RAF Llandow
Encyclopedia
RAF Llandow was a Royal Air Force
airfield situated near the village of Llandow
, Vale of Glamorgan
, South Wales
, 15 miles west of Cardiff
. It opened in 1940 and closed in 1957.
The major RAF unit based at Llandow throughout its existence was No. 38 Maintenance Unit (38 MU) which was tasked with the reception, storage and despatch of RAF aircraft. 38 MU opened on 1 April 1940 and closed on 15 March 1957.
Other wartime RAF units were based at Llandow between June 1941 and July 1944. The first was No. 53 Operational Training Unit B Flight equipped with Supermarine Spitfire
s which arrived on 24 June 1941. A satellite station at RAF Rhoose
(now Cardiff International Airport
) was used by this unit. Three small transport flights were formed here during April 1944 with No. 1312 Flight RAF
remaining based until 21 July 1944 with six Avro Anson
I's for transporting urgent personnel to and from the Normandy Landings area.
No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron had been formed at Cardiff in June 1937 before moving away at the outbreak of World War II
. Post war equipment required a larger airfield as base and Llandow was chosen. The Squadron officially reformed here on 10 May 1946 and the first Spitfire F.16's were received in November, being replaced by F.22's in August 1948. Jet Equipment in the form of de Havilland Vampire
fighters arrived in July 1950 and continued in use until disbandment of the squadron on 10 March 1957, with all Royal Auxiliary Air Force
units.
Another long-resident post-war flying unit based at Llandow was No. 663 Squadron RAF
s No.1952 AOP Flight, equipped with Auster AOP.6
aircraft for spotting for local Territorial Army artillery units. This flight was based here from 1 July 1949 until disbandment in March 1957.
The RAF's Burmese Conversion Squadron was based here for a period from 1953 to familiarise Burmese pilots with their newly acquired ex-RAF Supermarine Spitfire
fighters.
No. 4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit was based at RAF Llandow between 1 August 1951 and 1 July 1954 equipped with de Havilland Mosquito
and Spitfire aircraft to tow targets and act as targets for army units in South Wales and nearby areas.
The Llandow air disaster
occurred on 12 March 1950 when an Avro Tudor
V airliner G-AKBY of Fairflight Ltd crashed on final approach to runway 28 at RAF Llandow. The aircraft was returning from Dublin Airport
with five crew and 80 rugby supporters, all except three passengers being killed.
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...
airfield situated near the village of Llandow
Llandow
Llandow is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village is located south west of Cardiff.- Amenities :Within Llandow is a small medieval parish church, whose history dates back to the 11th century, with a saddleback tower dedicated to the Holy Trinity.Adjacent to the village is a...
, Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, 15 miles west of Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. It opened in 1940 and closed in 1957.
The major RAF unit based at Llandow throughout its existence was No. 38 Maintenance Unit (38 MU) which was tasked with the reception, storage and despatch of RAF aircraft. 38 MU opened on 1 April 1940 and closed on 15 March 1957.
Other wartime RAF units were based at Llandow between June 1941 and July 1944. The first was No. 53 Operational Training Unit B Flight equipped with 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 which arrived on 24 June 1941. A satellite station at RAF Rhoose
RAF Rhoose
RAF Rhoose was a World War II Royal Air Force airfield, opened 7 April 1942 as an RAF training base for Supermarine Spitfire pilots.No 53 Operational Training Unit Llandow was the parent station, and Rhoose was a satellite landing ground.-See also:...
(now Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff International Airport
Cardiff Airport is an international airport serving Cardiff, and the rest of South, Mid and West Wales. Around 1.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010....
) was used by this unit. Three small transport flights were formed here during April 1944 with No. 1312 Flight RAF
No. 1312 Flight RAF
No. 1312 Flight is an independent flight of the Royal Air Force, supporting at present the defence of the Falkland Islands.While the UK officially does not foresee any threat to the Falkland Islands, it maintains significant military forces as a deterrent against any aggressor. These forces also...
remaining based until 21 July 1944 with six 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...
I's for transporting urgent personnel to and from the Normandy Landings area.
No. 614 (County of Glamorgan) Squadron had been formed at Cardiff in June 1937 before moving away at the outbreak of 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...
. Post war equipment required a larger airfield as base and Llandow was chosen. The Squadron officially reformed here on 10 May 1946 and the first Spitfire F.16's were received in November, being replaced by F.22's in August 1948. Jet Equipment in the form of de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
fighters arrived in July 1950 and continued in use until disbandment of the squadron on 10 March 1957, with all Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
units.
Another long-resident post-war flying unit based at Llandow was No. 663 Squadron RAF
No. 663 Squadron RAF
No. 663 Squadron RAF was an Air Observation Post unit of the Royal Air Force , which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of...
s No.1952 AOP Flight, equipped with 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....
aircraft for spotting for local Territorial Army artillery units. This flight was based here from 1 July 1949 until disbandment in March 1957.
The RAF's Burmese Conversion Squadron was based here for a period from 1953 to familiarise Burmese pilots with their newly acquired ex-RAF 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...
fighters.
No. 4 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit was based at RAF Llandow between 1 August 1951 and 1 July 1954 equipped with 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"...
and Spitfire aircraft to tow targets and act as targets for army units in South Wales and nearby areas.
The Llandow air disaster
Llandow air disaster
The Llandow air disaster was an aircraft accident in Wales in 1950. At that time it was the world's worst air disaster with a total of 80 fatalities...
occurred on 12 March 1950 when an Avro Tudor
Avro Tudor
Avro's Type 688 Tudor was a British piston-engined airliner based on their four-engine Lincoln bomber, itself a descendant of the famous Lancaster heavy bomber, and was Britain's first pressurised airliner...
V airliner G-AKBY of Fairflight Ltd crashed on final approach to runway 28 at RAF Llandow. The aircraft was returning from Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport, , is operated by the Dublin Airport Authority. Located in Collinstown, in the Fingal part of County Dublin, 18.4 million passengers passed through the airport in 2010, making it the busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland, followed by Cork and Shannon...
with five crew and 80 rugby supporters, all except three passengers being killed.