Topcliffe opened in September 1940 as a bomber station in RAF Bomber Command and was home to 77 and 102 Squadrons flying the Whitley heavy bomber. There was a decoy site at Raskelf. Concrete runways were added in mid-1942, and 419 and 424 Squadrons (RCAF) moved in flying Wellington bombers and later, the Halifax III. On 1 January 1943 the station was transferred to No. 6 Group RCAF and became a training station. The station, along with sub-stations at Wombleton, Dalton and Dishforth was designated as No. 61 (Training) Base in late 1943.
Armstrong Whitworth's Whitley heavy bomber
The army moved on to the site in 1972 and renamed much of it Alanbrooke Barracks. However all the flying facilities remain intact. The wartime control tower, with modifications, is still used, and the station is referred to as RAF Topcliffe by the RAF.
After WWII the airfield continued in use by the RAF until the base technical site was taken over by the army in 1972. The military base is now known as Alanbrooke Barracks, only the runway, Air Traffic Control and a single hangar remain intact and under RAF control and the airfield continues to be used for training purposes.
Topcliffe is one of the relief landing grounds used by Linton-on-Ouse Tucanos.
The station hosts 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron which provides air experience flights for Air Cadets in the Vigilant motor glider.
