The airfield was originally scheduled as a satellite landing
ground. It was obtained in 1940.
It was home to the No.77 Squadron in October 1942, where they flew
Whitleys. They later converted to the Halifaxes, the Squadron joined the Main Force in December and continued to fly from
Elvington until May 1944. The Squadron was then moved to Full Sutton. Elvington then became the base for 2 heavy Bomber Squadrons,
the Free French, They were flying Halifaxes in the No 4 Group. No 346 May and No.347 June of 1944.
March 3rd-4th 1945 a German Luftwaffe intruder operation shot down
a Halifax returning to its base at Elvington, one of the German planes struck trees and crashed, there is a memorial outside
Dunnington Lodge on the B1228 of the people killed that night.
Operational losses totalled 128 Halifaxes, including crashes, 45 of
the planes were from the French Squadrons.
After VE Day, the base was used by No14 Maintenance Unit to store bombs
and eventually was reduced to a caretaker party.
In 1953 Elvington was passed on to the USAF as a Reserve Base and in
1954 the airfield was strengthened.
In 1968 this was also used for Hovercraft trials.
