Colombo Racecourse Airstrip
Encyclopedia
Colombo Racecourse Airstrip was a temporary airfield constructed at the Colombo Racecourse in Colombo
during World War II
for the Royal Air Force
.
After the fall of Singapore the Royal Navy
's East Indies Station
was moved to Colombo and then to Trincomalee
. Admiral
Sir Geoffrey Layton
was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon
with Air Vice Marshal John D'Albaic as air officer commanding
, No. 222 Group RAF
which was based in Ceylon. The order was given to construct an airfield at the Colombo Racecourse. D S Senanayake
, Minister of Agriculture and Lands (later th 1st Prime Minister of Ceylon) was given the task of its construction. Consisting only of a single runway, station headquarters and the officers mess were set up in the bungalows in Cinnamon Gardens and was serviced by a newly established military hospital
in the premises of Royal College Colombo.
Two squadrons of the Royal Air Force where based at the racecourse. They were No. 258 Squadron RAF
with Hawker Hurricanes and No. 11 Squadron RAF with Bristol Blenheim
s. When the Easter Sunday Raid
occurred the Japanese
bombed the RAF units at RAF Ratmalana
yet passed over the Racecourse Airstrip without knowing it existed.
The Royal Navy also established a Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) here during the duration of the war with the name HMS Bherunda. 882 Naval Air Squadron was based here.
After the war the airfield was dismantled and horse racing resumed only to be permanently stopped when it was banned after Ceylon gained independence.
The Sri Lanka Air Force still uses whats left of the racecourse grounds for landing transport helicopter
s and the Sri Lanka Army has used the disused racecourse buildings as a temporary garrison from time to time.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
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...
for the Royal Air Force
Royal 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...
.
After the fall of Singapore the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's East Indies Station
East Indies Station
The East Indies Station was a formation of the British Royal Navy from 1865 to 1941.From 1831 to 1865 the East Indies and the China Station were a single command known as the East Indies and China Station...
was moved to Colombo and then to Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
. Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir Geoffrey Layton
Geoffrey Layton
Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton GBE, KCB, KCMG, DSO , was a British Royal Navy officer.-Early life and career:...
was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Ceylon
General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
General Officer Commanding, Ceylon was the designation of the General Officer appointed to command all British Army units stationed in the island of Ceylon during the British colonial administration of the island.-History:...
with Air Vice Marshal John D'Albaic as air officer commanding
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
, No. 222 Group RAF
No. 222 Group RAF
No. 222 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Formed on 1 September 1941, based at Ceylon, however squadrons were based around the Indian Ocean. The group undertook long-range bombing and mine-laying operations that took them as far afield as Sumatra and Singapore...
which was based in Ceylon. The order was given to construct an airfield at the Colombo Racecourse. D S Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake
Don Stephen Senanayake was an independence activist who served as the first Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1947 to 1952.-Early life:...
, Minister of Agriculture and Lands (later th 1st Prime Minister of Ceylon) was given the task of its construction. Consisting only of a single runway, station headquarters and the officers mess were set up in the bungalows in Cinnamon Gardens and was serviced by a newly established military hospital
Military hospital
Military hospital is a hospital, which is generally located on a military base and is reserved for the use of military personnel, their dependents or other authorized users....
in the premises of Royal College Colombo.
Two squadrons of the Royal Air Force where based at the racecourse. They were No. 258 Squadron RAF
No. 258 Squadron RAF
RAF 258 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron during World War I and World War II.No. 258 Squadron was first formed 25 July 1918 from 523, 525 and 529 Special Duties Flights at Luce Bay near Stranraer, Scotland under the control of No. 25 Group. It was equipped with De Havilland DH.6 biplanes and...
with Hawker Hurricanes and No. 11 Squadron RAF with 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...
s. When the Easter Sunday Raid
Easter Sunday Raid
The Easter Sunday Raid was an air attack by carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy against Colombo, Ceylon , on Easter Sunday, 5 April 1942, during World War II. This attack was part of the Indian Ocean Raid, and was followed a few days later by a similar attack on Trincomalee...
occurred the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
bombed the RAF units at RAF Ratmalana
Ratmalana Airport
Ratmalana Airport , formally known as Colombo Airport, is a major domestic airport and military base in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was once Colombo's international airport, until the current Bandaranaike International Airport opened in the 1960s...
yet passed over the Racecourse Airstrip without knowing it existed.
The Royal Navy also established a Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) here during the duration of the war with the name HMS Bherunda. 882 Naval Air Squadron was based here.
After the war the airfield was dismantled and horse racing resumed only to be permanently stopped when it was banned after Ceylon gained independence.
The Sri Lanka Air Force still uses whats left of the racecourse grounds for landing transport helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s and the Sri Lanka Army has used the disused racecourse buildings as a temporary garrison from time to time.