Originally a grass airfield, RAF Elvington was completely rebuilt with three hardened runways in 1942, as a sub-station of RAF Pocklington. Grouped with RAF Melbourne, the three airfields became known as '42 Base', within 4 Group.

The first operational aircraft were  Whitley twin-engined bombers of 77 Squadron. These were soon replaced by Handley Page Halifax four-engined bombers. The squadron took part in the Battle of the Ruhr. In early 1944, 77 Squadron moved to the newly opened airfield at Full Sutton and Elvington became host to two French Squadrons operating within No.4 Group: No. 346 (Guyenne) and No.347 (Tunisie). Both squadrons played a major part in the bomber offensive.

In October 1945, the French Squadrons left for Bordeaux and Elvington became part of 40 Group Maintenance Command until 1952, when it became part of the expansion programme for US Strategic Air Command. The runway was lengthened to 1.92 miles, the longest in the north of England. The base never became operational and it was vacated in 1958.

In the early 1960s, the Blackburn Aircraft Company at Brough, near Hull, used the runway for test flying of the prototype Buccaneer aircraft. Afterwards, the RAF flying training schools at Church Fenton and Linton-on-Ouse used the runway to practise circuits and landings. RAF Elvington finally closed in March 1992.

In the early 1980s, the original air traffic control tower and adjacent buildings were derelict and overgrown. Every year, a service at the French Memorial in Elvington Village had attracted an increasing band of veterans, some of whom had married local girls and stayed in the area.

One memorable summer, a French film crew used the airfield to dramatise a novel by distinguished writer Jules Roy, about his experiences as an aircrew Bomb Aimer with the French squadrons here.

In 1983, inspired by local resident Rachel Semlyen, who had the idea for a memorial museum while walking her dog across the site, a band of devoted volunteers set to work to clear 40 years' of undergrowth and to restore and upgrade the buildings. The museum's first Open Day was on 11th August 1985. Always self-supporting, the museum was able to buy the land and buildings in the summer of 1993.

A wartime film made by the French authorities showed Elvington as it had been in 1944. The volunteer workers were thus able to set up an accurate replica, right down to the packet of Woodbine cigarettes on top of the 'ops' desk in the control tower.

The Yorkshire Air Museum opened to the public for the first time on 31st May 1986.

Photos: Brian Ward