BASE FLAG FOR MARSTON MOOR, YORKSHIRE.

BASE FLAG FOR MARSTON MOOR, YORKSHIRE.
[Ministry of Defence, England]: dated [19]43.
A linen RAF Base Flag for Marston Moor airfield in Yorkshire, Northern England. 820 x 1800 mm. The flag with the Union jack at the upper left canton, light blue ground and a central RAF Roundel in red, white and blue, short halyard, the hoist stenciled "RAF MARSTON MOOR 43." Some discoloration and staining, a few tears and holes (possibly moths).
Provenance: Pilot Officer T. McCarthy, DFC (the lot accompanied by several copies of personal photographs of McCarthy.)

A fine RAF base flag probably flown over the control tower of the air base. Marston Moor was built in 1941 near Tockwith, just 8 miles west of York. Initially called RAF Tockwith, it had its name changed in 1942 to Marston Moor, and served as a bomber base for training Whitley and Wellington Bomber pilots to fly the Halifax Bomber. From April to September 1943, Group Captain Leonard Cheshire was Station Commander, but he moved on to 617 squadron after the death of Guy Gibson. The film star and USAAF Captain Clark Gable was stationed at Marston Moor as ground staff, before moving on to RAF Polesworth. Whilst in England, Gable was involved in a few short instructional movies, and narrated "Combat America" produced by the USAAF. Hitler is said to have put up a reward for the capture of Gable.