I HOPE whichever politician that wins the seat of Thirsk and Malton, makes a high priority of retaining RAF Linton-on-Ouse as a flying base. The MP needs to forcefully recommend with the Ministry of Defence, in retaining the airfield and not moving it to RAF Valley in Wales.

Since 1957, as No 1 Flying Training School, this station has played a vital role towards the defence of this country by bringing through pilots (and for the Royal Navy) with the highest flying skills in the world.

Surely, we require more flying training, pilots and aircraft, given the dangerously unstable political situations in so many parts of the world? Vladimir Putin is now frequently testing our defence response by provocative flying incursions near our national airspace.

I have seen in my lifetime, the closure of so many RAF airfields in Yorkshire, that to lose Linton would be a sad loss to our connection with the RAF.

We have already lost RAF Church Fenton, Elvington, Dishforth, Full Sutton, Rufforth, Topcliffe, Driffield, Leconfields and Finningley.

As someone who has an affection for this service and been privileged to fly with them over many hours in Jet Provosts, Tornados and the BBMF Lancaster (both over Buckingham Palace) and the legendary Red Arrows, I hope that the defence chiefs think long and hard against such a move from Yorkshire.

Keith Massey, Bishopthorpe, York.