Pontefract
| Also known as: | Pontefract Landing Ground / Pontefract Park / Pontefract Racecourse / RAF Pontefract / RFC Pontefract |
| County: | West Yorkshire |
| Current Status: | Leisure activity |
| Date: | April 1916 - October 1918 |
| Current Use: | Disused |
| Used By: | RAF / RFC |
| Landing Surface Types: | Unpaved |
| Aircraft Roles: | Fighter |
Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c and d fighters of No 33 Squadron initially had Pontefract available to them as a Home Defence landing ground during 1916. After this unit transferred to Lincolnshire in the autumn of that year, No 76 Squadron employed the airfield for its Royal Aircraft Factory BE2 plus BE12 variants types, these aircraft being replaced by Bristol F2bs in 1918.
Pontefract closed shortly before the end of World War One and saw racing restart on 30 April 1919. A model flying club continues to maintain a link with flying.
The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 01/07/2013):
- Friends of Pontefract Park
- PANDAS (Pontefract and District Aeromodellers)
- Pontefract & District Local History Society
- Pontefract Library
- Pontefract Park Race Co Ltd
- Wakefield Council
Main unit(s) present:
- No 33 Sqn
- No 76 Sqn
Photographs and video from the memorial plaque unveiling at Pontefract on 18 June 2017:
Pontefract Racecourse, 18 October 2010. © Ian S and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Looking across the football pitches in the centre of Pontefract Racecourse, 6 October 2006. © Bill Henderson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Pontefract Racecourse grandstand, 18 December 2011. © derek dye and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Pontefract Racecourse, 21 May 2016. © Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
| Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s): | |
| Home Defence Flight Station(s): | Beverley I / Catterick / Coal Aston I / Copmanthorpe / Helperby |