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The Frank McDonald Story
Jamie McDonald’s documentary with his grandfather frank is a one-off documentary sees the Line of Duty star embarking on an emotional journey with his grandfather in the stars to learn about his role in the 2rd world war frank had a number of rolls and was move around a number of Royal air force bases 20 in total also find out the roll he had to play in the D-Day during World War II in June 1944 and Operation Chastise 16 May 1943 – 17 May 1943.
Part 1 opening
In the show you will find out the rolls he played at the following station's (Press station name a link will open with a video of that statio)
Jamie and Mackie will take you to Former RAF Acaster Malbis at Acaster Malbis, York YO23 7BW and tell you the story on how frank use to Walk from Leeds to York and his roll in No. 4 Group RAF Bomber Command
Jamie and Mackie will be taking you RAF Bempton north of Bridlington and how frank During the Second World War established a a radar station, becoming part of the Chain Home Low (CHL) network.
Jamie and Mackie will take you to RAF Bowes Moor Learn how frank helped with the storeage of chemical warfare agent (CWA) as you take a look at storage site run by the Royal Air Force during and after the Second World War and learn how Frank Coal mining background helped in warfare.
Join Jamie and Mackie as they take a look at Former RAF Catterick Richmond DL10 7PY and find out the roll frank planned in helping No. 13 Group
5. RAF Church Fenton (Press link to open video)
Join Jamie and Mackie at Former RAF Church Fenton Church Fenton, Tadcaster LS24 9RP as they look at the roll frank played in helping No. 13 Group RAF at the station.
Join Jamie and Mackie as they take you to Former RAF East Moor Sutton-on-the-Forest, York YO32 5TP to learn how frank helped RAF Bomber Command No. 4 Group RAF and
No. 6 Group RCAF at the sation.
Learn how frank helped with the station and opening when the airfield opened in 1944 under No. 4 Group, as part of RAF Bomber Command.
Join Jamie and Mackie outside the old base as they tell you the story .
some of the area is now used as the civilian Full Sutton Airfield, being home to the Full Sutton Flying Centre,and another part of the site houses HMP Full Sutton, which opened in April 1988.
So of the site we can now flim or enter dew to it been a fully running prison
8. RAF Harrogate (This is no longer a station it is now a town centre full of shops)
Sadly the site has now been Sold, buildings demolished and site redeveloped for housing but Join Jamie and Mackie outside Rafa Royal Air Forces Association Harrogate 6 E Parade, Harrogate HG1 5LT as they tell you the story about how frank helped No. 7 Personnel Reception Centre during World War II.
note This should not be confused with RAF Menwith Hill, a current RAF base near Harrogate this was not open in the 2rd world war.
9. RAF Leeming (press name to open video of this station)
Join Jamie and mackie outside the station as they tell you how frank helped No. 6 Group Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with a sub-station at RAF Skipton-on-Swale. The main aircraft operated were Handley Page Halifax bombers.
Northallerton DL7 9NJ
10. RAF Linton-on-Ouse (press name to open video of this station)
Join Jamie and Mackie as they learn about frank's time with the station how frank signed up to the air force with a cut hand and his time with No. 6 Group RCAF RAF Bomber Command and No. 4 Group RAF and RAF Fighter Command
Grosvenor Square, Linton-on-Ouse, York YO30 2AJ
11. RAF Topcliffe also known as Alanbrooke Barracks
Join Jamie and Mackie at station and learn how frank played a key part of the station
Topcliffe, Alanbrooke Barracks, Thirsk YO7 4NJ
12. RAF Scampton. (press name to open video of station)
Join Jamie and mackie outside the former Base as they tell you how frank helpped the "Dambusters Raid", the raid would go down as the most famous and widely remembered in the history of the RAF.
Scampton, Lincoln LN1 2ST
13.RAF Woodhall Spa press to open
Learn about frank time in the 617 squadron
14.Raf East kirkby (press link for video)
Join Jamie and mackie as they learn about frank's time with No. 5 Group and the unknown link to the 617 squadron
15. Raf Coningsby (Press station name to open a amazing link to the video)
Learn about frank's time at the station when RAF Coningsby was built just before World War Two and became the home of 617 Squadron, known as the Dambusters, during the second half of the war. Frank also had all his teeth removed at this station
16. RAF Ringway (press for video)
Learn about frank time at ringway and how he helped bulid the Lancaster bomber as well as his time in Special Operations Executive (SOE) were he was also trained to jump
17. Raf Yeadon press to open video
Learn about frank's time building bomber's as Yeadon during WWII which built Lancasters and Ansons. ... The Company chose Yeadon Aerodrome in Yorkshire and construction work began
now the station is home to Leeds and Bradford Airport
18.RAF Grimsby also known as Waltham
Learn about frank's time in the 100 squadron
Learn how frank help with flying out of the station in heavy rain
learn about frank's time with No. 5 Group
October 1943 RAF Metheringham opened as part of No. 5 Group RAF
Station Identity Code: MNIn 1944 No. 5 Group RAF introduced station control groupings for future operations with all squadrons from stations in the group linking up and flying as a single formation. RAF Metheringham was grouped into No. 5/4 Bases that included itself, RAF Woodhall Spa and RAF Coningsby with the latter acting as the controlling station. No. 5/4 Bases RAF remained under the command of Air Commodore A C H Sharpe until the end of hostilities.
You will also here abut frank's time working in Chadderton
The factory at Newton Heath had served Avro well during the 1920s and 1930s but, as the war clouds gathered, the Air Ministry announced that it would allocate funds to Avro for the construction of a new plant. No expense was spared and Britain's biggest aircraft factory opened in 1939 at Chadderton, near Oldham.
Aircraft production commenced with the construction of the Avro Anson and Bristol Blenheim light bomber, which was built under licence. The Avro Manchester twin-engined bomber followed with limited success but this gave birth to one of the greatest bombers of World War II, the legendary Avro Lancaster! Of the 7,377 Lancasters built, 3,032 were manufactured at Chadderton and transported in sections by road to Woodford for assembly.
As Lancaster production continued, the massive design team at Chadderton, under the direction of Roy Chadwick, worked on new concepts including the Avro York, Lincoln, and Lancastrian, each of which was an excellent aircraft in its own right.
During the post war years, Chadwick designed the Avro Tudor long-range pressurised airliner and Avro Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Tragically, Roy Chadwick was killed on a test flight of the Tudor when it crashed on 23rd August 1947.
Chadwick completed the initial designs of what would become the Avro Vulcan delta-wing bomber. The work was continued by his deputy, Stuart Davies, who led Chadderton's design team as Avro's Technical Director following Chadwick's untimely death. In total, 136 Vulcans were built (including two prototypes) and these were all manufactured in sections at Chadderton, before transportation to Woodford for assembly. The success of the project is a testament to Davies, who took over such a demanding role in tragic circumstances.
A series of fires devastated the Chadderton factory between 1959 - 1961 but the disruption to aircraft production was kept to a minimum. The production lines for the Vulcan and Avro 748 were soon re-established but sadly many records were lost to the blaze.
Avro was absorbed into Hawker Siddeley in 1963, which in turn became part of British Aerospace in 1977 and finally BAE Systems in 1999. Aircraft production continued at Chadderton throughout this period and included the BAe ATP, BAe 146 and the RJ Regional Jet airliners. Chadderton also produced major components for the European Airbus and, before closure in 2011, provided technical support for many of the RAF's large aircraft including the Nimrod and VC10.
The show will be Airing on 26 June 2025, the programme will see Jamie seeking to understand more about his granddad’s experience of the time he was in the royal air force.
Jamie and Mackie steps into the role of presenter and interviewer as he tells audiences the story of his grandfather, who had a number of jobs and rolls at the time he was in the 2rd world war.
Sadly Frank has passed away so does not appear in the documentary to tell his story to the viewers but we do have footage of frank with in the show.
This show is a trigger Point when Jamie see's photograph of his granddad and learn he played a key part in the 2rd world war .
this is not to be missed.
Former Avro Sites (we do know that frank worked at some of the side at that Avro had a number of Sites with in the UK)
Woodford Aerodrome
A serious problem arose in 1924 when Avro was notified that the current airfield used by the company at Alexandra Park would be closing. After a hurried search to find an alternative location, Avro settled on New Hall Farm at Woodford and completed the move later that year.
Avro managed to acquire two Bessonneau hangars from Alexandra Park and these were swiftly erected at the new site. Together with a small grassed landing area, these hangars would form a makeshift airfield at Woodford until permanent hangars were built.
Woodford Aerodrome gradually expanded over the years. The Flight Sheds complex of hangars were built in stages between 1925 -1943 and the New Assembly building off Chester road was completed in 1939. The runways had been upgraded to concrete by 1940 and were lengthened during the war years.
Woodford Aerodrome was Avro's main assembly plant and made a massive contribution during the Second World War, completing the assembly of 4,101 Lancaster bombers. It was also at Woodford where the assembly of all the Vulcan nuclear bombers was completed (136 aircraft including two prototypes).
Avro merged with Hawker Siddeley in 1963 and production of the 748 airliner continued at Woodford alongside the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
In 1977, British Aerospace took control of Woodford Aerodrome after the nationalisation of the British aviation industry. Airliners continued to be assembled at Woodford during the 1980s and 1990s in the form of the BAe ATP, BAe 146, and Avro RJ series.
In 1999, Woodford became part of BAE Systems as a result of the merging of British Aerospace with Marconi Electronic Systems. Plans to build the Avro RJX airliner at Woodford were shelved in 2001 which left production of the Nimrod MRA4 as the only active project at the site. Woodford Aerodrome finally closed in 2011 when the Nimrod MRA4 project was cancelled, ending almost 80 years of almost continual aircraft manufacture at the site.
Chadderton
The factory at Newton Heath had served Avro well during the 1920s and 1930s but, as the war clouds gathered, the Air Ministry announced that it would allocate funds to Avro for the construction of a new plant. No expense was spared and Britain's biggest aircraft factory opened in 1939 at Chadderton, near Oldham.
Aircraft production commenced with the construction of the Avro Anson and Bristol Blenheim light bomber, which was built under licence. The Avro Manchester twin-engined bomber followed with limited success but this gave birth to one of the greatest bombers of World War II, the legendary Avro Lancaster! Of the 7,377 Lancasters built, 3,032 were manufactured at Chadderton and transported in sections by road to Woodford for assembly.
As Lancaster production continued, the massive design team at Chadderton, under the direction of Roy Chadwick, worked on new concepts including the Avro York, Lincoln, and Lancastrian, each of which was an excellent aircraft in its own right.
During the post war years, Chadwick designed the Avro Tudor long-range pressurised airliner and Avro Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Tragically, Roy Chadwick was killed on a test flight of the Tudor when it crashed on 23rd August 1947.
Chadwick completed the initial designs of what would become the Avro Vulcan delta-wing bomber. The work was continued by his deputy, Stuart Davies, who led Chadderton's design team as Avro's Technical Director following Chadwick's untimely death. In total, 136 Vulcans were built (including two prototypes) and these were all manufactured in sections at Chadderton, before transportation to Woodford for assembly. The success of the project is a testament to Davies, who took over such a demanding role in tragic circumstances.
A series of fires devastated the Chadderton factory between 1959 - 1961 but the disruption to aircraft production was kept to a minimum. The production lines for the Vulcan and Avro 748 were soon re-established but sadly many records were lost to the blaze.
Avro was absorbed into Hawker Siddeley in 1963, which in turn became part of British Aerospace in 1977 and finally BAE Systems in 1999. Aircraft production continued at Chadderton throughout this period and included the BAe ATP, BAe 146 and the RJ Regional Jet airliners. Chadderton also produced major components for the European Airbus and, before closure in 2011, provided technical support for many of the RAF's large aircraft including the Nimrod and VC10.
Yeadon
With the war clouds gathering, the Air Ministry approached Avro early in 1939 to request that they expand their premises. The Company chose Yeadon Aerodrome in Yorkshire and construction work began on the new factory later that year.
The facility was designed so that a large part of the factory was underground. The flat roof was merged into the landscape and dummy farm animals were added to complete the look! A causeway was built from the factory so that completed aircraft could be towed to the airfield for test flying and eventual delivery.
Avro production commenced with the Anson in 1941 and the construction of Lancasters began a year later. By January 1942, twelve Ansons were rolling off the production lines every week in an impressive display of efficiency. When hostilities ceased, the total number of aircraft produced at Yeadon included 3,957 Ansons and 608 Lancasters.
A small number of Ansons, Lancasters, Lincolns and Yorks continued to be produced at Yeadon after the war had ended. The build programme was gradually run down until Avro ended its tenure at Yeadon in November 1946
Brownsfield Mill
Alliott Verdon-Roe formed Avro with his brother Humphrey on 1st January 1910 at Brownsfield Mill, Ancoats, Manchester. It was agreed that Avro would occupy the basement of Brownsfield Mill because the rest of the building was occupied by Everard & Company, a manufacturer of elastic webbing which Humphrey managed.
The limited space in the basement of Brownsfield Mill presented the fledging aircraft manufacturer with various challenges. The aircraft had to be built in situ to ensure that all of the parts would fit together correctly. The machine then had to be painstakingly dismantled so that it could be moved outside and loaded onto horse and cart. From there, the aircraft was taken to the railway station and transported in pieces to the flying school at Brooklands.
Avro built several types of aircraft during its time at Brownsfield Mill, including the Avro Type D, which became the first British plane to take off from water, and the world's first aircraft with an enclosed cockpit, the Avro Type F.
There wasn't a huge demand for aircraft during the early days of aviation and so Avro dedicated time to producing aircraft parts for fellow aviators. The venture became known as 'The Aviator's Storehouse' and produced everything from bolts to propellers and engines.
Avro became a Limited company on 11th January 1913 and orders started to come in for the promising Avro 500. It was decided that Avro would need more space to fulfil these orders and so the Company moved out of Brownsfield Mill to new premises at Clifton Street, Miles Platting, Manchester. With workers and material relocated, the new works opened on 17th March 1913.
Newton Heath
Avro became a limited company on 11th January 1913 and plans were made to expand the Company. Larger premises were sought after the War Office placed an order for the Avro 500 biplane and these were found at Clifton Street, Miles Platting, Manchester. Avro moved its workforce out of Brownsfield Mill and into the new premises on 17th March 1913.
The outbreak of war led to large orders for the revolutionary Avro 504 biplane and the Company once again had to find new premises to cope with the demand. As luck would have it, a local engineering company had just completed an extension to their Park Works premises at Newton Heath. Avro was immediately granted permission to use the extension and the production of Avro 504's could be scaled up.
An abrupt fall in aircraft orders at the end of the war forced Avro to diversify and the Company started to produce motor cars at the Newton Heath factory. The production and maintenance of the Avro 504K continued on a smaller scale alongside the motor car project.
The Newton Heath works became the headquarters of Avro in 1932 when the Hamble facility was closed. Production of all aircraft types now took place at Newton Heath and included the Avro Avian biplane, which went on to set many world records. The Avro Tutor was also built at Newton Heath to replace the Avro 504 as the RAF's frontline trainer.
The most famous aircraft to come out of the Newton Heath factory was the Avro Anson. It was originally designed as a high speed mail carrier and made its first flight on 7th January 1935. Chadwick redesigned the aircraft into a military version to meet an Air Ministry requirement for a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The first orders for the Anson were placed in August 1935 and the aircraft would go on to become a successful trainer for bomber crews.
Avro received an order to build the Bristol Blenheim on licence in May 1938, which gave the Newton Heath workforce vital experience in the construction of all-metal aircraft. Production of Blenheims, Ansons, and Lancaster components carried on at Newton Heath throughout the Second World War although Chadderton became the Company's new headquarters when it opened in 1939.
Production was scaled down after the war and the Newton Heath works closed on 8th April 1947, with the workforce moving to Chadderton.
Alexandra Park
In 1917, the War Department decided to open a second purpose-built aerodrome in the Manchester area. The purpose of the new facility would be for the test flying of aeroplanes built in the Manchester area for the RAF. A suitable site was found in Didsbury, which had good railway links to the nearby Avro works at Newton Heath and National Aircraft Factory No.2 at Heaton Chapel.
Alexandra Park became operational in May 1918 and Avro started renting a hangar for the delivery and test flying of aircraft. Aeroplanes were transported by rail or road in sections to Alexandra Park and assembled on site.
Avro diversified after the First World War and formed the Avro Transport Company, which offered pleasure flights to the public. In May 1919, the Company started to operate the first scheduled domestic air service in Britain. It ran from Alexandra Park to Blackpool via Southport and used modified Avro 504 three-seater biplanes.
Alexandra Park closed to air traffic on 24th August 1924 and it was this which prompted Avro's move to Woodford in the same year.
Hamble
By 1915, Avro was running out of factory space at Newton Heath thanks to the success of the Avro 504. Alliott Verdon Roe began to plan a custom-built facility in Hampshire and settled on a piece of land on the edge of Southampton Water at Hamble. Avro purchased 100 acres of land which included an expanse of foreshore and work on the new factory began soon afterwards.
Alliott Verdon Roe envisioned that the entire company would eventually move to Hamble and planned the construction of 350 houses for his workforce. However, only 24 houses were completed before government restrictions on building materials prevented any further development. It was therefore decreed that the new facility at Hamble would be used as a design and development centre.
The first new Avro aircraft to be assembled at Hamble was the Avro 523 Pike, a twin-engined bomber. In September 1916, the whole of the Avro design team under Roy Chadwick moved from Manchester to Hamble. The number of aircraft built steadily increased and a number of Avro 504Ks were produced in addition to experimental types. Avro was not the only aircraft manufacturer at Hamble, the airfield and slipway was shared with the Fairey company.
The cancellation of orders at the end of the First World War forced aircraft manufacturers to make massive cutbacks and Avro was no exception. Hamble remained as an experimental facility, testing new aircraft during these lean years which included the Avro 534 Baby. The massive Avro Aldershot single-engined bomber was also developed at Hamble and entered service with the RAF in 1924.
Avro took an interest in autogyros during the mid 1920s and worked with the newly formed Cierva Autogiro Company. The airfield at Hamble was too small for the testing of the larger autogyros and was expanded in 1926 when a further 200 acres were purchased.
The lean years of the 1920s forced Alliott Verdon Roe to abandon his plans to relocate the entire company to Hamble. In 1928, A.V. sold his interest in Avro and joined Sam Saunders to form Saunders-Roe Limited. The Company was based on the Isle of Wight and specialised in the manufacture of flying-boats. Alliott continued to live in Hamble, an area of the country which he dearly loved.
Avro's presence at Hamble was scaled down following Alliott Verdon Roe's departure. Aircraft such as the Avro Antelope were still under construction and these were completed as the workforce gradually moved back to Manchester. The move was completed by the end of 1932 and Avro's presence at Hamble came to an end.
Ringway
In 1939, a building programme began at Woodford Aerodrome to upgrade the grass runways and construct a new assembly plant. Whilst the work was being carried out, Avro made the decision to establish an experimental flight department at Manchester Ringway in May 1939.
Roy Chadwick and his design team had been working on a new twin-engined bomber since 1936 to satisfy Air Ministry Specification P.13/36. The prototype was built in sections at Newton Heath and transported to Ringway for assembly. The aircraft was named the Avro Manchester and made its maiden flight at Ringway on 25th July 1939.
When war broke out on 3rd September, work was still in progress to concrete the runways at Woodford Aerodrome. It was therefore decided to continue the experimental flight department at Ringway and, as a result, several famous aircraft made their maiden flight there. The most famous of these was the mighty Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, which made its first flight on 9th January 1941.
In 1943, Avro took over new premises at Ringway for the assembly of the Avro York transport aircraft. A VIP variant of the York was developed and was famously used by both the King and Winston Churchill.
Avro moved its experimental flight department back to Woodford once the war had ended and closed its facility at Ringway on 15th November 1946.
Aircraft Maiden Flight
Avro Manchester 25th July 1939
Avro Lancaster 9th January 1941
Avro York 5th July 1942
Avro Lincoln 9th June 1944
Avro Tudor 14th June 1945
OUT Stations
The opening of the Avro facility at Langar in September 1942 coincided with the arrival of No 207 Squadron, which operated Lancasters. The Avro Repair Organisation formed close ties with No 207 Squadron, carrying out maintenance and repairs on their aircraft until the Squadron moved in October 1943. The Avro facility remained at Langar and continued to repair Lancasters throughout the war.
During the post war years, Lancastrians, Yorks and Shackletons all passed through Langar for maintenance and modification. The site finally closed in September 1968.
Bracebridge Heath (Lincolnshire)
The Avro Repair Organisation established a base at Bracebridge Heath in 1942, which was just one mile away from RAF Waddington. Repaired Lancasters were transported the short distance by road from Bracebridge Heath to Waddington.
Work at Bracebridge Heath continued during the post war years with the maintenance and overhaul of Ansons. The facility continued into the days of British Aerospace, when it was eventually closed in 1979.
Langar (Nottinghamshire)
Avro made a huge contribution to the war effort with the aircraft it designed and built. The most famous of course is the Lancaster bomber but the importance of other Avro aircraft, such as the Anson and York, should not be underestimated.
The construction methods used to produce the Avro Lancaster were integral to the success of this aircraft. The Lancaster was built in fully equipped sections in factories across the country and assembled at places like Woodford. A key advantage to this construction method was that repairs could be made quickly by replacing the damaged section.
In 1940, the decision was made by Avro to establish a repair depot away from large cities and the associated risk of bombing raids. The Avro Repair Organisation was formed and established close links between Bomber Command and the Avro factories.
The Avro Repair Organisation expanded throughout the war and outworking organisations were set up to cover the whole of the country. These organisations were regularly putting more than 30 aircraft back into operational service every week. The Avro Repair Organisation repaired more than 4,000 aircraft during the war.
Avro Canada
Avro Canada arose from the ashes of Victory Aircraft, which had built 736 Avro Ansons and 430 Avro Lancasters during the Second World War. Sir Roy Dobson, the Managing Director at Avro, was concerned about the imminent closure of Victory Aircraft and the unemployment it would cause. An agreement was soon reached and Victory Aircraft became part of the Hawker Siddeley Group on 1st December 1945 under the Avro Canada banner.
The Company was based at Malton and, with the exception of Roy Dobson, it was run entirely by Canadians, with financial backing provided by Hawker Siddeley. Avro Canada designed and built the CF-100 jet fighter, which was used in large numbers by the Royal Canadian Airforce and exported to Belgium. It also produced the C-102 jetliner but the Company didn't receive any orders for the aircraft and only one prototype was built.
Avro Canada designed and built the Avro Model 1 Avrocar, a strange disc-shaped vehicle used for testing the suitability of a ‘saucer’ type aircraft. It was powered by three small turbojets which drove a central fan to create an air cushion. The Project Office at Avro Chadderton assisted in the design under the code-name Project Y. It was predicted that the vehicle would have a maximum range and speed of 1,000 miles and 300 mph respectively. The programme was taken over and financed by the United States Army of Defence in 1955 but the trials were a complete failure and the project was cancelled in 1961.
The Company also owned a Gas Turbine Division which later became Orenda Engines. It was responsible for the first jet engine to be designed and built in Canada, which first ran on 17th March 1948.
Avro Canada is perhaps most famously known for the futuristic CF-105 Avro Arrow turbojet fighter. Powered by two Avro Orenda Iroquois engines, the Arrow made its maiden flight on 25th March 1958 and later exceeded 1,000 mph in level flight. Trials were going extremely well and the RCAF placed an order for 35 aircraft in June 1958. Despite the promise shown, the Canadian government cancelled the project in February 1959 after just five aircraft had been completed.
The Hawker Siddeley Group had invested much into the Canadian heavy industry and the cancellation of the Arrow had grave consequences for the Group. The Company was forced to lay off its workforce and Avro Canada was formally dissolved in 1962.
more info go to https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/