RAF Cottam

Despite being built as a bomber airfield as a satellite to RAF Driffield, poor weather conditions meant it was never used as its intended use as operational airfield, though some flying did occur.^[1] The site was constructed with three runways measuring 5,280 feet (1,610 m), 4,050 feet (1,230 m), and 3,960 feet (1,210 m).^[2] The airfield was used temporarily as a dispersal site in August 1940 after a devastating raid on RAF Driffield. An attack by up to 30 Junkers Ju 88's saw 169 bombs dropped, 13 personnel killed, 12 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers destroyed, and as a result of the raid, Driffield was non-operational for the rest of 1940.^[3][4][5] Cottam's watch office was demolished in 1980.^[6] The airfield operated until June 1954.^[7]

The airfield was then used by RAF Maintenance Command as No. 91 Maintenance Unit RAF (MU) used the runways and buildings for bomb storage, until the 1950s.^[6][8] In December 1944, the station was listed as having 1,057 and 188 women from Maintenance Command and No. 42 Group billeted there.^[9]

The airfield is currently farmland with little remaining buildings spread over the entire site and the dispersed areas, however the traces of the runways and dispersals can be seen from the air.^[10] Ordnance Survey mapping from 1982 shows that the main north east/south west runway had been removed by that time.^[11]

RAF Cottam has a unique claim to fame as the 'virtual' airfield for RAF Air Traffic Controller as well as Flight Operations simulator training at RAF Shawbury.^[12]