Sha Tin Airfield
Encyclopedia
Sha Tin Airfield was a small military airfield in Sha Tin
, New Territories
, Hong Kong
, which had a single concrete runway. The airfield was located along the Shing Mun River
and looked out to Tide Cove
. The airfield served as a Flight (military unit)
based for most of the location's existence.
The airfield was demolished in the early 1970s as the RAF consolidated their operations at RAF Shek Kong
and later re-developed as part of the New Town project for Shatin.
(as RAF Shatin).
The designation as an RAF airfield was brief and was transferred to the British Army
's Army Air Corps (AAC). In the 1950s and 1960, the AAC rotated in various Air Observation Post
Flight units from Britain
to Hong Kong
:
The Air Observation Post were under the command of the 40th Infantry Division.
The base operated the Auster AOP.6
, an aircraft also used by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
.
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda
severely damaged much of the site. Subsequently, the base was demolished in the early 1970s to make way for developing the Sha Tin New Town
.
During the late 1950s a private club used the airfield to fly RC model airplanes.. The club remained at the airfield until 1970.
Prior to 1949, the area was used briefly as an airfield. Belgian pilot Charles den Bron flew his Spirit of Shatin from an airfield in the area in 1911.
, near present-day Hong Kong Heritage Museum
and Royal Park Hotel
. The airfield was built on the shallow shores of Tide Cove
.
facing Tolo Harbour
.
Sha Tin
Sha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, which had a single concrete runway. The airfield was located along the Shing Mun River
Shing Mun River
Shing Mun River, or Shing Mun River Channel, is a river in Sha Tin, Hong Kong.-History:The original Shing Mun River began at Needle Hill, and flowed into the former Tide Cove , a shallow bay. In the 1970s, Tide Cove was drained and turned to Sha Tin New Town...
and looked out to Tide Cove
Tide Cove
Tide Cove or Sha Tin Hoi is a cove at the mouth of Shing Mun River. The cove is open to Tolo Harbour . The cove was largely reclaimed for the development of Sha Tin New Town.-See also:* Ma Liu Shui* Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works...
. The airfield served as a Flight (military unit)
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
based for most of the location's existence.
The airfield was demolished in the early 1970s as the RAF consolidated their operations at RAF Shek Kong
Shek Kong Airfield
The Shek Kong Airfield , ICAO:VHSK), formerly RAF Sek Kong/Sek Kong Airfield, is an airbase located in Shek Kong of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ....
and later re-developed as part of the New Town project for Shatin.
History
In 1949, Sha Tin Airfield was built for use by the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(as RAF Shatin).
The designation as an RAF airfield was brief and was transferred to the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Army Air Corps (AAC). In the 1950s and 1960, the AAC rotated in various Air Observation Post
Air Observation Post
An Air Observation Post is a British military aircraft used for active or passive observation of artillery actions.-History:Air Observation Post is the term used by the Royal Air Force and other services of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth air forces for an aeroplane or helicopter used in the...
Flight units from Britain
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...
to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
:
- No 20 Independent Reconnaissance Flight - Army Air Corps
- 1900 Air Observation Post Flight
- 1903 Air Observation Post Flight
- 8 Flight Army Air Corps
- 7 Flight Army Air Corps
- 25 Flight Army Air Corps
- 29 Flight Army Air Corps
- 16 Flight Army Air Corps
- 12 Flight Army Air Corps
The Air Observation Post were under the command of the 40th Infantry Division.
The base operated the Auster AOP.6
Auster AOP.6
-Bibliography:*Halley, J.J., The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918-1988, Air-Britain, Tonbridge, ISBN 0-85130-164-9....
, an aircraft also used by the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force was an auxiliary unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, based in Hong Kong. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, the unit was disbanded on 1 April 1993.Although technically an armed...
.
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda
1962 Pacific typhoon season
The 1962 Pacific typhoon season had no official bounds; there was activity in every month but January, March, and June, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. Most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between...
severely damaged much of the site. Subsequently, the base was demolished in the early 1970s to make way for developing the Sha Tin New Town
Sha Tin New Town
Sha Tin New Town is one of the new towns in Hong Kong. It is within the Sha Tin District, which covers the areas of Sha Tin, Tai Wai, Fo Tan, Tai Shui Hang, Ma On Shan, etc. With development started in the 1970s, it covers an area of 35.87 square kilometres . It presently has a population over...
.
During the late 1950s a private club used the airfield to fly RC model airplanes.. The club remained at the airfield until 1970.
Prior to 1949, the area was used briefly as an airfield. Belgian pilot Charles den Bron flew his Spirit of Shatin from an airfield in the area in 1911.
Geography
It was located near the Sha Tin Station of the Kowloon-Canton Railway British SectionKCR East Rail
The East Rail Line is one of ten railway lines of the Mass Transit Railway system in Hong Kong. It used to be one of the three lines of the Kowloon-Canton Railway network...
, near present-day Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a museum of history, art and culture in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, by the Shing Mun River. The museum opened on 16 December 2000. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government...
and Royal Park Hotel
Royal Park Hotel
Royal Park Hotel is one of the largest hotels in Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong established in 1989. Owned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, the hotel belongs to Phase 2 of New Town Plaza, the largest shopping mall in the district...
. The airfield was built on the shallow shores of Tide Cove
Tide Cove
Tide Cove or Sha Tin Hoi is a cove at the mouth of Shing Mun River. The cove is open to Tolo Harbour . The cove was largely reclaimed for the development of Sha Tin New Town.-See also:* Ma Liu Shui* Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works...
.
Facilities
The airfield consisted of a single 600-metre runway, direction 05/23. Facilities at the airfield consisted of a small control tower, building and hangars made of corrugated steel sections. All the structures were demolished when the base closed in the 1970s. The Air Observation Post Headquarter's building was located at the edge of the Tide CoveTide Cove
Tide Cove or Sha Tin Hoi is a cove at the mouth of Shing Mun River. The cove is open to Tolo Harbour . The cove was largely reclaimed for the development of Sha Tin New Town.-See also:* Ma Liu Shui* Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works...
facing Tolo Harbour
Tolo Harbour
Tolo Harbour , or Tai Po Hoi is a sheltered harbour in northeast New Territories of Hong Kong.-Geography:Tide Cove aka...
.
See also
- Military of Hong KongMilitary of Hong KongHong Kong is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, and formerly a British crown colony. As such it has never had any military force of its own, and defence have always been the responsibilities of the sovereign power. Currently defence of the territory is the duty of...
- British Forces Overseas Hong KongBritish Forces Overseas Hong KongBritish Forces Overseas Hong Kong consisted of the elements of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Much of the British military left Hong Kong prior to the handover in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era...
- Sek Kong Airfield
- RAF Kai TakRAF Kai TakRAF Kai Tak was a Royal Air Force station in Hong Kong. It was opened in 1927 and used for seaplanes. The RAF flight operated a few land based aircraft as well as having spare aircraft for naval units.-History:...
- Aviation history of Hong KongAviation history of Hong KongThe first privately owned airport in Hong Kong was located in Sha Tin. On 18 March 1911, the aeroplane of the Belgian pilot, Charles den Bron, successfully took off at the airport in Sha Tin on an aeroplane named Spirit of Sha Tin . It was the first aeroplane that took off in Hong Kong...