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RAF Limavady

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Coordinates: 55°04′23″N 006°56′15″W / 55.07306°N 6.93750°W / 55.07306; -6.93750
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RAF Limavady
RNAS Limavady
Limavady, County Londonderry in Northern Ireland
RAF Limavady is located in Northern Ireland
RAF Limavady
RAF Limavady
Shown within Northern Ireland
RAF Limavady is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Limavady
RAF Limavady
RAF Limavady (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates55°04′23″N 006°56′15″W / 55.07306°N 6.93750°W / 55.07306; -6.93750
TypeRoyal Air Force satellite station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
Admiralty
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byRAF Coastal Command
* No. 15 Group RAF
* No. 17 (T) Group RAF
Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940 - August 1945 (1945)
Battles/warsEuropean 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.

History

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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
Sqn Aircraft Joined Departed From → To Notes
48 Avro Anson I
Bristol Beaufort I
Lockheed Hudson V/III		 16 July 1940 20 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 V July 1941 February 1942 RAF Bircham Newton → RAF St Eval On detachment then squadron moved to RAF St Eval and continued its detachment.[4]
143 Bristol Blenheim IV 23 April 1942 11 June 1942 RAF Aldergrove → RAF Thorney Island Squadron move.[5]
153 Boulton Paul Defiant I
Bristol Beaufighter IF		 October 1941 December 1942 RAF Ballyhalbert → RAF Portreath On detachment.[6]
172 Vickers Wellington XIV 1 September 1944 4 June 1945 RAF Chivenor → DB Squadron disbanded.[7]
221 Vickers Wellington IC November 1940 25 December 1941 RAF Bircham Newton → RAF Docking On detachment from RAF Bircham Newton then from RAF Reykjavik.[8]
224 Lockheed Hudson II 15 April 1941 20 December 1941 RAF Leuchars → RAF St Eval Squadron move.[9]
245 Hawker Hurricane I 20 July 1940 1 September 1941 RAF Aldergrove → RAF Chilbolton On detachment.[10]
281 Supermarine Sea Otter 31 March 1941 13 August 1945 RAF Mullaghmore → RAF Ballykelly Squadron move.[11]
304 Vickers Wellington XIII 21 September 1944 6 March 1945 RAF Benbecula → RAF St Eval On detachment.[12]
407 Vickers Wellington XI 29 January 1944 28 April 1944 RAF Chivenor → RAF Chivenor Squadron move.[13]
500 Bristol Blenheim IV 30 May 1941 22 March 1942 RAF Bircham Newton → RAF Stornoway On detachment then squadron move.[14]
502 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V 27 January 1941 10 January 1942 RAF Aldergrove → RAF Bircham Newton Squadron move.[15]
612 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V 1 April 1941 15 December 1941 RAF Wick → RAF Reykjavik On detachment then squadron move.[16]
811 Naval Air Squadron 1944 1944 [17]
819 Naval Air Squadron [17]
825 Naval Air Squadron 1944 1944 [17]
846 Naval Air Squadron 1944 1944 [17]
850 Naval Air Squadron 1944 1944 [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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c d e f g "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

[edit]
  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C G (2001). R.A.F Squadrons, A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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