RAF Limavady

Royal Air Force Limavady or more simply RAF Limavady is a former Royal Air Force station, also known as Aghanloo airfield, near the city of Derry, Northern Ireland.

RAF Limavady
RNAS Limavady
Limavady, County Londonderry in Northern Ireland
RAF Limavady
Shown within Northern Ireland
Coordinates55°04′23″N 006°56′15″W
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byRAF Coastal Command
Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940-1958 (1958)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation20 metres (66 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

History

The station was built in 1940 during the Second World War. The airfield was part of RAF Coastal Command and was important in the fight against U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean.[1]

Units
SqnAircraftJoinedDepartedFrom → ToNotes
48Avro Anson I
Bristol Beaufort I
Lockheed Hudson V/III		16 July 194020 October 1941RAF Hooton Park
RAF Stornoway
RAF Skitten		On detachment initially from RAF Hooton Park then squadron moved to RAF Stornoway then on to RAF Skitten.[2]
53Lockheed Hudson VJuly 1941February 1942RAF Bircham Newton → RAF St EvalOn detachment then squadron moved to RAF St Eval and continued its detachment.[3]
143Bristol Blenheim IV23 April 194211 June 1942RAF Aldergrove → RAF Thorney IslandSquadron move.[4]
153Boulton Paul Defiant I
Bristol Beaufighter IF		October 1941December 1942RAF Ballyhalbert → RAF PortreathOn detachment.[5]
172Vickers Wellington XIV1 September 19444 June 1945RAF Chivenor → DBSquadron disbanded.[6]
221Vickers Wellington ICNovember 194025 December 1941RAF Bircham Newton → RAF DockingOn detachment from RAF Bircham Newton then from RAF Reykjavik.[7]
224Lockheed Hudson II15 April 194120 December 1941RAF Leuchars → RAF St EvalSquadron move.[8]
245Hawker Hurricane I20 July 19401 September 1941RAF Aldergrove → RAF ChilboltonOn detachment.[9]
281Supermarine Sea Otter31 March 194113 August 1945RAF Mullaghmore → RAF BallykellySquadron move.[10]
304Vickers Wellington XIII21 September 19446 March 1945RAF Benbecula → RAF St EvalOn detachment.[11]
407Vickers Wellington XI29 January 194428 April 1944RAF Chivenor → RAF ChivenorSquadron move.[12]
500Bristol Blenheim IV30 May 194122 March 1942RAF Bircham Newton → RAF StornowayOn detachment then squadron move.[13]
502Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V27 January 194110 January 1942RAF Aldergrove → RAF Bircham NewtonSquadron move.[14]
612Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V1 April 194115 December 1941RAF Wick → RAF ReykjavikOn detachment then squadron move.[15]
811 Naval Air Squadron[16]
819 Naval Air Squadron[16]
825 Naval Air Squadron[16]
846 Naval Air Squadron[16]
850 Naval Air Squadron[16]

The following units were also here at some point:[16]

After the Second World War the airfield was further used by the Fleet Air Arm when it was known as RNAS Limavady until 1958 when it was finally sold off.

Current use

After it was vacated by the military, the site was partly converted into an industrial estate with the rest returning to agricultural purposes. The runways and taxiways can still be seen from aerial imagery.[17][18]

References

Citations
  1. "Move to preserve Limavady RAF buildings". Derry Journal. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. Jefford, p.44 (No. 48 Sqn)
  3. Jefford, p.45 (No. 53 Sqn)
  4. Jefford, p.64 (No. 143 Sqn)
  5. Jefford, p.65 (No. 153 Sqn)
  6. Jefford, p.67 (No. 172 Sqn)
  7. Jefford, p.75 (No. 221 Sqn)
  8. Jefford, p.75 (No. 224 Sqn)
  9. Jefford, p.79 (No. 245 Sqn)
  10. Jefford, p.85 (No. 281 Sqn)
  11. Jefford, p.87 (No. 304 Sqn)
  12. Jefford, p.91 (No. 407 Sqn)
  13. Jefford, p.95 (No. 500 Sqn)
  14. Jefford, p.96 (No. 502 Sqn)
  15. Jefford, p.101 (No. 612 Sqn)
  16. "Limavady". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  17. "RAF Limavady airfield control tower WW2". www.controltowers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  18. "Limavady". www.forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 11 August 2017.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C G (2001). R.A.F Squadrons, A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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