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A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOMBER COMMAND AT CROFT
This aerodrome/racetrack is situated in North Yorkshire, England, close to the village of Dalton, and about six miles from Darlington. It was named Croft because Dalton was a proposed name for another airfield, Croft-on-Tees being the next nearest village. Construction of the airfield started early in 1941 and it was operational by October the same year. Croft's role was as a satellite station for the nearby No 4 Bomber Group at Middleton St George (now Teesside Airport). Croft, along with most Second World War aerodromes, was a class "A" built with three runways which formed an equilateral triangle or "A" shape. These airfields housed around 3000 staff and were self sufficient, having their own sewage works, water and power supplies. They were heavily defended and could operate independently in the event of an invasion. Planes were dispersed around the extended aprons to protect them from enemy bombing. Plans of Bomber Command's northeastern airfields, and aircraft can be viewed by going to the CONTACTS PAGE and logging-on to the Royal Canadian Airforce's web sit

SQUADRONS BASED AT CROFT /NEASHAM
October 1941: No 78 Squadron flying Whitley Bombers
March 1942: squadron converted to Halifax bombers
April 1942: squadron returned to Middleton St George
September 1942: No 419 Squadron, RCAF flying Halifax Bombers
October 1942: squadron transferred to Middleton St George
October 1942: No. 427 Squadron formed flying Wellington Bombers
May 1943: squadron changed to Halifax Bombers and moved to Leeming
May 1943: No. 1664 Heavy Conversion Unit formed flying modified Halifaxes
December 1943: Unit transferred to Dishforth
December 1943: 431 and 434 Squadrons flying Halifax Bombers
December 1944: both squadrons converted to Lancaster Bombers
June 1945: both squadrons transferred to Canada
June 1945: re-named Neasham
June 1945: No. 13 Officers Training Unit flying Mosquitoes.

For more information on RAF Bomber Command go to the CONTACTS PAGE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RACING AT CROFT
Its first motor races took place in 1948, while still an RAF station (then known as Neasham). Racing took place using the main airstrip and the surrounding service roads.
Croft Autodrome opened for road racing in 1964, it made more use of the three landing strips than the previous circuit, and closed in 1981. The following year, 1982, it became Britain's only purpose built Rallycross circuit and carried on in this sole capacity until 1997 when it again becomes a road-racing venue. The open and beautiful countryside surrounding the circuit led to a wide variety of weather conditions which made the racing exciting because races were rarely stopped for rain. Four organizations, the British Automobile Racing Club, the British Racing and Sports Car Club, Nottingham Sports Car Club and Croft's local motor club, Darlington and District MC, ran the car racing meetings. Seven racing clubs promoted motorcycle racing. During the months of March to October, about 15 car and as many motorbike races were held, mostly at restricted club level with some national events also taking place. In August, the circuit celebrated its Royal Air Force past with a Battle of Britain meeting for both cars and bikes. Rallycross meetings, and the occasional car race, were held over the winter months. When not used for race meetings, the circuit was extensively used for practice by competitors, testing by the motor trade and for motor racing tuition.
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