RAF Long Kesh

RAF Long Kesh
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Maze, Lisburn
Built 1940 (1940)
In use 1941-1971 (1971)
Elevation AMSL 115 ft / 35 m
Coordinates 54°29′22″N 006°06′16″W / 54.48944°N 6.10444°W / 54.48944; -6.10444Coordinates: 54°29′22″N 006°06′16″W / 54.48944°N 6.10444°W / 54.48944; -6.10444
Map
RAF Long Kesh
Location in Northern Ireland
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt
00/00 0 0 Asphalt

Royal Air Force station Long Kesh or more simply RAF Long Kesh was a Royal Air Force station at Maze, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Various aircraft operated from the airfield during the Second World War, including the Supermarine Seafire and Spitfire.

History

In 1940-1941, during World War 2, RAF Long Kesh was a primary attack target in "Operation Green", a planned second front to accompany "Operation Sea Lion" for the conquest of the British Isles by the III Reich. RAF Long Kesh was to be attacked and wrecked by German airborne forces, whilst Aldergrove, Nutts Corner and Langford Lodge were to be captured.

Hangars were constructed at the airfield by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the use of Short Brothers to assemble the Short Stirling bomber.[1] Some Stirlings were also built at the site, before their assembly line moved to RAF Maghaberry, the aircraft production facilities at RAF Long Kesh then concentrated on aircraft wing manufacturing. One of the RAF Long Kesh hangars was later used by Miles Aircraft for final assembly and test flying work of the Miles Messenger, which was made at its factory in a linen mill at Banbridge.[1]

Long Kesh Detention Centre

From August 1971, during the paramilitary war in Ulster, the then disused airfield and facilities of RAF Long Kesh became the Long Kesh Detention Centre, where Irish terrorist suspects were detained by the British Government without trial during the Operation Demetrius phase of Operation Banner. From 1976 the makeshift structures housing the detainees were replaced by newly constructed "H-Blocks", and the facility was re-designated HM Prison Maze.

Operational units and aircraft

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Ernie Cromie. "Long Kesh & Maghaberry". Ulster Aviation Society.
  2. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 47.
  3. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  4. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 73.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 74.
  6. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
  7. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 91.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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