RAF St Eval
Encyclopedia
| RAF St Eval | |
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| Command: | Coastal Command RAF Coastal Command RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive... |
| Function: | Operational, Parent |
| Runways: | 261 deg 1,980 x 50yd 201 deg 1,970 x 50yd 320 deg 1,600 x 50yd |
| Runway surface: | Part Concrete/Tarmac |
| Hangars: | Blister (69 ft) x 5 Type C x 4 Blister (45 ft) x 2 T.2 x 2 Bellman x 1 |
| Dispersals: | 48 x Spectacle |
| Personnel: | Officers - 18 Other Ranks - 1,284 |
| Coordinates: | |
RAF St Eval was a strategic airbase for the RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
in the Second World War (situated in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
). St Eval's primary role was to provided anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast of England. Aircraft from the base were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
missions and protection of the airbase from the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
.
The construction of the airbase
The RAF's 1930s expansion plan included a requirement for an airbase to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the South-west coast of England. The site at St Eval was chosen as a Coastal Command base and work got underway in 1938. Five widely dispersed cottages, two houses and portions of two farms were acquired by compulsory purchase; the village of St EvalSt Eval
St Eval is a civil parish and hamlet in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hamlet is situated approximately four miles southwest of Padstow....
was completely demolished in order to build the air station. Levelling of the site by G.Wallace Ltd involved the removal by bulldozer of many Cornish dry stone walls and three ancient tumuli. One householder tried to hold out against the authorities and refused to leave his cottage for several days. Only the church survived (which still stands today). The work progressed well and St Eval opened on 2 October 1939.
Battle of Britain
In June 1940 St Eval became a Fighter CommandRAF Fighter Command
RAF Fighter Command was one of three functional commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War, gaining recognition in the Battle of Britain. The Command continued until 17 November 1943, when...
sector headquarters during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
and Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s were based there. These were joined by Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
and Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
fighters. The station's aircraft took an active part in the conflict.
Meteorological flights
The formation in December 1940 of No 404 (later 1404) Meteorological Flight was significant. The squadron was tasked with providing basic weather data on which the Command meteorologists could base their forecasts. It was a role which St Eval performed throughout the war.Attacks on St Eval
The presence of the Spitfires was not a great success. The Luftwaffe's change in tactics led to an increase in night raids for which the Spitfires were not suited. Therefore 238 Squadron were drafted in with Hurricanes. The base was unfortunately hit a number of times in the summer of 1940 and early 1941. This caused considerable damage and casualties. The Germans carried out a number of raids in May 1942, causing damage to buildings and the destruction of aircraft. St Eval was equipped with an amazing green box barrage rocket device which sent a steel wire curtain into the air to descend on parachutes. This was intended to enmesh enemy aircraft and cause them to crash, but the device was unsuccessful.| Date | Incident |
| 12 July 1940 | During the afternoon a single Ju 88 dropped eight bombs, causing minor damage. It was chased off by two Spitfires. |
| 21 August 1940 | Three Ju 88s bombed bombed St Eval, causing damage to two hangars and destroying three Blenheims. Hurricanes managed to shoot down two of the German aircraft. |
| 22 August 1940 | 14 high explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries were dropped without causing much damage. |
| 23 August 1940 | A direct hit on a pyrotechnics store caused a large explosion. |
| 26 August 1940 | St Eval was bombed at 2130 and 2158 hours. |
| 30 September 1940 | At about 2300 hours, five high explosive bombs were dropped, two landing on the aerodrome and three outside. No damage was reported. |
| 3 October 1940 | St Eval was attacked between 0655 and 0710 hours. Two Spitfires and one Avro Anson Avro Anson The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was... were completely destroyed, two hangars were also hit. |
| 14 October 1940 | At 2111 hours, six high explosive bombs and 20 incendiaries were dropped on the Station. |
Attack on the German battleship Gneisenau
On 6 April 1941 a small force of BeaufortsBristol Beaufort
The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
from 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron RAF
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
, operating on detachment from St Eval, launched an attack on the German battleship Gneisenau
German battleship Gneisenau
Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included one other ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935...
in Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
harbour. A Beaufort was able to launch a torpedo at point blank range but was immediately shot-down. The ship was severely damaged below the water line and obliged to return to the dock. She was, however, later repaired.
No 61 Squadron
In the summer of 1942 No. 61 squadron was twice loaned to Coastal Command for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of BiscayBay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
. It was detached from its base in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
to St Eval and on the very first occasion that it operated from there - on 17 July 1942 - a crew became the first in RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
to bring back irrefutable evidence that they had destroyed a U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
at sea - a photograph showing the U-boat crew in the water swimming away from their sinking vessel.
American use of the airfield
To boost the anti-submarine forces and to gain experience in the role, the Americans began to use the airfield (as station 129) with B-24 LiberatorB-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bombers of the 409th Bombardment Squadron (93d Bombardment Group), being deployed from RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
in Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
in October 1942.
The following month they were replaced by the 1st Antisubmarine Squadron
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
The 1st Antisubmarine Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 480th Antisubmarine Group, based at Clovis Army Airfield, New Mexico...
being deployed from Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
with the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron
2d Antisubmarine Squadron
The 2d Antisubmarine Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 480th Antisubmarine Group, based at Clovis Army Airfield, New Mexico...
arriving in January 1943 forming the 1st Antisubmarine Group (Provisional) with specialized long-range Liberator bombers equipped with RADAR and other submarine detection equipment. From St. Eval, the squadrons flew killer hunts against German U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay. Both of these squadrons were reassigned to Port Lyautey
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey is a former United States Navy Naval Air Station in Morocco, about 5 km north-northwest of Kenitra ; about 120 km northeast of Casablanca. The Naval Air Station was turned over to the Royal Moroccan Air Force and the last of US military personnel departed...
in French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
in March 1943 to shore-up scanty Allied antisubmarine defenses in the Atlantic approaches to the Straits of Gibraltar. German U-boats had very recently sunk four ships in an Allied convoy about a hundred miles off the coast of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Also, over the long term, the Allies wanted to increase air antisubmarine patrols and convoy coverage to secure their preparations for the impending Tunisian offensive and the subsequent invasion of Sicily.
The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was a direct reporting agency of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Its mission was to deal with the German Navy U-boat threat.-Lineage:...
formed the 479th Antisubmarine Group
479th Antisubmarine Group
The 479th Antisubmarine Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, based at RAF Podington, England...
at St. Eval in July with four squadrons of Liberators to continue the antisubmarine campaign. The 479th's most effective antisubmarine patrols were conducted from 18 July to 2 August 1943, the period in which the group made nearly all of its attacks on the U-boats. After that time the Germans avoided surfacing during daylight and adopted a policy of evasion, but the group continued its patrols, often engaging Luftwaffe fighter interceptor aircraft.
This was once again a short-lived arrangement and the group took its Liberators to RAF Dunkeswell
Dunkeswell Aerodrome
Dunkeswell Aerodrome is an airfield in East Devon, England. It is located approximately north of the town of Honiton and northeast of Exeter. It is a busy civilian airfield with a mix of light aircraft, microlights and parachuting....
on 6 August, ending the American use of the station.
Accident at St Eval
In August 1943 a Whitley and Liberator collided on the runway, causing a massive explosion and the loss of both the aircraft and crews. The collision was in part due to the poor runway layout, with a blind spot that hid one aircraft from the other.1944 - The end of the war
The importance of St Eval was such that it was given a FIDOFog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)
Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation was a system used for dispersing fog from an airfield so that aircraft could land safely...
installation in early 1944 for dispersal of fog around the runway so that aircraft could land safely. St Eval was destined to have a busy time during the allied invasion of Europe. It was home to three RAF Liberator squadrons (53, 224, 547). Many of these were equipped with the highly successful Leigh Light
Leigh light
The Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced...
. In April, a fourth squadron arrived, giving the base one of the most powerful anti-submarine forces in the RAF. This force flew thousands of hours of patrols each month and was rewarded with a number of sightings, many of which were converted into attacks, with at least three confirmed U-boat kills in June alone.
The Allied capture of French ports meant that the U-boat threat was drastically reduced. This meant that the units based at St Eval could be better used elsewhere. By the autumn of 1944 the base was a shadow of its former self.
Post World War II
The base continued to be used for maritime patrols and search and rescue duties. The airfield was also a site for diversions with a number of military and commercial aircraft making use of St Eval due to bad weather at their destination airfield. The Station closed on 6 March 1959, with the existing squadrons moving to nearby RAF St. MawganRAF St. Mawgan
RAF St Mawgan is a Royal Air Force station near St Mawgan and Newquay in Cornwall. In 2008 the runway part of the site was handed over to Newquay Airport. The remainder of the station still continues to operate under the command of the RAF...
.
RAF St Eval today
Much of the basic structure still exists but many of the buildings have gone. The base is currently a communication station. A new village has been built on the east side of the base, providing married accommodation for the RAF. The base is now ex RAF housing. When this was revealed people had to queue for 24 – 78 hours in tents to buy their own houses.Memorials
There are various memorials in the St Ulvelus church, including a Book of Remembrance, a memorial window and a memorial to the crew of Shackleton VP254, who were killed in a crash off the BorneoBorneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
coast on 9 December 1958.
A memorial tablet to the two crews of Shackletons WG531 and WL743 (squadron codes A-H and A-F respectively) of No.42 Squadron that probably collided whilst on an exercise off Fastnet Rock on 11 January 1955, is displayed in St Columba's church, St Columb Major.
Royal Air Force 1939 - 1945
| Squadron | Dates Stationed | Planes Used | Duties |
| 22 Squadron No. 22 Squadron RAF No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War... det |
early 1941 - June 1941 | Bristol Beaufort Bristol Beaufort The Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber.... |
|
| 22 Squadron | 28 October 1941 - 1 February 1942 | Bristol Beaufort | |
| 42 Squadron No. 42 Squadron RAF No. 42 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has served during World War I as an army co-operation squadron and during World War II in various roles. In recent years, it was the Operational Conversion Unit for the Nimrod MR.2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, until the Nimrod MR2's retirement in 2010.-First... det |
1941 | Bristol Beaufort | Anti-shipping and mine laying along the coasts of northern Europe |
| 48 Squadron No. 48 Squadron RAF No. 48 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that saw service in both World War I and World War II.-First World War:No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Netheravon, Wiltshire, on 15 April 1916. The squadron was posted to France in March 1917 and became the first fighter... det |
3 September - 17 July 1940 | Bristol Beaufort | |
| 53 Squadron No. 53 Squadron RAF -History:No. 53 squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Catterick on 15 May 1916. Originally intended to be a training squadron, it was sent to France to operate reconnaissance in December that year. The squadron was equipped with BE2Es—swapped for the RE8 in April 1917... |
20 March 1941 - 17 December 1941 | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... |
Anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the coast of France |
| 53 Squadron | 16 May 1942 - 3 July 1942 | Lockheed Hudson Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter... |
Anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the coast of France |
| 53 Squadron | 3 January 1944 - 13 September 1944 | B-24 Liberator B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber... |
|
| 58 Squadron No. 58 Squadron RAF No. 58 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.- History :No. 58 Squadron was first formed at Cramlington, Northumberland, on 8 June 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps.... |
8 April 1942 - 30 August 1942 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Armstrong Whitworth Whitley The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War... |
General reconnaissance unit |
| 58 Squadron | 31 March 1943 - 29 June 1943 | Handley Page Halifax Handley Page Halifax The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing... |
General reconnaissance unit |
| 59 Squadron No. 59 Squadron RAF No. 59 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force.- History :No.59 Squadron first became operational on 1 August 1916 at Narborough Airfield in Norfolk as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. During the Second World War it was attached to RAF Fighter Command , Bomber Command and Coastal Command... det |
1942 - 1943 | B-24 Liberator | |
| 61 Squadron det | 1942 | Avro Lancaster Avro Lancaster The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other... |
Anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish... |
| 86 Squadron No. 86 Squadron RAF No. 86 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Attached to Coastal Command the unit flew reconnaissance and air-sea rescue missions, anti-shipping strikes, and anti-submarine patrols.-Formation:No... |
10 January 1942 - 5 March 1942 | Bristol Beaufort | |
| 140 Squadron No. 140 Squadron RAF No. 140 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a Second World War photo-reconnaissance squadron that operated between 1941 and 1945.-History:Briefly formed during the First World War on 1 May 1918 at RAF Biggin Hill as a home defense squadron with Bristol F.2B Fighters, although by then German... det |
1942 | various | |
| 143 Squadron No. 143 Squadron RAF No. 143 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a fighter unit in World War I and reformed as an RAF Coastal Command fighter and anti-submarine unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No... |
28 August 1943 - 16 September 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter Bristol Beaufighter The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design... |
Provide fighter support for anti-submarine aircraft operating over the Bay of Biscay Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish... |
| 161 Squadron No. 161 Squadron RAF No. 161 Squadron was a highly secretive unit of the Royal Air Force tasked with missions of the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. Their primary role was to drop and collect secret agents and equipment into and from Nazi-occupied Europe... det |
1942 - ? | various | |
| 179 Squadron No. 179 Squadron RAF No. 179 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:... |
1 November 1944 - 30 September 1946 | Vickers Wellington Vickers Wellington The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a... Vickers Warwick Vickers Warwick The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas... |
Anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay and the Western approaches |
| 206 Squadron No. 206 Squadron RAF No. 206 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit employed, until 2005, in the maritime patrol role with the Nimrod MR.2 at RAF Kinloss, Moray. It was announced in December 2004 that 206 Squadron would disband on 1 April 2005, with half of its crews being redistributed to Nos. 120 and 201 Squadrons, also... |
30 May 1941 - 12 August 1941 | Lockheed Hudson | Patrol the south-west approaches |
| 206 Squadron | 12 April 1942 - 11 July 1944 | B-17 Flying Fortress | |
| 217 Squadron No. 217 Squadron RAF No. 217 Squadron RAF was originally formed on 1 April 1918, from the No. 17 Naval Squadron at Bergues, near Dunkerque. It conducted daylight raids using Airco DH.4s on enemy bases and airfields in Belgium. The squadron was disbanded on 18 October 1919, after the end of World War I.No... |
2 October 1939 - Mar 1942 | Avro Anson Avro Anson The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was... Bristol Beaufort |
Attacks on enemy shipping and minelaying |
| 220 Squadron No. 220 Squadron RAF No. 220 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a naval patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.-First World... det |
November 1940 - April 1941 | Lockheed Hudson | |
| 221 Squadron No. 221 Squadron RAF No. 221 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated during World War I and World War II. Its motto was "From sea to sea".-History:The Squadron was formed in Greece on 1 April 1918, from 'D' Squadron of No. 2 Wing RNAS. Initially engaged in anti-submarine warfare in the Aegean, it was sent... det |
November 1940 - Sept 1941 | Vickers Wellington | Convoy escort patrols |
| 224 Squadron No. 224 Squadron RAF No. 224 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 April 1918, at Alimini, Italy from part of No. 6 Wing RNAS, equipped with the De Havilland DH.4. In June 1918 it re-equipped with the De Havilland DH.9. The squadron moved to Taranto in December 1918, disbanding their in May 1919.On 1 February 1937, the squadron... |
20 December 1941 - 19 February 1942 | Lockheed Hudson | Patrols off Brest Brest, France Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon... and attack shipping off the coast of Brittany Brittany Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain... |
| 224 Squadron | 23 April 1943 - 11 September 1944 | B-24 Liberator | Anti-submarine operations over the Bay of Biscay Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish... and attacks on shipping over the French Coast |
| 233 Squadron No. 233 Squadron RAF No. 233 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated from 1918–1919, 1937–1945, 1952 - 1957 and 1960–1964. The squadron was formed from several Royal Naval Air Service flights and took part in the tail end of World War I before being disbanded. The squadron was reformed with the... |
16 August 1941 - July 1942 | Lockheed Hudson | Patrols over the Bay of Biscay |
| 234 Squadron No. 234 Squadron RAF No. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and... |
18 June 1940 - 24 February 1941 | Supermarine Spitfire Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s... |
Convoy patrols in the South West approaches and the English Channel English Channel The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover... with a secondary role of defending the airfield and surrounding area |
| 235 Squadron No. 235 Squadron RAF No. 235 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine squadron of the Royal Air Force in World War I and in World War II served as a squadron in RAF Coastal Command-Formation and World War I:... det |
early 1943 | Bristol Beaufighter | |
| 236 Squadron No. 236 Squadron RAF The squadron was formed on 20 August 1918 from No's 493, 515 & 516 Flights at Mullion, in Cornwall. Equipped with DH6s, it carried out anti-submarine patrols along the coast until the end of the war, disbanding on 15 May 1919.... |
July 1940 - late 1941 | Bristol Blenheim Bristol Blenheim The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... |
Fighter and reconnaissance |
| 238 Squadron | 14 August 1940 - 10 September 1940 | Hawker Hurricane Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... |
Defending the airfield |
| 247 Squadron No. 247 Squadron RAF No. 247 Squadron was formerly a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was also known as No.247 Squadron in recognition of the donations made by the British colonies, which at the outbreak of the Second World War, were established on the Chinese coast... det |
summer 1940 - summer 1941 | Gloster Gladiator Gloster Gladiator The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it... Hawker Hurricane |
|
| 248 Squadron No. 248 Squadron RAF No. 248 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, active immediately after World War I, and again during World War II.-Post-World War I:... |
Summer 1941 | Bristol Blenheim | |
| 254 Squadron No. 254 Squadron RAF No. 254 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was reformed in 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily. The squadron was equipped with three Thor Intermediate range ballistic missiles... det |
late 1940 | Bristol Blenheim | |
| 263 Squadron No. 263 Squadron RAF No 263 Squadron was an Royal Air Force fighter squadron formed in Italy towards the end of World War I. After being disbanded in 1919 it reformed in 1939 flying mainly strike and heavy fighter aircraft until becoming No 1 Squadron in 1958.-First World War:... |
24 February 1941 - 18 March 1941 | Westland Whirlwind Westland Whirlwind (fixed wing) The Westland Whirlwind was a British twin-engined heavy fighter developed by Westland Aircraft. It was the Royal Air Force's first single-seat, twin-engined, cannon-armed fighter, and a contemporary of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. It was one of the fastest aircraft when it flew in... |
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| 280 Squadron No. 280 Squadron RAF No. 280 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron during the second world war.-History:No. 280 Squadron was formed at RAF Thorney Island, England on the 10 December 1941 as an air-sea rescue squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Avro Anson and was responsible for air-sea rescue... det |
autumn 1944 - autumn 1945 | Vickers Warwick | |
| 282 Squadron No. 282 Squadron RAF No. 282 Squadron was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron during the second world war.-History:No. 282 Squadron was formed at RAF Castletown, Scotland on 1 January 1943 as an air-sea rescue squadron. The squadron was equipped with the Supermarine Walrus and the Avro Anson... |
19 September 1944 - 9 July 1945 | various | Air Sea Rescue (ASR) |
| 304 Squadron | 6 March 1945 - 9 July 1945 | Vickers Wellington | |
| No. 407 Squadron RCAF No. 407 Squadron RCAF 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron is a long range & maritime patrol squadron of the Canadian Forces. It is located at 19 Wing Comox, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia operating the CP-140 Aurora.-History:No... |
1 October 1942 - 10 November 1942 | Lockheed Hudson | |
| 407 Squadron RCAF | 3 November 1943 - 2 December 1943 | Vickers Wellington | |
| No. 415 Squadron RCAF No. 415 Squadron RCAF No. 415 Squadron RCAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force that first saw service during the Second World War. After unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968, the squadron continued to provide service within the Canadian Forces.... |
11 April 1942 - late 1942 | Handley Page Hampden Handley Page Hampden The Handley Page HP.52 Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber of the Royal Air Force serving in the Second World War. With the Whitley and Wellington, the Hampden bore the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and the first 1,000-plane... |
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| No. 489 Squadron RNZAF det | May 1942 - June 1942 | Bristol Blenheim | |
| 500 Squadron No. 500 Squadron RAF No. 500 Squadron AAF was formed in 1931 as a Special Reserve squadron and in 1936 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served in a number of roles before being disbanded in 1957.-Formation and early years:... |
30 August 1942 - 5 November 1942 | Lockheed Hudson | |
| 502 Squadron No. 502 Squadron RAF No. 502 Squadron was a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron that saw service in World War II.-Formation and early years:No. 502 squadron was originally formed on 15 May 1925 as No. 502 Squadron, a Special Reserve squadron at RAF Aldergrove, and it was composed of a mixture of regular and reserve... |
February 1942 - June 1943 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Handley Page Halifax |
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| 517 Squadron No. 517 Squadron RAF No. 517 Squadron RAF was a meteorological squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 517 Squadron was formed on 11 August 1943 at RAF St Eval, Cornwall when 1404 Meteorological Flight was re-numbered. It was equipped with Lockheed Hudsons and Handley Page Hampdens,... |
7 August 1943 - 25 November 1943 | Handley Page Hampden Lockheed Hudson |
Meteorological flights over the Western Approaches |
| 541 Squadron No. 541 Squadron RAF No. 541 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a photographic reconnaissance squadron in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed at RAF Benson on 19 October 1942 and was equipped with Spitfires to fly missions over Europe... det |
1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Photographic reconnaissance missions |
| 543 Squadron No. 543 Squadron RAF No. 543 Squadron RAF was a photographic reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force, active in two periods between 1942 and 1974.-History:... det |
late 1942 - 1943 | Supermarine Spitfire | Photographic reconnaissance missions over France |
| 547 Squadron No. 547 Squadron RAF No. 547 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an RAF Coastal Command anti-shipping and anti submarine squadron in World War II.-Formation in World War II:... |
14 January 1944 - 1 October 1944 | B-24 Liberator | Anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay |
| 612 Squadron No. 612 Squadron RAF No. 612 Squadron RAF was originally formed in 1937 as an Army Co-operation unit, and flew during World War II in the General Reconnaissance role. After the war the squadron was reformed and flew in the Day Fighter role until disbanded in 1957. At present the squadron has a non-flying role as a... |
1 November 1943 - 3 December 1943 | Vickers Wellington | Anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay |
| 796 Naval Air Squadron det | August-September 1948 | Fairey Gannet Fairey Gannet The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company... |
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| 801 Naval Air Squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm squadron of the Royal Navy formed in 1933 which fought in World War II, the Korean War and the Falklands War.- Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force:... |
31 January 1941 - 6 February 1941 | Blackburn Skua Blackburn Skua The Blackburn B-24 Skua was a carrier-based low-wing, two-seater, single-radial engine aircraft operated by the British Fleet Air Arm which combined the functions of a dive bomber and fighter. It was designed in the mid-1930s, and saw service in the early part of the Second World War... |
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| 807 Naval Air Squadron 807 Naval Air Squadron 807 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy.-Second World War:807 Squadron was formed at Worthy Down in September 1940, equipped with Fairey Fulmar Is. Three were embarked on HMS Pegasus, where they remained until February 1941, when the entire squadron embarked on for... |
20-23 August 1949 | Hawker Sea Fury Hawker Sea Fury The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an... |
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| 812 Naval Air Squadron 812 Naval Air Squadron 812 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, which was active between 1933 and 1956, and saw service in World War II and the Korean War.-First formation:... det |
November 1940 - December 1940 | Fairey Swordfish Fairey Swordfish The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War... |
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| 816 Naval Air Squadron det | April 1941 - May 1941 | Fairey Swordfish | |
| 820 Naval Air Squadron 820 Naval Air Squadron 820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron formed in April 1933 with the transferral of the Fairey III aircraft from 405 Flight Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm... |
11-18 November 1944 | TBF Avenger TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world.... |
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| 827 Naval Air Squadron 827 Naval Air Squadron 827 Naval Air Squadron was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm during World War II. It operated Fairey Barracudas starting in May 1943, becoming the first squadron to receive Barracudas in any substantial number.... |
11 May 1941 - 4 June 1941 | Fairey Albacore Fairey Albacore The Fairey Albacore was a British single-engine carrier-borne biplane torpedo bomber built by Fairey Aviation between 1939 and 1943 for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and used during the Second World War. It had a three-man crew and was designed for spotting and reconnaissance as well as delivering... |
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| 829 Naval Air Squadron 829 Naval Air Squadron 829 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin HM1 helicopter.-1940–1942:829 Naval Air Squadron first formed on 15 June 1940 as a torpedo and reconnaissance squadron at Royal Naval Air Station Ford, Sussex and equipped with nine... |
7 October 1940 - 3 November 1940 | Fairey Albacore | |
| 833 Naval Air Squadron | 11 March 1943 - 15 April 1943 | Fairey Swordfish | |
| 849 Naval Air Squadron | 9-26 August 1944 | TBF Avenger | |
| 2 AACU det (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) |
? - April 1940 | various | |
| 6 CPF | 15 January 1940 - 27 May 1940 | De Havilland Tiger Moth De Havilland Tiger Moth The de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft... |
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| Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) | 1 July 1940 - October 1942 | various | Recces of targets in Western France, particularly naval bases |
| 404/1404Flt (Later becoming 517 Squadron) |
24 December 1940 - 11 August 1943 | Handley Page Hampden Bristol Blenheim Lockheed Hudson Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarle was a British twin-engine transport aircraft that entered service during the Second World War.Originally designed as a medium bomber that could be built by non-aviation companies without using light alloys, the Albemarle never served in that role, instead... |
Meteorological Meteorology Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries... unit |
| 8 AACU det (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) |
March 1941 - June 1941 | various | |
| 10 OTU det | 1942 - 23 July 1943 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley |
Royal Air Force Post 1945
| Squadron | Dates Stationed | Planes Used | Duties |
| 42 Squadron | 28 June 1952 - 8 October 1958 | Avro Shackleton Avro Shackleton The Avro Shackleton was a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft for use by the Royal Air Force. It was developed by Avro from the Avro Lincoln bomber with a new fuselage... |
Maritime reconnaissance |
| 179 Squadron | ? - 30 September 1946 | Vickers Wellington, Vickers Warwick | |
| 203 Squadron | 16 January 1947 - 15 August 1952 | Avro Lancaster | |
| 206 Squadron | 27 September 1952 - 14 January 1958 | Avro Shackleton | Reconnaissance and rescue patrols over the western approaches |
| 210 Squadron No. 210 Squadron RAF No. 210 Squadron was a Royal Air Force unit established in World War I. Disbanded and reformed a number of times in the ensuing years, it operated as a fighter squadron during World War I and as a maritime patrol squadron during the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the Cold War before it was... |
1 June 1946 - 10 September 1952 | Avro Lancaster | Maritime patrols and air-sea rescue |
| 220 Squadron No. 220 Squadron RAF No. 220 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was originally founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a naval patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.-First World... |
14 November 1951 - 4 December 1956 | Avro Shackleton | |
| 228 Squadron | 1 June 1946 - 30 September 1946 | B-24 Liberator | Passenger and freight services to Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... , Gibraltar Gibraltar Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region... , the Azores and Morocco Morocco Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara... . It also had reconnaissance, air-sea rescue and meteorological tasks |
| 228 Squadron No. 228 Squadron RAF No. 228 Squadron RAF was a unit that during the greatest part of its existence flew over water, doing so in World War I, World War II and beyond, performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue tasks.-Formation and World War I:... |
1 July 1954 - 29 November 1956 14 January 1958 - 6 March 1959 |
Avro Shackleton | Maritime reconnaissance |
| 240 Squadron No. 240 Squadron RAF No. 240 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force flying boat and seaplane squadron during World War I, World War II and up to 1959. It was then reformed as a strategic missile squadron, serving thus till 1963.-Formation and World War I:No... |
27 May 1952 - 5 June 1952 | Avro Shackleton | Maritime reconnaissance |
| 95 GS Volunteer Gliding Squadron Volunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.... |
June 1945 - 31 January 1950 | Avro Cadet Avro Cadet |-See also:-External links:**... |
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| 19 Gp CF | 29 July 1948 - 27 August 1951 | various | |
| TTF | September 1953 - September 1955 | De Havilland Mosquito De Havilland Mosquito The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"... |
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| 626 VGS Volunteer Gliding Squadron Volunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps.... |
1 June 1958 - 16 March 1963 | Avro Cadet |
External links
- worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net RAF St Eval
- www.atlantikwall.co.uk RAF St Eval
- RAF St Eval today in Google Maps