Action Stations 4: Yorkshire

Yorkshire - home of the Halifax, Whitley and Wellington, but also housing Spitfires, Beaufighters and Mosquitoes, Ansons, Hudsons and many other types - was the county from which, more than any other, the night bombing offensive over Germany was sustained. It was also home to the Canadians of 6 Group, equal in valour to their North American colleagues in the 8th Air Force further south; to Blackburn, to Slingsby and to many others.
Yorkshire, with its high moors and prevalent mists, its winter cold and mud, was not a popular billet; not only was flying training dangerous and difficult, but the Vale of York's distance from the enemy targets lengthened operational missions, making them more hazardous, more tiring and more nerve-racking than most others.
In this book, 'Barry' Halpenny pays due tribute to the courage of the Yorkshire-based squadrons, showing how they operated and under what conditions, and illustrating through first-hand accounts all the rigours and terrors of wartime flying.
Among the many famous airfields covered in this fourth Action Stations volume are Catterick, one of the oldest airfields in Britain with a military connection dating back to Roman times, Church Fenton, Linton-on-Ouse, Topcliffe, Dishforth, Lissett, Finningley and Snaith plus, of course, Fylingdales which - although not an airfield as such - forms such a vital link in NATO's early warning system.
As in his previous book in this series (No 2), 'Barry' Halpenny has delved deeply into the histories of the airfields in this area, unearthing any personal stories of humour and heroism and dozens of unpublished photographs.


by Bruce Barrymore Halpenny
Published by Patrick Stephens Ltd 1982 1st edition, near fine in spine faded d/j.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.