RAF Jurby
Encyclopedia
Royal Air Force Station Jurby was a former RAF station built in the north west of the Isle of Man
. It was opened in 1939 on 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF. During World War II
the station was used for training as No 5 Armament Training Station, No 5 Air Observer School, No 5 Bombing & Gunnery School, and the Air Navigation & Bombing School, in addition to a variety of operational squadrons.
Jurby was originally a grass airfield but was later equipped with hard runways. Operationally it helped protect Belfast and Liverpool from German air raids. RAF Jurby closed in 1963.
The main East/West runway is bisected by a road, from when the runway was extended. As the existing road was in the way, the runway was extended over it. To facilitate its use, barriers were placed across the road and the road was closed whilst the runway was in use.
During the 1970s the No. 1 Directorate of Initial Officer Training (DIOT) was based at RAF Jurby, jokingly referred to by the trainee cadets as the "Camp on Blood Island".
07/41, Renamed No 5 Air Observer School, with Anson, Henley and Hampdens. 307 Sqn Defiants here autumn 1940.
01/41 to 03/42, 258, 302 and 312 Sqns with Hurricanes.
08/41 to 03/42, 457 Sqn with Spitfires, these were also detached to Andreas.
02/44 to 09/46, Air Navigation and Bombing School with Ansons and Wellingtons. 5/45, Renamed No 5 Air Navigation School, moved to Topcliffe.
09/46 to 10/47, No 11 Air Gunnery School from Andreas. Airfield then on care and maintenance.
04/50 to 07/53, No 1 Initial Training School.
09/53 to 09/63, Officer Cadet Training Unit from Millom.
02/64 to /72, After RAF closure used as a diversion airfield for Ronaldsway.
Being government owned it is used for an airshow every year. It now has mixed purposes as storage, a racing circuit, karting track and now the new Isle of Man Prison
. Development of the village of Jurby
has also encroached on to parts of the airfield.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. It was opened in 1939 on 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the station was used for training as No 5 Armament Training Station, No 5 Air Observer School, No 5 Bombing & Gunnery School, and the Air Navigation & Bombing School, in addition to a variety of operational squadrons.
Jurby was originally a grass airfield but was later equipped with hard runways. Operationally it helped protect Belfast and Liverpool from German air raids. RAF Jurby closed in 1963.
The main East/West runway is bisected by a road, from when the runway was extended. As the existing road was in the way, the runway was extended over it. To facilitate its use, barriers were placed across the road and the road was closed whilst the runway was in use.
During the 1970s the No. 1 Directorate of Initial Officer Training (DIOT) was based at RAF Jurby, jokingly referred to by the trainee cadets as the "Camp on Blood Island".
Timeline
09/39 to 02/44, No 5 Bombing and Gunnery School with Battle, Blenheim and Wallace aircraft.07/41, Renamed No 5 Air Observer School, with Anson, Henley and Hampdens. 307 Sqn Defiants here autumn 1940.
01/41 to 03/42, 258, 302 and 312 Sqns with Hurricanes.
08/41 to 03/42, 457 Sqn with Spitfires, these were also detached to Andreas.
02/44 to 09/46, Air Navigation and Bombing School with Ansons and Wellingtons. 5/45, Renamed No 5 Air Navigation School, moved to Topcliffe.
09/46 to 10/47, No 11 Air Gunnery School from Andreas. Airfield then on care and maintenance.
04/50 to 07/53, No 1 Initial Training School.
09/53 to 09/63, Officer Cadet Training Unit from Millom.
02/64 to /72, After RAF closure used as a diversion airfield for Ronaldsway.
Today
The airfield is in part still usable. Many of its original buildings can still be seen, including the Control Tower, some hangars and the increasingly rare timber buildings which date back to 1939.Being government owned it is used for an airshow every year. It now has mixed purposes as storage, a racing circuit, karting track and now the new Isle of Man Prison
Isle of Man Prison
Jurby Prison redirects here.For the former Isle of Man Prison in Douglas, see Victoria Road Prison.Isle of Man Prison is a mixed-use prison located in the Jurby parish of the Isle of Man...
. Development of the village of Jurby
Jurby
Jurby is a parish in Micheal Sheading in the Isle of Man and has, according to the 2006 census 659 , residents.It is largely an agricultural district on the north-north-western coast of the island but also has an industrial park on the old RAF Jurby Airfield.The parish is one of three divisions of...
has also encroached on to parts of the airfield.