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RAF Bishops Court

Royal Air Force Bishops Court or more simply RAF Bishops Court is a former Royal Air Force airfield, radar control and reporting station located on the south east coast of Northern Ireland, approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km) from Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland and 24.7 miles (39.8 km) from Belfast, Northern Ireland. A Marconi AMES Type 84 radar was located on the airfield and an AMES Type 80 radar was located at Killard Point, Ballyhornan (remote from the station itself). An AMES Type 93 mobile radar was also located on the airfield from 1989 until the station closed.

RAF Bishopscourt
Downpatrick, County Down in Northern Ireland
RAF Bishopscourt
Shown within Northern Ireland
RAF Bishopscourt
RAF Bishopscourt (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates54°18′20″N 005°34′09″W / 54.30556°N 5.56917°W / 54.30556; -5.56917
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Flying Training Command
Site history
Built1943 (1943)
In use1943-1992 (1992)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation9 metres (30 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

History edit

Airfield edit

The Class A bomber airfield opened in April 1943 with a main runway of 2,000 yards (1,800 m) and two subsidiaries of 1,400 yards (1,300 m).[1]

Dwight D. Eisenhower landed at Bishops Court in May 1944 while inspecting airfields.[1]

The airfield reopened in March 1953 for training for the Korean War but closed again in April 1954.[1]

A number of different units were based at the airfield:

  • 819 Naval Air Squadron[2]
  • No. 7 Air Observers School RAF between (17 May 1943 and 15 February 1944[3]
  • No. 12 Air Gunners School RAF between 1 August 1943 and 31 May 1945[3]
  • No. 7 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF between 15 February 1944 and 31 May 1945[3]
  • No. 7 Air Navigation School RAF between 31 May 1945 and 4 June 1947[3]
  • No. 2 Air Navigation School RAF between 4 June and 1 October 1947[3]
  • No. 3 Air Navigation School RAF between 3 March 1952 and 14 April 1954[3]
  • No. 671 Gliding School RAF between 22 January 1959 and September 1962[3]
  • No. 664 Volunteer Gliding School RAF between February 1987 and 31 October 1990[3]

Radar station edit

RAF Bishops Court formed part of the UK Military Air Traffic Service, as one of four reporting stations it was to control its sector (North Atlantic) and was commanded by HQ Military Air Traffic Operations (MATO) at RAF Uxbridge and RAF Strike Command at High Wycombe. The site was known as Ulster Radar and had both a military and civil role. In its civil role, the civilian personnel (using the military radar) controlled air traffic, primarily over the Atlantic to ensure correct height and separation.

The Irish Republican Army fired five mortar bombs at the radar site on 11 September 1989.[4]

The responsibilities of the site were assumed by the air traffic control centre at Prestwick, Scotland, in October 1978. The radar equipment was soon removed from the site, however the RAF remained. In the early 1980s new bunkers were constructed and a mobile radar was installed. The decision to close the 577 acre (2.3 km2) site was taken in the late 1980s and it was put up for sale in the period 1991-1995.

Alexander Galt, the famous Scottish artist, was stationed here during the war. While there, he painted murals on the wall of the Officers' mess. The paintings are still visible.

Current use edit

Since the sale, the land surrounding the runway has been used for agriculture, while the land at one end of the site (including some of the airfield runways) has been used for motor sport being called Bishopscourt Racing Circuit.[2] Today at least one runway remains intact and is used by gliders, the married quarters are now civilian housing.

In 2003, it was reported that Bishopscourt was a contender for a Ryanair airfield in the south of Northern Ireland. While the site would require significant infrastructure improvement if this were to happen, the former RAF station would fit into the Ryanair business model (selecting airports some distance from a capital/major city with low landing fees and providing transport to that city.)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Howland, Michael (2022). "The History of RAF Bishopscourt (1941-1990)". Lecale Review (20).
  2. ^ a b "Bishops Court". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h . R Connolly. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Bombs Hit RAF Base". The Press Association Limited. 11 September 1989.

External links edit

  • Unofficial Web site for Ulster Radar 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  • Bishopscourt Racing Circuit

bishops, court, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources RAF Bishops Court news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Royal Air Force Bishops Court or more simply RAF Bishops Court is a former Royal Air Force airfield radar control and reporting station located on the south east coast of Northern Ireland approximately 5 8 miles 9 3 km from Downpatrick County Down Northern Ireland and 24 7 miles 39 8 km from Belfast Northern Ireland A Marconi AMES Type 84 radar was located on the airfield and an AMES Type 80 radar was located at Killard Point Ballyhornan remote from the station itself An AMES Type 93 mobile radar was also located on the airfield from 1989 until the station closed RAF BishopscourtDownpatrick County Down in Northern IrelandRAF BishopscourtShown within Northern IrelandShow map of Northern IrelandRAF BishopscourtRAF Bishopscourt the United Kingdom Show map of the United KingdomCoordinates54 18 20 N 005 34 09 W 54 30556 N 5 56917 W 54 30556 5 56917Site informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperatorRoyal Air ForceControlled byRAF Flying Training CommandSite historyBuilt1943 1943 In use1943 1992 1992 Battles warsEuropean theatre of World War IICold WarAirfield informationElevation9 metres 30 ft AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface00 00 Concrete00 00 Concrete00 00 Concrete Contents 1 History 1 1 Airfield 1 2 Radar station 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editAirfield edit The Class A bomber airfield opened in April 1943 with a main runway of 2 000 yards 1 800 m and two subsidiaries of 1 400 yards 1 300 m 1 Dwight D Eisenhower landed at Bishops Court in May 1944 while inspecting airfields 1 The airfield reopened in March 1953 for training for the Korean War but closed again in April 1954 1 A number of different units were based at the airfield 819 Naval Air Squadron 2 No 7 Air Observers School RAF between 17 May 1943 and 15 February 1944 3 No 12 Air Gunners School RAF between 1 August 1943 and 31 May 1945 3 No 7 Observers Advanced Flying Unit RAF between 15 February 1944 and 31 May 1945 3 No 7 Air Navigation School RAF between 31 May 1945 and 4 June 1947 3 No 2 Air Navigation School RAF between 4 June and 1 October 1947 3 No 3 Air Navigation School RAF between 3 March 1952 and 14 April 1954 3 No 671 Gliding School RAF between 22 January 1959 and September 1962 3 No 664 Volunteer Gliding School RAF between February 1987 and 31 October 1990 3 Radar station edit RAF Bishops Court formed part of the UK Military Air Traffic Service as one of four reporting stations it was to control its sector North Atlantic and was commanded by HQ Military Air Traffic Operations MATO at RAF Uxbridge and RAF Strike Command at High Wycombe The site was known as Ulster Radar and had both a military and civil role In its civil role the civilian personnel using the military radar controlled air traffic primarily over the Atlantic to ensure correct height and separation The Irish Republican Army fired five mortar bombs at the radar site on 11 September 1989 4 The responsibilities of the site were assumed by the air traffic control centre at Prestwick Scotland in October 1978 The radar equipment was soon removed from the site however the RAF remained In the early 1980s new bunkers were constructed and a mobile radar was installed The decision to close the 577 acre 2 3 km2 site was taken in the late 1980s and it was put up for sale in the period 1991 1995 Alexander Galt the famous Scottish artist was stationed here during the war While there he painted murals on the wall of the Officers mess The paintings are still visible Current use editSince the sale the land surrounding the runway has been used for agriculture while the land at one end of the site including some of the airfield runways has been used for motor sport being called Bishopscourt Racing Circuit 2 Today at least one runway remains intact and is used by gliders the married quarters are now civilian housing In 2003 it was reported that Bishopscourt was a contender for a Ryanair airfield in the south of Northern Ireland While the site would require significant infrastructure improvement if this were to happen the former RAF station would fit into the Ryanair business model selecting airports some distance from a capital major city with low landing fees and providing transport to that city See also editLinesman Mediator List of former Royal Air Force stationsReferences edit a b c Howland Michael 2022 The History of RAF Bishopscourt 1941 1990 Lecale Review 20 a b Bishops Court Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 16 October 2013 a b c d e f g h HISTORY OF RAF BISHOPSCOURT R Connolly Archived from the original on 17 October 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2013 Bombs Hit RAF Base The Press Association Limited 11 September 1989 External links editUnofficial Web site for Ulster Radar Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Bishopscourt Racing Circuit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Bishops Court amp oldid 1223286015, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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