This is all that remains of the airfield at Skipton-on-Swale, from where so many bombing missions originated. No. 433 Squadron was formed as a heavy-bomber unit of No. 6 (RCAF) Group at Skipton-on-Swale, Yorkshire, on 25th September 1943, but did not begin operations until January 1944. The squadron operated with Halifax IIIs until mid-January 1945, when it switched to Lancasters. It flew 2,316 operational sorties on 155 bombing and 54 mining operations, and lost 38 aircraft. Nearby was Betty's Bar, a popular hangout for the air crews who flew out of Skipton-on-Swale. Many of them left their name scratched into the mirror. Only pieces remain of the mirror on display today; it was damaged in an air raid.   My uncle is buried in Grave 5 at Laons Communal Cemetery, in France; many other air crews of planes which were shot down are also buried there. [continued...] First Page | Resources