Squadron reformed at RAF Leeming on 5 January 2015. The Squadron formerly flew fighter aircraft and was disbanded in 1957. The squadron is a General Service Support (GSS) unit with many diverse roles such as chef, driver, intelligence analyst and suppliers.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAF 607 County of Durham |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/reserves/607-Country-of-Durham.cfm |access-date=23 February 2016 |website=raf.mod.uk}}</ref>

In March 2019, the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] indicated that RAF Leeming, alongside [[RAF Waddington]] and [[RAF Wittering]], was being considered as the future home of the [[Red Arrows|RAF Aerobatic Team]] the Red Arrows.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 March 2019|title=Three choices for new Red Arrows base|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47617062|access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref> In May 2020 however it was confirmed that the team would move to Waddington.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 May 2020|title=Red Arrows moving to RAF Waddington from RAF Scampton|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-52709531|access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>

On 22 April 2020, the government announced that [[alpha testing]] of a prototype of the government's [[COVID-19 app]] was in progress at RAF Leeming.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelion|first=Leo|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52381103|title=NHS coronavirus-tracing app is tested at RAF base|date=22 April 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>

On 1 December 2020, it was announced that the [[Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron]] had relocated to RAF Leeming from RAF Linton-on-Ouse as part of the latter's closure by the end of 2021.<ref name=":RAF3:">{{cite web|title=RAF Leeming: And then there were two {{!}} RAF Leeming Station Facebook Page|website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/raf.leeming/posts/and-then-there-were-two-lets-give-a-very-warm-welcome-to-yorkshire-universities-/1779325358893625/|access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

The first of nine [[BAE Systems Hawk|Hawk 167]] aircraft to be operated by a newly established Joint Qatar Emiri Air Force-RAF Hawk Training Squadron arrived at Leeming in early September 2021. The squadron will train pilots from both air forces and be home to the [[Qatar Emiri Air Force]]'s entire fleet of Hawks.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 September 2021|title=RAF Leeming welcomes first Qatari Hawks|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/raf-leeming-welcomes-first-qatari-hawks/|access-date=11 September 2021|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 April 2021|title=Royal Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force Expand Defence Partnership|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/|access-date=1 April 2021|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref> The RAF's [[No. 100 Squadron RAF|No. 100 Squadron]], operating the Hawk T1 in the [[Aggressor squadron|aggressor role]] disbanded on 31 March 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Emma |date=5 April 2022 |title=Watch the moment Red Arrows perform flypast at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire |work=The Yorkshire Post |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/red-arrows-in-yorkshire-watch-the-moment-red-arrows-perform-flypast-at-raf-leeming-in-yorkshire-3625562 |access-date=24 March 2022}}</ref>