RAF Thorney Island

For current use, see Baker Barracks.
RAF Thorney Island
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Thorney Island
Built 1938
In use 1938 - 1984
Elevation AMSL 10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates 50°49′01″N 000°55′15″W / 50.81694°N 0.92083°W / 50.81694; -0.92083Coordinates: 50°49′01″N 000°55′15″W / 50.81694°N 0.92083°W / 50.81694; -0.92083
Map
RAF Thorney Island

Location in West Sussex

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
01/19 0 0 Concrete
06/24 0 0 Concrete
12/30 0 0 Concrete

RAF Thorney Island is a former Royal Air Force station located 6.6 miles (10.6 km) west of Chichester, West Sussex, England and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) east of Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Station history

Aerial view in World War II

The airfield was built in 1938[1] for fighter aircraft and was involved in the Battle of Britain when it was attacked by the Luftwaffe on the same day as other stations such as RAF Ford and RAF Poling radar station.[2] RAF Thorney Island was transferred to RAF Coastal Command for the protection of shipping and other various roles,[3] and had its concrete runways laid in 1942.[1] The station closed as an RAF airfield on 31 March 1976;[4] however, the Royal Artillery re-opened the site in 1982.[5]

Operational history

Major units

As with many RAF Coastal Command airfields, a great variety of squadrons and aircraft were posted to RAF Thorney Island during World War II; in particular:

No. 22 Squadron RAF moved to the airfield on 10 March 1938 firstly using Vickers Vildebeest and then the Bristol Beaufort. It was possibly during this time when Flight Officer Kenneth Campbell won his Victoria Cross for a daring attack on the German battleship Gneisenau which was located in Brest harbour during April 1941 which unfortunately took his life. The squadron left on 8 April 1940 then came back to the airfield again on 25 June 1941 and stayed until 28 October 1941.[6]

No. 48 Squadron RAF was present between 28 September 1938 and 10 October 1938 before returning on 25 August 1939 and leaving for the last time on 16 July 1940,[6] both times using the Avro Anson.

No. 53 Squadron RAF was operating the Hawker Hector from the airfield firstly between 24 November 1940 and 20 March 1941 before re-turning on 29 April 1943 staying until 25 September 1943 using the Consolidated B-24 Liberator.[6]

No. 59 Squadron RAF moved in to Thorney island on 3 July 1940, initially flying anti-submarine patrols and bombing raids against the German invasion ports with Bristol Blenheims but left on 23 June 1941. The squadron returned 22 July 1941 and later became a general reconnaissance squadron, carrying out anti-shipping strikes, first with the Blenheims and then with Lockheed Hudsons then left on 17 January 1942. In August 1942 the squadron returned and converted to the Consolidated B-24 Liberator then for 2 months operated the Flying Fortress before reverting to the Liberator until it left Thorney in February 1943.[6][7]

No. 86 Squadron RAF used RAF Thorney Island for two separate occasions. Firstly when it arrived during January 1942 using the Bristol Beaufort Mk I as a detachment before moving to RAF North Coates during March then again during August 1942 until March 1943 flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Mk IIIa.[8]

No. 164 Squadron RAF used RAF Thorney Island as an airfield sometime between 16 March 1944 and 12 April 1944 conducting operations against enemy shipping and coastal using the Hawker Typhoon IB. However they returned nine days later and then stayed until 8 June 1944.

No. 198 Squadron RAF moved to the airfield on 6 April 1944 using the Hawker Typhoon IB for the preparation for D-Day before moving on 22 April 1944. The squadron returned 8 days later on 30 April 1944 was heavily used around Caen during the Battle for Caen before moving to France on 18 June 1944.[9]

No. 233 Squadron RAF used the airfield as a location for a detachment starting from 2 January 1942 while the rest of the squadron were based at RAF Gibraltar before finally joining them on 12 July 1942.[10]

No. 236 Squadron RAF was operational during the Battle of Britain as on 4 July 1940 it moved to the airfield using Bristol Blenheims carrying out anti-shipping patrols. The squadron changed aircraft in October 1941 to Bristol Beaufighters before moving to RAF Wattisham in February 1942.[11][12]

No. 280 Squadron RAF formed at the airfield on 12 December 1941 as an Air Sea Rescue unit but did not receive any aircraft until February 1942 when Avro Ansons arrived but the squadron left on 10 February 1942. The squadron returned on 25 September 1943 and stayed until 21 October 1943 .[13]

No. 404 Squadron RCAF formed at RAF Thorney Island on 15 April 1941 conducting coastal patrols flying the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV, Bristol Beaufighter[14] and the de Havilland Mosquito Mk.VI[15] before moving to RAF Davidstow Moor on 20 June 1941.[16]

No. 407 Coastal Strike Squadron (RCAF) was formed at Thorney Island on 8 May 1941, first training on the Bristol Blenheim. From September 1941 to January 1943, the squadron operated as a "strike" squadron attacking enemy shipping with the Lockheed Hudson. On 29 January 1943 it was re-designated 407 General Reconnaissance Squadron, and for the remainder of the war it protected friendly shipping from the U-Boat threat operating the Vickers Wellington. The squadron was disbanded at the end of the Second World War on 4 June 1945.[17]

No. 415 Squadron RCAF formed at the airfield on 20 August 1941 using Handley Page Hampdens as a torpedo-bomber squadron attacking enemy convoys and shipyards until 11 April 1942. Before returning on 16 May 1942 until 5 June 1942 and a third and final time between 11 November 1942 and 15 November 1943.[18]

The next unit to use the airfield was No. 547 Squadron RAF which arrived 25 October 1943 with Liberators which it operated over the Bay of Biscay. The squadron moved again on 14 January 1944 to RAF Leuchars.[19]

No. 612 Squadron RAF operated at the airfield between 18 August 1942 and 23 September 1942 with detachments at RAF Wick and RAF St Eval before moving to RAF Wick. The squadron flew both Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and Vickers Wellingtons during the war.[20]

Minor units

+ data from [6]

Squadron Starting from Ending on Aircraft Notes
No. 21 Squadron RAF 18 June 1944 6 February 1945 de Havilland Mosquito Mk. VI Used the airfield for just over six months
No. 129 Squadron RAF 30 July 1942 25 September 1942 Supermarine Spitfire Used the airfield for just two months
No. 130 Squadron RAF 16 August 1942 20 August 1942 Supermarine Spitfire Mk VA Used the airfield for four days
No. 131 Squadron RAF 24 September 1942 7 November 1942 Supermarine Spitfire IIA Used the airfield for just under two weeks
No. 143 Squadron RAF 11 June 1942 27 July 1942 Hawker Hurricane Used the airfield for just over six weeks
No. 183 Squadron RAF 1 April 1944 11 April 1944 Hawker Typhoon IB First deployment to airfield
No. 183 Squadron RAF 22 April 1944 18 June 1944 Hawker Typhoon IB Second deployment to airfield
No. 193 Squadron RAF 16 March 1944 6 April 1944 Hawker Typhoon IB Used the airfield for three weeks
No. 217 Squadron RAF 29 October 1941 6 March 1942 Bristol Beaufort Mk II Moved to RAF Leuchars[21]
No. 220 Squadron RAF October 1943 June 1945 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress II A Detachment from another airfield
No. 235 Squadron RAF 10 June 1940 24 June 1940 Bristol Blenheim Used the airfield for fourteen days
No. 278 Squadron RAF 15 February 1945 15 October 1945 Supermarine Walrus
Supermarine Sea Otter 		[13]
No. 455 Squadron RAAF 14 April 1944 20 October 1944 Bristol Beaufighter Mk. X Detachment from RAF Langham in Norfolk
No. 464 Squadron RAAF 18 June 1944 7 February 1945 de Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk.VI Moved to B.87 in France
No. 487 Squadron RNZAF 18 June 1944 2 February 1945 de Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk.VI A detachment moved to B.87 in France in December 1944
No. 609 Squadron RAF 1 April 1944 22 April 1944 Hawker Typhoon First deployment to airfield
No. 609 Squadron RAF 30 April 1944 18 June 1944 Hawker Typhoon Second deployment to airfield

Fleet Air Arm Squadrons

The airfield was also used by squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm like when in April 1945 703 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) was reformed as the "Air Sea Warfare Development Unit" at RAF Thorney Island to conduct experimental trials on a large variety of aircraft including the Grumman Avenger, Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly and de Havilland Sea Mosquito.[22] also two other Fleet Air Arm squadrons used the airfield with 810 NAS joining during March 1945 flying the Fairey Barracuda III and 836 NAS from January 1943 until March 1943 flying the Fairey Swordfish before moving to RAF Machrihanish.[1]

Several other Naval Air Squadrons also used the airfield at some point:

Post-war units

On 1 October 1946 254 Squadron at RAF Thorney Island was renumbered to No. 42 Squadron. Equipped with Bristol Beaufighter TF.10, it was a strike unit in RAF Coastal Command until disbanded on 15 October 1947.[23][24]

222 Squadron RAF

Between 1948 and 1950, No. 222 Squadron RAF was posted to RAF Thorney Island flying the Gloster Meteor. For eight weeks in the summers on 1948 and 1949 Thorney Island was the site of the very first Royal Observer Corps summer training camps with 600 volunteer observers attending each week, living and training under canvas.

During the early 50's, when Flying Training took over, Thorney Island was the parent unit for a small detachment in Weymouth (RAF Chesil Bank), where there was an emergency landing-ground (some involvement when the submarine "Affray" sank in the English Channel in 1951). The detachment's primary role was the operation of the bombing range off Chesil Beach. The floating targets in Lyme Bay were serviced by a launch from Lyme Regis.

242 Operational Conversion Unit

No 242 OCU, was posted to RAF Dishforth, received its Beverley Flight in 1957. The OCU’s instructors trained aircrew and ground staff in the flying and maintenance of the aircraft. In 1961, the unit moved to RAF Thorney Island, where apparently the unit caused retired Admirals and Generals to complain about the noise of night flying but the Beverley flight was disbanded in March 1967. A mistake in embroidery work resulted in a batch of Squadron badges bearing the title ‘242 Operational Conversation Unit’.[25]

The first C-130 Hercules was delivered on 7 April 1967 by a Royal Air Force crew from the United States of America and shared the airfield with the Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy and later the Andover CMk1 which was operated by No. 84 Squadron RAF[26] and No. 46 Squadron RAF

SAR flight 22 Squadron RAF

From June 1955, a Search and Rescue flight of No. 22 Squadron RAF equipped with Westland Whirlwind helicopters were posted to Thorney Island. These remained at the airfield until the Royal Air Force left in the 1976.[27] B Flight No 22 Squadron was re-allocated to R.A.F. Lossiemouth in 1973, when it became a Flight of No 202 Squadron. The Royal Navy at Lee-on-Solent took over the area SAR capability.

Aircraft operated

Post war

Post RAF

Subsequently the Royal Navy expressed an interest in utilising the base, but in 1980 West Thorney became host to many hundreds of Vietnamese families, accepted by the United Kingdom for settlement in this country.[28] In 1984 control was handed to the Royal Artillery, who named the site Baker Barracks, and who remain in control of the airfield to date.[29]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 "Thorney Airbase History". Daveg - Tripod. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "RAF Tangmere and the Battle Of Britain". Tangmere Museum. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "No.11 Group Airfields". South East Echo. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "RAF Thorney Island". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "RAF Thorney Island Sussex". Atlantik Wall. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "RAF Thorney Island". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "No. 59 Squadron (RAF): Second World War". History of War. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  8. ↑ "No. 86 Squadron R.A.F". RAF Liberator Squadrons of 209 Group, SEAC, Coastal Command and Commonwealth Airforces. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  9. ↑ "No. 198 Squadron RAF". The Association of 198 Squadron RAF Pilots and Ground Crews. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "No. 233 Squadron RAF". The Pegasus Archive. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  11. ↑ "No. 236 Squadron RAF". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "11 Group Airfields". The South East Echo. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  13. 1 2 "No. 278 Squadron RAF". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "No. 404 Squadron RCAF". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "404 Sqn RCAF". Canadian Armed Forces RCAF Squadron Histories. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "404 (Buffalo) Coastal Fighter Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force". RAF Lincolnshire.info. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "407 Sqn RCAF". Canadian Armed Forces RCAF Squadron Histories. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "No. 415 Squadron". Canadian Wings - The History and Heritage of Canada's Air Force. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  19. ↑ "No. 547 Squadron RAF". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  20. ↑ "No.612 Squadron RAF". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  21. ↑ "No.217 Squadron RAF". RAF Commands.com. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  22. ↑ "History of 703 NAS". Royal Navy. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  23. ↑ Halley 1988, p. 95.
  24. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
  25. ↑ "No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit". Beverley Association. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  26. ↑ "40th Anniversary of the Hercules C130K in Royal Air Force service 1967-2007". Lyneham Village. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  27. ↑ "RAF Search and Rescue". James Paul & Martin Spirit. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  28. ↑ "A brief History". Thorney Island Sailing Club. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "47 Regt RA". Ministry of Defence - British Army. Retrieved 18 April 2012.

Bibliography

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