RAF Andreas
Encyclopedia
Royal Air Force Station Andreas, was a former RAF airfield in the Isle of Man
which was operational between 1941 and 1946. It was built in fields between Andreas
and Bride. As was common practice, The Station was named after the parish in which it was situated.
, in October 1940, began to attack British cities under the cover of darkness, the North West of England with its industrial centres and ports came within easy reach of German aircraft operating from occupied France. The first fighter squadron had arrived at nearby RAF Jurby
in November 1940, and came under the control of the newly formed 9 Group, Fighter Command. Group Control was positioned at Barton Hall, near Preston, and its sectors covered Lancashire
, Cheshire
and Shropshire
. Andreas was to be a separate sector with responsibility for the Irish Sea and its surrounds. The new wing of Ramsey Grammar School
was commissioned as Control Centre for the sector and was hastily prepared before the arrival of the new fighters at Jurby. The Control Centre was linked to three radar stations at Dalby
, Scarlett and Bride.
The siting of a fighter airfield in the location of Andreas had been chosen because of its central location with regard to Liverpool
, Belfast
and Glasgow
, as it was in an excellent position to provide protection to the vital shipping arriving at these ports. Finally, with the relevant compensation payments agreed, work on the construction of RAF Andreas began in earnest by the end of June 1940. A total of 500 acres (202.3 ha) of choice farmland was earmarked, 200 acres (80.9 ha) coming from both Ballaghaue Farm and Braust Farm, and a small portion of land was acquired which stretched into the adjacent parish of Bride.
By the spring of 1941 the airfield, to be built to the full specification of an operational fighter station was beginning to take shape. The main NE/SW runway was 1100 yards (1,005.8 m) long and 50 yards (45.7 m) wide and was obviously meant to take larger aircraft than fighters. From the perimeter track there was access to the flight dispersals in which a total of 24 blast pens were built, half to provide protection for the fighters while larger ones were for twin-engined aircraft. Considerable thought had also gone into the airfield's defences, with the whole area being surrounded by 5 feet (1.5 m) roller concertina barbed wire, with gaps located at the main entrance and crash gates.
During the summer of 1941 the first RAF personnel arrived at Andreas. This mainly consisted of a flight of Royal Air Force Police
, whose first duties were the lonely twelve hour vigils guarding the mounting stores of supplies kept in the completed hangars. Others arriving at that time included MT drivers and soldiers of the Wiltshire Regiment
, under the command of Major G.K. Waite MC
, who arrived to man the airfield's defences, along with the first of many WAAF
s whose duties were to staff the administration offices and operations rooms. The newly appointed Commanding Officer of RAF Andreas, Wing Commander E.V. Knowles, took up residence in Glen Auldyn, just outside Ramsey
.
's Spitfires from RAF Jurby
as a prelude to working up to operational efficiency. This work-up would take six months, however the transfer of 457's ground crew and administrative staff brought welcome relief to the congestion at Jurby
. It was during this period that an unfortunate accident occurred in December, when one of the aircraft was coming in to land. Crossing the end of the runway at the time was one of the builder's foremen driving a lorry. One of the Spitfire's wheels hit the cab of the lorry, causing severe injuries to its occupant, who was killed instantly. It was also during this work-up period, that the Air Ministry
insisted that the height of Andreas church tower be reduced, as it was a hazard, and in line with the southern end of the main runway. The church tower was originally 120 feet (36.6 m) high, and the most striking feature of the Island's northern plain being visible throughout the parish.
RAF Andreas had become fully operational in March 1942, but by now No. 457 Squadron was ready to move south to join 11 Group
at RAF Redhill and to take part in air strikes over northern France
. It was immediately replaced by its sister Australian squadron, 452, which had been formed in April 1941, and whose most celebrated pilot was the maverick Irishman Paddy Finucane
who scored 18 out of his 32 victories whilst flying on Rhubarbs (operations when sections of fighters or fighter-bombers, would take advantage of low cloud and poor visibility, cross the English Channel
, and then drop below cloud level to search for targets of opportunity, such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops and vehicles on roads).
On May 8, 1942, two of 452's Spitfires were in collision over Andreas resulting in the death of Sergeant Pilot Reginald Goodhew, who crashed at Farrant Ford Farm, and who is buried in Andreas. The following month saw 452's stay at Andreas come to an end. In August 1942, the Station Commander Wing Commander Knowles was killed flying in a visiting Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
when the aircraft failed to clear the Bride hills just to the north soon after take off from Andreas.
The third fighter unit to occupy RAF Andreas was No. 93 Squadron
which had an entirely different background. No. 93 Squadron had been involved in the development of night fighter tactics using Havocs equipped with radar and Turbinlite
searchlights. After becoming operational, it was decided to split the squadron into flights attached to other night fighter units. Following this, 93 reformed at Andreas as an entirely new squadron equipped with Spitfires as it worked up to operational efficiency. Considerable time was spent over the air-to-ground firing range along the Ayres coastline at Smeale which had been constructed not long after the first fighters had arrived at RAF Jurby
. When Andreas airfield was under construction, the coastline north of Smeale had been heavily mined as a precaution against an enemy landing. After four months, 93 Squadron was ready to move on to more direct action, and orders were received which would see the squadron re-locate to Algiers
ready for the North African landings as part of Operation Torch
.
After No. 93 Squadron had exchanged the sands of the Ayres for the sands of North Africa, the station grew quiet and much of it was reduced to care and maintenance. There was little to do for 9 Group
now that the emergencies which had brought it into being had largely passed. Nevertheless, RAF Andreas remained officially part of 9 Group until August 1944, Wing Commander Raynor being responsible for the signing and despatch of the operational orders which signalled the disbanding of the Group, and many of the 900 airmen and 400 WAAFs were posted out whilst new plans were awaited for this very fine station. One of the residents who did not leave was the detachment from No. 275 Squadron
which was based at RAF Valley
, Anglesey
. No. 275 Squadron was 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue Unit which covered the Irish Sea
, and the detachment's Walrus amphibians
were often to be seen flying around the Island.
Another strange but permanent resident at Andreas, was a Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake of the Fleet Air Arm
. It belonged to No. 772 Squadron (FAA), and was employed to provide simulated conditions for the Royal Navy
's No 1 Radar Training School ideally positioned on Douglas Head. The Chesapeake was replaced in October 1944, after crashing on Douglas Head, killing the pilot Sub Lieutenant R. S. Paton. During the spring of 1943, a new role was found for the excellent facilities at Andreas, and preparations began to set up No. 11 Air Gunnery School of Training Command
.
, air gunners became a separate category. Each Avro Lancaster
and Handley Page Halifax
required two or three gunners in its crew, so thousands would be required to meet the demands of the growing strategic offensive and to replace losses. RAF Andreas was to play an important role in the training programme, and thus began the busiest period in the life of the station. The Station's new Commanding Officer was Group Captain Mackay, who would remain at Andreas for the rest of the war period, and the station completely changed in character from that of a fighter station to that of a training establishment.
Whilst at Andreas, the volunteer pupils selected for air gunners underwent an intensive ten-week course, before passing on to the operational training units of Bomber Command
. The course involved sighting; aircraft recognition; pyrotechnics; clay-pigeon and 25 yard range shoots; care and maintenance of .303 and .5 Browning machine guns and 20mm cannon; turret hydraulics, manipulation and operation, and the use of cine-camera guns. The training huts were equipped with the various types of turrets then in use, including Boulton Paul
Types A and F, and Frazer Nash
121 which were installed in the Handley Page Halifax
and Avro Lancaster
respectively.
The first aircraft to arrive were 15 Avro Anson
gunnery trainers. For more advanced experience, training was conducted on a succession of Vickers Wellington
s which were being withdrawn from the front-line squadrons of Bomber Command, and target towing duties were the responsibility of Bristol Mercury
engined Miles Martinet
s. Firing took place in allotted zones over the sea on both sides of the Point of Ayre, care being taken not to interfere with the Jurby bombing ranges.
Despite the continual flying programme over the congested north of the Island, accidents involving Andreas aircraft proved to be very rare, and only one documented incident resulted in the loss of a life. During 1944, Andreas, because of the length of its main runway, became an emergency landing ground for the Atlantic ferry route and was occasionally used by American aircraft such a the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator
. The ending of the war in Europe
in May 1945, saw no let up in the routine at Andreas with the prospect of a long campaign in the Pacific war zone.
The detachment of Fleet Air Arm
772 Squadron, which had been responsible for operating the Chesapeakes, became 772B Squadron in May 1945 with the arrival of Boston 111s, Corsairs
and de Havilland Mosquito
es. The purpose of the Bostons was to train gunners from the naval air station at Ronaldsway, and Fairey Barracuda
s were added to the scene as they brought in telegraphists to have air gunnery added to their training. However, this only lasted for a short period, as 772B was disbanded in September 1945 following the defeat of Japan
.
, many going on to train as aircrew. The cadets enjoyed daily flights in some of the Wellingtons at the station, taking advantage of what was now considerably quieter airspace over the north of the Island, as well as south west Scotland
and Cumberland
.
The one and only opportunity the general public had of visiting Royal Air Force Andreas, was on Battle of Britain Day
, September, 1946. It had already been announced that the station would close and that the Gunnery School would transfer to nearby Jurby. The Commanding Officer was now Group Captain G. C. Crawford, and he and the rest of the station personnel made every effort to show what the work of the station involved. On show were the link trainer, parachute packing by the WAAFs and parachute dinghies and equipment used by the Andreas Rescue Station, which had so often been called upon in emergencies. The following week, the transfer of stores to RAF Jurby was completed, and the gates of Royal Air Force Andreas were finally closed.
, through the Local Government Board, to acquire three of the communal sites – the WAAF quarters, the hospital and sick quarters and a site in the centre of Andreas village – for the conversion into family accommodation. These were badly needed to re-house families living in condemned properties in Ramsey
and to relieve the general housing shortage on the Island as a consequence of the war. Every effort was made to convert the brick-built huts into acceptable two- and three-bedroom homes with electrically heated living rooms and kitchens. Each had a toilet installed, but bathrooms had to be shared. During 1947, a total of 81 families were accommodated as a temporary measure pending the construction of new housing estates. It was to be several years before such new housing was ready, and upon their completion, this temporary housing by now badly affected by damp, was demolished. One structure to survive, was the old gymnasium which still stands, and continues to provide the village of Andreas with a very useful Parish Hall.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the Manx Government and the Air Ministry
were proceeding as to the future of the airfield. Tynwald
, the Isle of Man's Parliament, accepted an offer to purchase the whole of the airfield for the price originally paid in compensation to the land owners – a total of £23,740. No charge was made for the buildings, the Air Ministry agreeing to this as a gesture of appreciation to the government and people of the Isle of Man
for their co-operation during the early years of the war. The airfield's runways were soon put to good use by the newly formed Andreas Racing Association for motorcycle racing
. The Association's emblem is that of the Three Legs of Man, set against the 'A' layout of the airfield's runways.
After a short time in the ownership of the Manx Government, the airfield was put up for sale as a complete entity, and was purchased by a Mr Morrey for the sum of £33,000. The facility is still owned by the Morrey family, and many of its buildings still exist, being mostly used for storage. The local gliding club still uses the airfield, together with a small number of privately owned light aircraft. To this day, within easy view of the airfield, is the (still) stunted tower of the parish church of St. Andrew (Andreas is Manx Gaelic for Andrew), a permanent legacy of Royal Air Force Station Andreas, and below which lie twenty-three RAF graves.
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...
which was operational between 1941 and 1946. It was built in fields between Andreas
Andreas, Isle of Man
Andreas is a village on the Isle of Man. It is located in the north of the island, in the parish of Andreas.The village has a school, Andreas Primary School. St Andrew Church, which was built in 1802 with stone from Sulby Glen, is in the Church of England Diocese of Sodor and Man. It is the parish...
and Bride. As was common practice, The Station was named after the parish in which it was situated.
Construction
When the LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
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....
, in October 1940, began to attack British cities under the cover of darkness, the North West of England with its industrial centres and ports came within easy reach of German aircraft operating from occupied France. The first fighter squadron had arrived at nearby RAF Jurby
RAF Jurby
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 of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF...
in November 1940, and came under the control of the newly formed 9 Group, Fighter Command. Group Control was positioned at Barton Hall, near Preston, and its sectors covered Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. Andreas was to be a separate sector with responsibility for the Irish Sea and its surrounds. The new wing of Ramsey Grammar School
Ramsey Grammar School
Ramsey Grammar School is a coeducational comprehensive secondary school located in Ramsey, on the Isle of Man.A grammar school has existed in Ramsey since 1681. It moved to Lezayre Road in 1933 and was housed in a building that now forms the east building of the present school...
was commissioned as Control Centre for the sector and was hastily prepared before the arrival of the new fighters at Jurby. The Control Centre was linked to three radar stations at Dalby
Dalby, Isle of Man
thumb|right|250px|The Dalby area is popular for its view of [[Niarbyl, Isle of Man|Niarbyl Bay]]Dalby is a small hamlet on the Isle of Man, located near the western coast. It lies on the A27 Port Erin to Peel road, five miles south of Peel....
, Scarlett and Bride.
The siting of a fighter airfield in the location of Andreas had been chosen because of its central location with regard to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, as it was in an excellent position to provide protection to the vital shipping arriving at these ports. Finally, with the relevant compensation payments agreed, work on the construction of RAF Andreas began in earnest by the end of June 1940. A total of 500 acres (202.3 ha) of choice farmland was earmarked, 200 acres (80.9 ha) coming from both Ballaghaue Farm and Braust Farm, and a small portion of land was acquired which stretched into the adjacent parish of Bride.
By the spring of 1941 the airfield, to be built to the full specification of an operational fighter station was beginning to take shape. The main NE/SW runway was 1100 yards (1,005.8 m) long and 50 yards (45.7 m) wide and was obviously meant to take larger aircraft than fighters. From the perimeter track there was access to the flight dispersals in which a total of 24 blast pens were built, half to provide protection for the fighters while larger ones were for twin-engined aircraft. Considerable thought had also gone into the airfield's defences, with the whole area being surrounded by 5 feet (1.5 m) roller concertina barbed wire, with gaps located at the main entrance and crash gates.
During the summer of 1941 the first RAF personnel arrived at Andreas. This mainly consisted of a flight of Royal Air Force Police
Royal Air Force Police
The Royal Air Force Police is the Service Police branch of the Royal Air Force. It was formed on 1 April 1918, when the RAF was formed by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service . It is responsible for the policing of all service personnel much like there RN or Army...
, whose first duties were the lonely twelve hour vigils guarding the mounting stores of supplies kept in the completed hangars. Others arriving at that time included MT drivers and soldiers of the Wiltshire Regiment
Wiltshire Regiment
The Wiltshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment of Foot....
, under the command of Major G.K. Waite MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, who arrived to man the airfield's defences, along with the first of many WAAF
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...
s whose duties were to staff the administration offices and operations rooms. The newly appointed Commanding Officer of RAF Andreas, Wing Commander E.V. Knowles, took up residence in Glen Auldyn, just outside Ramsey
Ramsey
Ramsey may refer to:In places in the United Kingdom:* Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, small market town in England* Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England* Ramsey Abbey, historic ecclesiastical centre near Ramsey, Cambridgeshire...
.
Becoming operational
By October 1941, RAF Andreas was ready to receive the first of No. 457 SquadronNo. 457 Squadron RAAF
No. 457 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in England during June 1941 as an Article XV squadron equipped with Supermarine Spitfire fighters...
's Spitfires from RAF Jurby
RAF Jurby
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 of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF...
as a prelude to working up to operational efficiency. This work-up would take six months, however the transfer of 457's ground crew and administrative staff brought welcome relief to the congestion at 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...
. It was during this period that an unfortunate accident occurred in December, when one of the aircraft was coming in to land. Crossing the end of the runway at the time was one of the builder's foremen driving a lorry. One of the Spitfire's wheels hit the cab of the lorry, causing severe injuries to its occupant, who was killed instantly. It was also during this work-up period, that the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
insisted that the height of Andreas church tower be reduced, as it was a hazard, and in line with the southern end of the main runway. The church tower was originally 120 feet (36.6 m) high, and the most striking feature of the Island's northern plain being visible throughout the parish.
RAF Andreas had become fully operational in March 1942, but by now No. 457 Squadron was ready to move south to join 11 Group
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
at RAF Redhill and to take part in air strikes over northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was immediately replaced by its sister Australian squadron, 452, which had been formed in April 1941, and whose most celebrated pilot was the maverick Irishman Paddy Finucane
Paddy Finucane
Wing Commander Brendan Eamonn Fergus Finucane DSO, DFC & Two Bars , known as Paddy Finucane, was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot...
who scored 18 out of his 32 victories whilst flying on Rhubarbs (operations when sections of fighters or fighter-bombers, would take advantage of low cloud and poor visibility, cross 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...
, and then drop below cloud level to search for targets of opportunity, such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops and vehicles on roads).
On May 8, 1942, two of 452's Spitfires were in collision over Andreas resulting in the death of Sergeant Pilot Reginald Goodhew, who crashed at Farrant Ford Farm, and who is buried in Andreas. The following month saw 452's stay at Andreas come to an end. In August 1942, the Station Commander Wing Commander Knowles was killed flying in a visiting 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...
when the aircraft failed to clear the Bride hills just to the north soon after take off from Andreas.
The third fighter unit to occupy RAF Andreas was No. 93 Squadron
No. 93 Squadron RAF
No. 93 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It operated Turbinlite-equipped Bostons from RAF Burtonwood, making night attacks and towing aerial mine charges with steel cables....
which had an entirely different background. No. 93 Squadron had been involved in the development of night fighter tactics using Havocs equipped with radar and Turbinlite
Turbinlite
The Helmore/GEC Turbinlite was a 2,700 million candela searchlight fitted in the nose of a number of British Douglas Havoc night fighters during the early part of the Second World War and around the time of The Blitz....
searchlights. After becoming operational, it was decided to split the squadron into flights attached to other night fighter units. Following this, 93 reformed at Andreas as an entirely new squadron equipped with Spitfires as it worked up to operational efficiency. Considerable time was spent over the air-to-ground firing range along the Ayres coastline at Smeale which had been constructed not long after the first fighters had arrived at RAF Jurby
RAF Jurby
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 of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF...
. When Andreas airfield was under construction, the coastline north of Smeale had been heavily mined as a precaution against an enemy landing. After four months, 93 Squadron was ready to move on to more direct action, and orders were received which would see the squadron re-locate to Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
ready for the North African landings as part of Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
.
After No. 93 Squadron had exchanged the sands of the Ayres for the sands of North Africa, the station grew quiet and much of it was reduced to care and maintenance. There was little to do for 9 Group
No. 9 Group RAF
-History:No. 9 Group RAF was first formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. The next month it was transferred to South-Western Area and then disbanded on 15 May 1919....
now that the emergencies which had brought it into being had largely passed. Nevertheless, RAF Andreas remained officially part of 9 Group until August 1944, Wing Commander Raynor being responsible for the signing and despatch of the operational orders which signalled the disbanding of the Group, and many of the 900 airmen and 400 WAAFs were posted out whilst new plans were awaited for this very fine station. One of the residents who did not leave was the detachment from No. 275 Squadron
No. 275 Squadron RAF
No. 275 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron that served between 1941 and 1959.-History:No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941 for air-sea rescue duties in the Irish sea, the first aircraft being Lysanders Mk.IIIa's...
which was based at RAF Valley
RAF Valley
RAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, and which is also used as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk and provides training for aircrew working with Search and Rescue. Unofficially the motto for RAF Valley is 'One Valley, Training...
, Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
. No. 275 Squadron was 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue Unit which covered the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, and the detachment's Walrus amphibians
Supermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
were often to be seen flying around the Island.
Another strange but permanent resident at Andreas, was a Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake of the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
. It belonged to No. 772 Squadron (FAA), and was employed to provide simulated conditions for 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 No 1 Radar Training School ideally positioned on Douglas Head. The Chesapeake was replaced in October 1944, after crashing on Douglas Head, killing the pilot Sub Lieutenant R. S. Paton. During the spring of 1943, a new role was found for the excellent facilities at Andreas, and preparations began to set up No. 11 Air Gunnery School of Training Command
RAF Training Command
Training Command was the RAF's command responsible for flying and ground training from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1968 to 1977.-History:Training Command was formed from Inland Area on 1 May 1936 and absorbed into RAF Support Command on 13 June 1977...
.
No. 11 Air Gunnery School
With the specialisation required in aircrew for the heavy bombers of Bomber CommandRAF 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...
, air gunners became a separate category. Each 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...
and 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...
required two or three gunners in its crew, so thousands would be required to meet the demands of the growing strategic offensive and to replace losses. RAF Andreas was to play an important role in the training programme, and thus began the busiest period in the life of the station. The Station's new Commanding Officer was Group Captain Mackay, who would remain at Andreas for the rest of the war period, and the station completely changed in character from that of a fighter station to that of a training establishment.
Whilst at Andreas, the volunteer pupils selected for air gunners underwent an intensive ten-week course, before passing on to the operational training units of Bomber Command
Bomber Command
Bomber Command is an organizational military unit, generally subordinate to the air force of a country. Many countries have a "Bomber Command", although the most famous ones were in Britain and the United States. A Bomber Command is generally used for Strategic bombing , and is composed of bombers...
. The course involved sighting; aircraft recognition; pyrotechnics; clay-pigeon and 25 yard range shoots; care and maintenance of .303 and .5 Browning machine guns and 20mm cannon; turret hydraulics, manipulation and operation, and the use of cine-camera guns. The training huts were equipped with the various types of turrets then in use, including Boulton Paul
Boulton Paul Aircraft
Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd was a British aircraft manufacturer that was created in 1934, although its origins lay in 1914, and lasted until 1961...
Types A and F, and Frazer Nash
Frazer Nash
Frazer Nash was a British sports car manufacturer and engineering company founded by Archibald Frazer-Nash in 1922. It produced sports cars incorporating a unique multi-chain transmission before World War II and also imported BMW cars to the UK. After the war it continued producing sports cars with...
121 which were installed in the 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...
and 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...
respectively.
The first aircraft to arrive were 15 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...
gunnery trainers. For more advanced experience, training was conducted on a succession of 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...
s which were being withdrawn from the front-line squadrons of Bomber Command, and target towing duties were the responsibility of Bristol Mercury
Bristol Mercury
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bridgman, L, Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
engined Miles Martinet
Miles Martinet
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....
s. Firing took place in allotted zones over the sea on both sides of the Point of Ayre, care being taken not to interfere with the Jurby bombing ranges.
Despite the continual flying programme over the congested north of the Island, accidents involving Andreas aircraft proved to be very rare, and only one documented incident resulted in the loss of a life. During 1944, Andreas, because of the length of its main runway, became an emergency landing ground for the Atlantic ferry route and was occasionally used by American aircraft such a the B-17 Flying Fortress and the 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...
. The ending of the war in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in May 1945, saw no let up in the routine at Andreas with the prospect of a long campaign in the Pacific war zone.
The detachment of Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
772 Squadron, which had been responsible for operating the Chesapeakes, became 772B Squadron in May 1945 with the arrival of Boston 111s, Corsairs
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
and 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"...
es. The purpose of the Bostons was to train gunners from the naval air station at Ronaldsway, and Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda
The Fairey Barracuda was a British carrier-borne torpedo- and dive bomber used during the Second World War, the first of its type used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to be fabricated entirely from metal. It was introduced as a replacement for the Fairey Swordfish and Fairey Albacore biplanes...
s were added to the scene as they brought in telegraphists to have air gunnery added to their training. However, this only lasted for a short period, as 772B was disbanded in September 1945 following the defeat of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Post-war and closure
With the ending of the war, RAF Andreas entered the mundane routine of day-to-day life after the exertions of the previous five years. In July 1946, the Douglas High School Flight of 506 Squadron Air Training Corps, spent a week's camp at Andreas. The squadron, together with 440, had been set up in the early years of the war to encourage the interest of schoolboys in 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...
, many going on to train as aircrew. The cadets enjoyed daily flights in some of the Wellingtons at the station, taking advantage of what was now considerably quieter airspace over the north of the Island, as well as south west Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
.
The one and only opportunity the general public had of visiting Royal Air Force Andreas, was on Battle of Britain Day
Battle of Britain Day
The Battle of Britain Day is the name given to the large-scale aerial battle that took place on 15 September 1940, during the Battle of Britain ....
, September, 1946. It had already been announced that the station would close and that the Gunnery School would transfer to nearby Jurby. The Commanding Officer was now Group Captain G. C. Crawford, and he and the rest of the station personnel made every effort to show what the work of the station involved. On show were the link trainer, parachute packing by the WAAFs and parachute dinghies and equipment used by the Andreas Rescue Station, which had so often been called upon in emergencies. The following week, the transfer of stores to RAF Jurby was completed, and the gates of Royal Air Force Andreas were finally closed.
Current use
As soon as the station was closed, steps were taken by the Isle of Man GovernmentIsle of Man Government
The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...
, through the Local Government Board, to acquire three of the communal sites – the WAAF quarters, the hospital and sick quarters and a site in the centre of Andreas village – for the conversion into family accommodation. These were badly needed to re-house families living in condemned properties in Ramsey
Ramsey
Ramsey may refer to:In places in the United Kingdom:* Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, small market town in England* Ramsey, Essex, a village near Harwich, England* Ramsey Abbey, historic ecclesiastical centre near Ramsey, Cambridgeshire...
and to relieve the general housing shortage on the Island as a consequence of the war. Every effort was made to convert the brick-built huts into acceptable two- and three-bedroom homes with electrically heated living rooms and kitchens. Each had a toilet installed, but bathrooms had to be shared. During 1947, a total of 81 families were accommodated as a temporary measure pending the construction of new housing estates. It was to be several years before such new housing was ready, and upon their completion, this temporary housing by now badly affected by damp, was demolished. One structure to survive, was the old gymnasium which still stands, and continues to provide the village of Andreas with a very useful Parish Hall.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the Manx Government and the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
were proceeding as to the future of the airfield. Tynwald
Tynwald
The Tynwald , or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It is claimed to be the oldest continuous parliamentary body in the world, consisting of the directly elected House of Keys and the indirectly chosen Legislative Council.The Houses sit jointly, for...
, the Isle of Man's Parliament, accepted an offer to purchase the whole of the airfield for the price originally paid in compensation to the land owners – a total of £23,740. No charge was made for the buildings, the Air Ministry agreeing to this as a gesture of appreciation to the government and people of the Isle of Man
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...
for their co-operation during the early years of the war. The airfield's runways were soon put to good use by the newly formed Andreas Racing Association for motorcycle racing
Motorcycle racing
Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all sporting aspects of motorcycling. The disciplines are not all "races" or timed-speed events, as several disciplines test a competitor's various riding skills.-Motorcycle racing:...
. The Association's emblem is that of the Three Legs of Man, set against the 'A' layout of the airfield's runways.
After a short time in the ownership of the Manx Government, the airfield was put up for sale as a complete entity, and was purchased by a Mr Morrey for the sum of £33,000. The facility is still owned by the Morrey family, and many of its buildings still exist, being mostly used for storage. The local gliding club still uses the airfield, together with a small number of privately owned light aircraft. To this day, within easy view of the airfield, is the (still) stunted tower of the parish church of St. Andrew (Andreas is Manx Gaelic for Andrew), a permanent legacy of Royal Air Force Station Andreas, and below which lie twenty-three RAF graves.