RAF Danby Beacon

Royal Air Force Danby Beacon or more simply RAF Danby Beacon was an early warning radar Royal Air Force station that formed part of the Chain Home network of radar (or Radio Direction Finding (RDF)) stations built by the Royal Air Force immediately prior to the Second World War.

The construction of these masts was the work of the RAF controlled, but civilian staffed, No.

[1] During the first part of the war the station was under the control of 13 Group of RAF Fighter Command.

[2] On 3 February 1940 it was a plot from Danby that led Hawker Hurricane aircraft from Blue section, 43 Squadron stationed at RAF Acklington to shoot down a Heinkel He 111 bomber over Whitby.

[3] The intercept is described in detail in Townsend's highly-successful book about the Battle of Britain, "Duel of Eagles.

The tablet on the stone reads – "Danby Beacon. Site of R.A.F. Radar Station 1939–1954. The mound behind this marker housed the equipment which led to the shooting down by Flt. Lieut. Peter Townsend of the first enemy aircraft to fall on England, 3rd February 1940"