RAF Limavady

Last updated

RAF Limavady
RNAS Limavady
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Limavady, County Londonderry in Northern Ireland
Site information
Type Royal Air Force satellite station
Owner Air Ministry
Admiralty
Operator Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled by RAF Coastal Command
* No. 15 Group RAF
* No. 17 (T) Group RAF
Fleet Air Arm
Location
United Kingdom Northern Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Limavady
Shown within Northern Ireland
United Kingdom adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Limavady
RAF Limavady (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates 55°04′23″N006°56′15″W / 55.07306°N 6.93750°W / 55.07306; -6.93750
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940 - August 1945 (1945)
Battles/wars European theatre of World War II
Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation20 metres (66 ft) [1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00 Concrete/Tarmac
00/00 Concrete/Tarmac
00/00 Concrete/Tarmac

Royal Air Force Limavady, or more simply RAF Limavady, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station, also known as Aghanloo airfield, near the city of Derry, Northern Ireland.

Contents

History

The station was built in 1940 during the Second World War. The airfield was part of RAF Coastal Command and was important in the fight against U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. [2]

Units
SqnAircraftJoinedDepartedFrom → ToNotes
48 Avro Anson I
Bristol Beaufort I
Lockheed Hudson V/III
16 July 194020 October 1941 RAF Hooton Park
RAF Stornoway
RAF Skitten
On detachment initially from RAF Hooton Park then squadron moved to RAF Stornoway then on to RAF Skitten. [3]
53 Lockheed Hudson  VJuly 1941February 1942 RAF Bircham NewtonRAF St Eval On detachment then squadron moved to RAF St Eval and continued its detachment. [4]
143 Bristol Blenheim IV23 April 194211 June 1942 RAF AldergroveRAF Thorney Island Squadron move. [5]
153 Boulton Paul Defiant  I
Bristol Beaufighter IF
October 1941December 1942 RAF BallyhalbertRAF Portreath On detachment. [6]
172 Vickers Wellington XIV1 September 19444 June 1945 RAF Chivenor → DBSquadron disbanded. [7]
221 Vickers Wellington ICNovember 194025 December 1941 RAF Bircham NewtonRAF Docking On detachment from RAF Bircham Newton then from RAF Reykjavik. [8]
224 Lockheed Hudson II15 April 194120 December 1941 RAF LeucharsRAF St Eval Squadron move. [9]
245 Hawker Hurricane I20 July 19401 September 1941 RAF AldergroveRAF Chilbolton On detachment. [10]
281 Supermarine Sea Otter 31 March 194113 August 1945 RAF MullaghmoreRAF Ballykelly Squadron move. [11]
304 Vickers Wellington XIII21 September 19446 March 1945 RAF BenbeculaRAF St Eval On detachment. [12]
407 Vickers Wellington XI29 January 194428 April 1944 RAF ChivenorRAF Chivenor Squadron move. [13]
500 Bristol Blenheim IV30 May 194122 March 1942 RAF Bircham NewtonRAF Stornoway On detachment then squadron move. [14]
502 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V27 January 194110 January 1942 RAF AldergroveRAF Bircham Newton Squadron move. [15]
612 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V1 April 194115 December 1941 RAF WickRAF Reykjavik On detachment then squadron move. [16]
811 Naval Air Squadron 19441944 [17]
819 Naval Air Squadron [17]
825 Naval Air Squadron 19441944 [17]
846 Naval Air Squadron 19441944 [17]
850 Naval Air Squadron 19441944 [17]

The following units were also here at some point:

During the Second World War the airfield was further used by the Fleet Air Arm when it was known as RNAS Limavady until 1958 when it was finally sold off.

Current use

After it was vacated by the military, the site was partly converted into an industrial estate with the rest returning to agricultural purposes. The runways and taxiways can still be seen from aerial imagery. [21] [22]

References

Citations

  1. Falconer 2012, p. 128.
  2. "Move to preserve Limavady RAF buildings". Derry Journal. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. Jefford 2001 , p. 44 (No. 48 Sqn)
  4. Jefford 2001 , p. 45 (No. 53 Sqn)
  5. Jefford 2001 , p. 64 (No. 143 Sqn)
  6. Jefford 2001 , p. 65 (No. 153 Sqn)
  7. Jefford 2001 , p. 67 (No. 172 Sqn)
  8. Jefford 2001 , p. 75 (No. 221 Sqn)
  9. Jefford 2001 , p. 75 (No. 224 Sqn)
  10. Jefford 2001 , p. 79 (No. 245 Sqn)
  11. Jefford 2001 , p. 85 (No. 281 Sqn)
  12. Jefford 2001 , p. 87 (No. 304 Sqn)
  13. Jefford 2001 , p. 91 (No. 407 Sqn)
  14. Jefford 2001 , p. 95 (No. 500 Sqn)
  15. Jefford 2001 , p. 96 (No. 502 Sqn)
  16. Jefford 2001 , p. 101 (No. 612 Sqn)
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Limavady". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  18. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 235.
  19. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 202.
  20. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 93.
  21. "RAF Limavady airfield control tower WW2". www.controltowers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  22. "Limavady". www.forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.

Bibliography