Latest news with #airbase
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
This N.B. industrial park was once a Second World War airfield
Social Sharing What is now an industrial park outside Moncton once played an important part in Canada's Second World War efforts. Scoudouc was an air base during the war, providing repair and housing to dozens of military aircraft. At the time, the base 17 kilometres northeast of downtown Moncton was one of the biggest airfields in Eastern Canada. Roadside History explorer James Upham says that in the 1940s, it would've been a "really dumb idea" to stand around what is now a remote industrial park. Scoudouc acted as a relief air base, taking the overflow — especially repair work — from RCAF Station Moncton, now the Greater Moncton airport. Aircraft would be flown to the base for maintenance before returning to service. Upham said some would arrive from Europe for repairs before they going back to duty. Among the planes that would've been found at the base was the Avro Lancaster. Upham calls the four-engine bomber plane one of the best aircraft of its day. During the war, Moncton was training thousands of pilots to fly, which could tie up runways if there were accidents. "If you have an aircraft that's pancaked on the runway in Moncton, all the firefighting crews are busy looking after that airplane," he said. "And if you try to land another airplane and it has a problem, that could be a massive issue. So you need a relief field." Scoudouc had large hangars used for repair work. "There were flights that were … going out over the ocean, you know, looking after convoys and those aircraft, too, needed to be fixed," Upham said. When the war in Europe came to an end, the Scoudouc airfield began adapting planes for the Pacific theatre, he said. But all the work was for nothing, he said. The planes that were likely being adapted for a warmer climate never left Scoudouc for combat with Japan. 'Bomber graveyard' The airfield that was once lively with military activity closed shortly a year or two after the Second World War ended in 1945. Upham said some local people believe the planes were steamrolled, although he has no proof of that. "Lots of people have heard here, allegedly, this is a bomber graveyard. If that's the case, I would be very interested to know." The Scoudouc Industrial Park that eventually was built on the site now hosts activity ranging from window manufacturing to an N.B. Power substation. There are still markings of the old air base, however, and though overgrown, the runway paths are still visible. One of the businesses in the industrial park is even using a building that was once an airplane hangar.
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Arab News
Rocket attack targets Iraqi military air base in Kirkuk, security sources say
KIRKUK: At least two Katyusha rockets landed inside an Iraqi military air base in the northern city of Kirkuk on Monday, two security sources said. One person was wounded and no fatalities were reported, the sources added.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Plan for new Yorkshire Air Ambulance base near Thirsk approved
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has been granted planning permission for a new purpose-built airbase in North Yorkshire The site at Skipton-on-Swale, near Thirsk, will provide the service with a permanent home in the area, having previously been based at nearby RAF YAA said the base would include a simulation suite, crew accommodation and a clinical planning Mike Harrop said: "This has already been a long journey for YAA and, after searching for a number of years, to now secure the right site for our new Northern Airbase is very exciting." He added: "If we could ask for any site, this would've been it. Its location is perfect in terms of the area of Yorkshire and in terms of villages nearby."According to the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust, the Skipton-on-Swale site was used by the RAF during World War Two but has been unused since 1950. The new multi-million pound site will act as a long-term base for the charity alongside their air support unit in Nostell, near Wakefield. YAA said it hoped to move to the new facility by the summer of 2026 adding that the cost of the project would be covered by pre-planned savings and investments, grant funding, philanthropic support and private donations. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Al Jazeera
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Pro-Palestine activists spray red paint on military plane at UK airbase
NewsFeed Pro-Palestine activists spray red paint on military plane at UK airbase Pro-Palestine activists breached security at a UK airbase and vandalised a military plane, spraying red paint into its engine. The group Palestine Action says the UK is complicit in Israel's war on Gaza.
Bloomberg
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
UK Launches Security Review Over Vandalized Military Jets
The UK will conduct a full review of security at its biggest airbase after a pro-Palestine activist group posted a video on X claiming to have damaged two military aircraft there. The video shows at least two people traveling across an airfield at night on motorized scooters, and includes footage of one of them spraying red paint onto a plane. The group, Palestine Action, said it had damaged two aircraft at the Brize Norton Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire.
