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RAF Heathfield

December 03, 2023

Royal Air Force Heathfield, or more commonly RAF Heathfield, sometimes known as RAF Ayr/Heathfield due to its proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which was also used by military flights, is a former Royal Air Force station. It opened in April 1941 as an airbase for day and night fighter squadrons. In September 1944 it transferred to Fleet Air Arm control and commissioned as HMS Wagtail. The Royal Navy paid off the airbase in March 1946 and it was reduced to care and maintenance. The United States Air Force used it for storage between 1951 and 1957, with the designation USAAF Station 570.

RAF Heathfield
RNAS Ayr (HMS Wagtail)
USAAF Station 570
Prestwick, South Ayrshire in Scotland
RAF Heathfield
Shown within South Ayrshire
RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates55°29′10″N 004°35′56″W / 55.48611°N 4.59889°W / 55.48611; -4.59889
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Parent Station
CodeAR[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
United States Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-44
* No. 13 Group RAF
Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In useApril 1941-1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation15 metres (49 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 1,261 metres (4,137 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt
06/24 1,463 metres (4,800 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt
13/31 1,097 metres (3,599 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt

Like many other wartime airfields, its runways were of the triangular layout.

History edit

Royal Air Force use edit

The following units were posted here at some point:

Units

Royal Navy use edit

The airbase was transferred on loan to the Admiralty, from No. 13 Group RAF, on 6 September 1944. The Royal Navy took over with the Commanding Officer, Commander (A) H.L. McCullock. Known as Royal Naval Air Station Ayr (RNAS Ayr), it was commissioned shortly afterwards, on 20 October, as HMS Wagtail.[11] One runway was redesigned and used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to practice aircraft carrier landings.

The airbase was home to various Royal Navy units which were part of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) including: the Bombardment Spotting School, No.3 Barracuda Servicing Unit and the Flag Officer Carrier Training Squadron. Also operating out of RNAS Ayr was 772 Naval Air Squadron which was a Fleet Requirements Unit. The airbase also included accommodation for disembarked FAA squadrons and additionally there was accommodation for two RAF Squadrons.[11]

The following units were posted here at some point:

RNAS Ayr was 'paid off' by the Royal Navy on 10 March 1946 and it was reduced to Care & Maintenance Status, administered by RNAS Abbotsinch.[11]

United States Air Force use edit

The site was used by the United States Air Force (USAF) between 1951 and 1957, designated USAAF Station 570, for aircraft storage use. From then on the USAF decided to solely use the adjacent Prestwick.[2]

Current use edit

The site is now a mixture of housing, farmland and a golf club.[2]

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 38.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs "Ayr II (Heathfield)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 163.
  4. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 179.
  5. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 314.
  6. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 242.
  7. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 54.
  8. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 136.
  9. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 74.
  10. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 137.
  11. ^ a b c "R.N.A.S. Ayr". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 338.
  13. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 339.
  14. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 352.
  15. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 353.
  16. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 355.
  17. ^ a b Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 357.
  18. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 359.

Bibliography edit

  • Berry, P (2005) Prestwick Airport and Scottish Aviation
  • Falconer, J (1998). RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2175-9.
  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
  • "RAF Ayr". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. 15 July 2023.
  • . Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008.

December 03, 2023
heathfield, royal, force, heathfield, more, commonly, sometimes, known, heathfield, proximity, glasgow, prestwick, airport, which, also, used, military, flights, former, royal, force, station, opened, april, 1941, airbase, night, fighter, squadrons, september,. Royal Air Force Heathfield or more commonly RAF Heathfield sometimes known as RAF Ayr Heathfield due to its proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport which was also used by military flights is a former Royal Air Force station It opened in April 1941 as an airbase for day and night fighter squadrons In September 1944 it transferred to Fleet Air Arm control and commissioned as HMS Wagtail The Royal Navy paid off the airbase in March 1946 and it was reduced to care and maintenance The United States Air Force used it for storage between 1951 and 1957 with the designation USAAF Station 570 RAF HeathfieldRNAS Ayr HMS Wagtail USAAF Station 570Prestwick South Ayrshire in ScotlandRAF HeathfieldShown within South AyrshireShow map of South AyrshireRAF HeathfieldRAF Heathfield the United Kingdom Show map of the United KingdomCoordinates55 29 10 N 004 35 56 W 55 48611 N 4 59889 W 55 48611 4 59889TypeRoyal Air Force stationParent StationCodeAR 1 Site informationOwnerAir MinistryOperatorRoyal Air ForceRoyal NavyUnited States Air ForceControlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941 44 No 13 Group RAFFleet Air ArmSite historyBuilt1940 1940 In useApril 1941 1946 1946 Battles warsEuropean theatre of World War IIAirfield informationElevation15 metres 49 ft 1 AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface01 19 1 261 metres 4 137 ft Tarmac Asphalt06 24 1 463 metres 4 800 ft Tarmac Asphalt13 31 1 097 metres 3 599 ft Tarmac AsphaltLike many other wartime airfields its runways were of the triangular layout Contents 1 History 1 1 Royal Air Force use 1 2 Royal Navy use 1 3 United States Air Force use 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 BibliographyHistory editRoyal Air Force use edit The following units were posted here at some point No 1 Squadron RAF 2 No 3 Squadron RAF 2 No 18 Squadron RAF 2 No 26 Squadron RAF 2 No 56 Squadron RAF 2 No 64 Squadron RAF 2 No 72 Squadron RAF 2 No 81 Squadron RAF 2 No 130 Squadron RAF 2 No 141 Squadron RAF 2 No 165 Squadron RAF 2 No 169 Squadron RAF 2 No 186 Squadron RAF 2 No 219 Squadron RAF 2 No 222 Squadron RAF 2 No 232 Squadron RAF 2 No 239 Squadron RAF 2 No 241 Squadron RAF 2 No 278 Squadron RAF 2 No 281 Squadron RAF 2 No 282 Squadron RAF 2 No 289 Squadron RAF 2 No 312 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF 2 No 313 Squadron RAF 2 No 322 Dutch Squadron RAF 2 No 329 Squadron RAF 2 No 340 Squadron RAF 2 No 345 Squadron RAF 2 No 402 Squadron RCAF 2 No 406 Squadron RCAF 2 No 410 Squadron RCAF 2 No 438 Squadron RCAF 2 No 439 Fighter Bomber Squadron RCAF 2 No 440 Fighter Bomber Squadron RCAF 2 No 485 Squadron RNZAF 2 No 486 Squadron RNZAF 2 No 488 Squadron RNZAF 2 No 516 Squadron RAF 2 No 602 Squadron RAF 2 No 611 Squadron RAF 2 No 651 Squadron RAF 2 No 652 Squadron RAF 2 UnitsNo 8 Gliding School RAF May 1944 June 1945 3 Detachment from No 13 Group Anti Aircraft Co operation Flight 1941 4 No 22 RCAF Fighter Wing January February 1944 5 Detachment from No 58 Operational Training Unit RAF October 1942 6 No 143 RCAF Airfield January March 1944 7 415th Night Fighter Squadron 2 No 1490 Fighter Gunnery Flight April October 1943 8 then No 14 Armament Practice Camp October 1943 September 1944 9 No 1497 Target Towing Flight June July 1943 10 Royal Navy use edit The airbase was transferred on loan to the Admiralty from No 13 Group RAF on 6 September 1944 The Royal Navy took over with the Commanding Officer Commander A H L McCullock Known as Royal Naval Air Station Ayr RNAS Ayr it was commissioned shortly afterwards on 20 October as HMS Wagtail 11 One runway was redesigned and used by the Royal Navy s Fleet Air Arm to practice aircraft carrier landings The airbase was home to various Royal Navy units which were part of the Fleet Air Arm FAA including the Bombardment Spotting School No 3 Barracuda Servicing Unit and the Flag Officer Carrier Training Squadron Also operating out of RNAS Ayr was 772 Naval Air Squadron which was a Fleet Requirements Unit The airbase also included accommodation for disembarked FAA squadrons and additionally there was accommodation for two RAF Squadrons 11 The following units were posted here at some point 730 Naval Air Squadron 2 740 Naval Air Squadron 2 768 Naval Air Squadron 2 770 Naval Air Squadron 2 772 Naval Air Squadron 2 800 Naval Air Squadron 2 802 Naval Air Squadron 2 808 Naval Air Squadron 2 812 Naval Air Squadron 2 815 Naval Air Squadron 2 819 Naval Air Squadron 2 821 Naval Air Squadron 2 824 Naval Air Squadron 2 825 Naval Air Squadron 2 835 Naval Air Squadron 2 837 Naval Air Squadron 2 846 Naval Air Squadron 2 848 Naval Air Squadron 2 853 Naval Air Squadron 2 860 Naval Air Squadron 2 882 Naval Air Squadron 2 885 Naval Air Squadron 2 886 Naval Air Squadron 2 889 Naval Air Squadron 2 896 Naval Air Squadron 2 899 Naval Air Squadron 2 1770 Naval Air Squadron 12 1771 Naval Air Squadron 13 1840 Naval Air Squadron 14 1841 Naval Air Squadron 15 1843 Naval Air Squadron 16 1845 Naval Air Squadron 17 1846 Naval Air Squadron 17 1850 Naval Air Squadron 18 RNAS Ayr was paid off by the Royal Navy on 10 March 1946 and it was reduced to Care amp Maintenance Status administered by RNAS Abbotsinch 11 United States Air Force use edit The site was used by the United States Air Force USAF between 1951 and 1957 designated USAAF Station 570 for aircraft storage use From then on the USAF decided to solely use the adjacent Prestwick 2 Current use editThe site is now a mixture of housing farmland and a golf club 2 See also editList of former Royal Air Force stationsReferences editCitations edit a b Falconer 2012 p 38 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs Ayr II Heathfield Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 23 November 2014 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 163 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 179 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 314 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 242 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 54 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 136 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 74 Sturtivant Hamlin amp Halley 1997 p 137 a b c R N A S Ayr Royal Navy Research Archive Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 present day Retrieved 29 October 2023 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 338 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 339 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 352 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 353 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 355 a b Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 357 Sturtivant amp Ballance 1994 p 359 Bibliography edit Berry P 2005 Prestwick Airport and Scottish Aviation Falconer J 1998 RAF Fighter Airfields of World War 2 UK Ian Allan Publishing ISBN 0 7110 2175 9 Falconer J 2012 RAF Airfields of World War 2 UK Ian Allan Publishing ISBN 978 1 85780 349 5 Sturtivant R Ballance T 1994 The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm Tonbridge Kent UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 223 8 Sturtivant R Hamlin J Halley J 1997 Royal Air Force flying training and support units UK Air Britain Historians ISBN 0 85130 252 1 RAF Ayr Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation 15 July 2023 Ayr HMS Wagtail Fleet Air Arm Archive Archived from the original on 17 October 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Heathfield amp oldid 1182678342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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