AVRO YORK 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 49The York finally entered service in
1945 when 511 Squadron became
the first of ten units to receive the
type. The aircraft were used on all
major trunk routes operated by
Transport Command, most notably
the critical England–India run.COLD WAR CARGO
By the time the Berlin Airlift began
on June 24, 1948, six squadrons
were equipped with the York and
the new aircraft played what is
perhaps its most important role.
Between 1948 and 1949, RAF Yorks
flew more than 58,000 sorties to
provide the city with more than a
million tons of vital supplies.
Yorks contributed almost half of the
British contribution to the Airlift,
alongside other aircraft such as the
Douglas Dakota and Handley Page
Hastings, but following the end of
the operation the RAF retired the
majority of its York fleet; 40 of which
were sold to civilian operators, while
others were scrapped. Ironically,
during the 1950s, a large number
of military contracts were issued to
civilian operators of ex-RAF Yorks;
such was the capability of the often-
maligned aircraft.
The type would ultimately be
replaced in RAF service by the
Handley Page Hastings but the odd
airframe lingered on in far flung
corners of the Empire. The final
York to be retired was Ascalon II
(MW295), operated by the Far East
Air Force Communication Squadron
based at Changi until 1957.Deliveries to the RAF were also
hampered by the decision to divert
several Yorks to BOAC from April
1944 for the London-Morocco-
Cairo service.
However, the aircraft’s
importance was soon realised and
a further 100 were ordered in
August 1945, just as the first 25
were delivered for operations with
Transport Command.
Ultimately, just eight aircraft of
the second order were produced
and the final York (PE108) was
delivered to RAF Honington,
Suffolk on April 29, 1948. Of
the 258 examples built between
1943 and 1948, some 208 were
manufactured for the RAF.the dragon), LV633 was custom-
built as the personal transport and
flying conference room for the
Prime Minister.
Another York (MW102) was built
as a flying office for the Viceroy of
India and C-in-C South East Asia
Command, Lord Mountbatten.
The aircraft was painted light duck
egg green in an attempt to stop it
absorbing heat in the tropics.
In a typical passenger
configuration, the York could
accommodate a 21-seat three-
abreast arrangement in two cabins.
Cloakrooms and a lavatory were
set between the two cabins, and
a kitchen and baggage hold was
located at the rear of the cabin.
Above
Following RAF
service, York MW318
was sold to Aviation
Traders in 1954 and
although it was
registered as G-ANXO
it had been broken up
for spares by 1955.
ANDY HAY/WWW.
FLYINGART.CO.UKLeft
Avro York C.1 MW234
begins its take-off
roll. This aircraft was
later transferred
to the French
Aéronavale.Below left
Although it was built
for the RAF as TS798,
the RAF Museum’s
York actually entered
service with BOAC in
November 1945 as
G-AGNV. Following
retirement, it was
sold to Skyways of
London in 1955 for
charter work and in
1964 it was acquired
by the Skyfame
museum at Staverton.
The RAF Museum
purchased it in 1972
and it can now be
seen at the National
Cold War Exhibition
at the RAF Museum
Cosford. STEVE
BRIDGEWATER