RAF Bellasize

{{Short description|Former RAF flying station in Yorkshire, England}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAF Bellasize

| ensign = 90px

| location = Gilberdyke, East Riding of Yorkshire

| country = England

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| type =

| coordinates = {{Coord|53.737|-0.762|display=inline, title}}

| gridref = SE817724

| pushpin_map = East Riding of Yorkshire

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_alt = Relief map of the East Riding of Yorkshire

| pushpin_map_caption = RAF Bellasize

| ownership = Air Ministry

| operator = Royal Air Force

| controlledby = RAF Flying Training Command

| open_to_public =

| site_area = {{convert|33|acres}}

| used = April 1916 – {{End date|1919|5}}
November 1939 – July 1945

| builder =

| materials =

| height = {{convert|3.7|m|order=flip}}

| length =

| fate =

| condition =

| battles = European theatre of World War II

| events =

| past_commanders =

| garrison =

| occupants =

| designations =

| website =

| footnotes =

| elevation =

| r1-number =

| r1-length = {{Convert|2,000|ft|0}}

| r1-surface = Grass

| airfield_other_label =

| airfield_other =

}}

Royal Air Force Bellasize, also known as RAF Bellasize, was a former RAF airfield in the hamlet of Bellasize, near Gilberdyke, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Originally opened in 1916, Bellasize was one of only four Yorkshire-based RAF locations to see use in the First and Second World Wars. Flying at Bellasize was sporadic and training based, with the site not being used in an offensive capacity during the Second World War.

History

Bellasize appears to have been equipped with just one runway, which was a grass strip measuring {{convert|2,000|ft}} angled in a north east/south west direction across a rectangular field. There are no records of any hangars or permanent buildings at the site.{{sfn|Delve|2006|p=44}}{{cite book |last1=Halpenny |first1=Bruce Barrymore |title=Action stations. |date=1982 |publisher=Stephens |location=Wellingborough |isbn=0-85059-532-0 |page=26}}

The site was opened in April 1916 as a 1st class landing ground.{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=I. M. |title=The Royal Air Force : an encyclopedia of the inter-war years |date=2005 |publisher=Pen & Sword Aviation |location=Barnsley |isbn=1844151549 |page=243}}{{#tag:ref|Philpott refers to the base as Bellsize rather than Bellasize.|name=Spelling|group=note}} It was originally used by No. 33 and No. 76 Squadrons in the Home Defence (HD) role, even though its proximity to the River Ouse meant that the airfield was often flooded; Bellasize was only {{convert|12|ft}} above sea level.{{cite book |last1=Philpott |first1=Ian |title=The birth of the Royal Air Force |date=2013 |publisher=Pen & Sword |location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-78159-333-2 |page=267}}{{cite web |title=RAF Bellasize – Hull & East Riding at War |url=https://hullandeastridingatwar.co.uk/raf-bellasize/ |website=hullandeastridingatwar.co.uk |access-date=3 March 2021}} The site was handed over to the Royal Air Force in April 1918, and then relinquished a year later in April 1919.{{cite journal |editor1-last=Spooner |editor1-first=Stanley |title=Relinquishment of landing grounds by the R.A.F.[sic] |journal=Flight International & Aircraft Engineer |date=29 May 1919 |volume=XI |issue=544 |page=703 |publisher=Reed Business Information Ltd |location=London |issn=0015-3710 |oclc=747807447}}

However, during the Second World War, the site was reactivated, and covered an area of {{convert|33|acres}}, measuring {{convert|420|yard}} by {{convert|380|yard}}.{{cite book |last1=Chorlton |first1=Martyn |title=Forgotten airfields of World War I |date=2014 |publisher=Crecy |location=Manchester |isbn=9780859791816 |page=41}} Bellasize was one of only four sites used by the RAF in the First and Second World Wars, (the other being Driffield, Doncaster and Catterick).{{sfn|Delve|2006|p=21}} For the entire period of the war, Bellasize belonged to RAF Flying Training Command, and was used as relief landing ground (RLG) by No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School RAF (No. 4 EFTS).{{cite book |last1=Murland |first1=Jerry |title=Departed warriors : the story of one family in war |date=2008 |publisher=Matador |location=Leicester |isbn=978-1906510-701 |page=217}} No. 4 EFTS was based at nearby Brough Aerodrome,{{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=Alan |title=Flying units of the RAF : the ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912 |date=1999 |publisher=Airlife |location=Shrewsbury |isbn=1-84037-086-6 |page=61}} and the increased use of Bellasize was due to the prevalence of aircraft movements at Brough originating from the aircraft factory.{{cite book |last1=Otter |first1=Patrick |title=Yorkshire airfields in the Second World War |date=1998 |publisher=Countryside Books |location=Newbury |isbn=1-85306-542-0 |page=298}} Flying at RAF Bellasize ceased in July 1945.{{sfn|Delve|2006|p=44}}

The site has been converted back to farmland.{{cite web |title=Bellasize - Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK |url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/bellasize/ |website=www.abct.org.uk |access-date=26 September 2021}}

Notes

References

=Sources=

{{cite book |last1=Delve |first1=Ken |title=Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire |date=2006 |publisher=Crowood |location=Ramsbury |isbn=1-86126-809-2}}

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Yorkshire

Category:History of the East Riding of Yorkshire

Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War I in the United Kingdom

Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom