RICCALL AIRFIELD
Early in 1942, worked started on Riccall Common, just north of Osgodby, to prepare the satellite station which was attached to RAF Snaith to be upgraded to become a Training Unit.
Four units merged to be based at Riccall and named 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit.
There were many accidents, the more serious being planes crashing at Skipwith, Scunthorpe, Cawood, Kelfield, Copmanthorpe, Newsholme, Lissett, Finningley, and Darrington.
On Friday 25th August 1944, Halifax JD421 was booked for Fighter Affiliation with Flight Officer C J Butler and Flight Officer G B Pope as Instructor and Pilot. They had just taken off when the starboard outer cut and the aircraft lost height fast and a forced landing had to be made in a field at Osgodby. All the crew escaped without injury.
Riccall Airfield closed to flying December 1945.
The domestic (or living) site was built in Osgodby (Pigeon Lane), including sergeant’s mess and WAAF quarters. It was later utilised to provide accommodation for families during the 1947 floods, and later to house families who were waiting to be allocated housing in Barlby and surrounding area.