Subsequently, the Royal Flying Corps used the same fields as a staging post between Catterick and Marske Aerodrome between 1914 and 1918.

[3] In 1920, the government purchased 50 acres (20 ha) of farm land from Thornaby Hall and developed the site.

9 Flying Training School RAF, the stations first regular Royal Air Force unit.

Elliot-Smith with Squadron Leader David D'Arcy Alexander Greig (1900–1986) as CFI[7] who had been a pilot with the RAF's High Speed Flight and who had taken part in the 1929 Schneider Trophy.

18 Group Coastal Command and with war looming were embodied into the RAF for full-time duties on 24 August 1939.

On 16 October 1939 the first 220 Squadron Hudson operation took place,[12] during the conversion the squadron carried on for a short time with the Anson due to a shortage of serviceable Hudsons, a number of which were awaiting modifications such as installation of gun turrets, bomb racks and fitting of twin front Browning machine guns, this was completed at Thornaby.

[12] With more Hudsons coming on strength, 220 Squadron began North Sea patrols and Battle Flights attacking enemy airfields and shipping on the Scandinavian coast and Heligoland Bight.

To cover for the unreliable Botha, Fairey Swordfish of the Royal Navy 812 Squadron from North Coates were occasionally on duty.

In March 1942 the Spitfire detachment was replaced by one from 332 (Norwegian) Squadron and from April 1942 until December 1943 No.1 Anti Aircraft Co-operation Unit were flying de Havilland Tiger Moths and Hawker Henleys from Thornaby.

[18] The Royal Canadian Air Force, replaced the fighter element in January 1943 with a detachment of 401 Squadron RCAF and on 10 March No.

306 Polish Fighter Squadron from RAF Catterick on 30 May 1943, also equipped with the Spitfire Mk Vb, and stayed until 31 July.

1 OTU disbanded on 19 October 1943 and the Halifax, Fortress and Liberator training was transferred to No 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit.

[21] Leading up to D-Day Hadrian gliders were towed by Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle aircraft from Thornaby.

[24] Over the next few months 279 Squadron were kept busy on ASR sorties and in the closing stages of the war rocket equipped Beaufighters of No.

455 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, from the RAF Dallachy ANZAC Strike Wing arrived.

They continued to attack enemy shipping in the Baltic and on 3 May 1945 flew their last sortie of the war to Kiel, they left two mine-sweepers destroyed, 455 Squadron disbanded at Thornaby on 25 May 1945.

64 Group RAF, in the light bomber role, however, they only received de Havilland Mosquito T3s and Airspeed Oxford T1s.

2608 (North Riding) Light Anti Aircraft Squadron RAuxAF of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment were formed here in December 1947, armed with the 40mm Bofors Gun before being reorganised, re-equipped and re-trained in 1955 as a mobile infantry unit equipped with Land Rovers.

608 became a day fighter unit when it received Supermarine Spitfire F22s and North American Harvard T26s, in December 1949 608 re-equipped with the de Havilland Vampire F3, then the FB5 in 1952 and finally the FB9 in 1955,[32] the squadron also operated the Gloster Meteor T7 between 1950 and 1957.

[36] The squadron began to expand rapidly and detached flights from its headquarters at Thornaby to strategic points near the coast from Scotland down to the south of England.

Most of the airfield now lies beneath houses, light industrial units and the Pavilions shopping centre as the town of Thornaby expanded southwards in the 1960s and 70s.

[45] Traces can be picked out via satellite imagery however and a ground visit will reveal a number of surviving structures within the contemporary buildings.

[48] In January 1976 a stained glass window was unveiled by the Archbishop of York in St Paul's Church on Thornaby road.