RAF Angle

Royal Air Force Angle, or RAF Angle, is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Angle Peninsula Coast, 8 miles (13 km) west of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational from 1 December 1941 to the 1950s, having been used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy.

RAF Angle
RNAS Angle
HMS Goldcrest
Angle, Pembrokeshire in Wales
RAF Angle
Shown within Pembrokeshire
Coordinates51°40′28″N 005°05′54″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byRAF Coastal Command
Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1941 (1941)
In use1941-1950 (1950)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Airfield information
Elevation63 metres (207 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

History

It was initially used by No. 32 Squadron RAF flying the Hawker Hurricane I. In November 1941 they were replaced by 615 Squadron, and the Hurricane IIC. Several Squadrons followed: 312 Squadron flew the Supermarine Spitfire VB and 263 Squadron with the Westland Whirlwind.[1]

Next No. 152 Squadron RAF, No. 412 Squadron RCAF and No. 421 Squadron RCAF squadrons occupied the base, flying the Spitfire VB.[1]

During May 1943 794 Naval Air Squadron were posted here conducting target towing and the control of the airfield was transferred to the Royal Navy[2] with the site being renamed RNAS Angle (HMS Goldcrest).[3] However in September 1943 the Royal Navy moved from RNAS Angle to the RNAS Dale, and the RAF swapped sites in the other direction with the Coastal Command Development Unit moving in.[2]

The airfield was used as the base for trials of the prototype Highball bouncing bomb on 6 October 1943 using a tunnel at Maenclochog as a target. Highball was a spherical design with dimples by Barnes Wallis and were dropped by de Havilland Mosquito aircraft.[4]

Other units based at Angle were:

  • No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit[3] became the Engine Control Instructional Flight[3]
  • Coastal Command Development Unit RAF from 1943 [2]

Between 1945 and the 1950s Angle was used as a Relief Landing Ground for Fleet Air Arm aircraft based at RNAS Brawdy.[3]

Posted squadrons
SquadronAircraftVariantFromToToNotes
No. 32 Squadron RAFHawker HurricaneI/IIB1 June 194127 November 1941RAF Manston[5]
No. 152 Squadron RAFSupermarine SpitfireVB16 August 194227 September 1942RAF Collyweston[6]
No. 254 Squadron RAF[3]
No. 263 Squadron RAFWestland WhirlwindI18 April 194215 August 1942RAF ColerneDetachment at RAF Portreath.[7]
No. 312 Squadron RAFSpitfireIIB/VB24 January 194218 April 1942RAF Fairwood CommonDetachment at RAF Fairwood Common.[8]
No. 412 Squadron RCAFSpitfireVB29 January 19438 February 1943RAF Fairwood Common[9]
No. 421 Squadron RCAFSpitfireVB26 October 1942
14 November 1942
4 December 1942		1 November 1942
30 November 1942
29 January 1943		RAF Zeals
RAF Charmy Down
RAF Kenley		[10]
No. 615 Squadron RAFHurricaneIIB/IIC27 November 194123 January 1942RAF Fairwood Common[11]
759 Naval Air Squadron[3]
794 Naval Air SquadronMay 1943September 1943RNAS DaleTarget Towing.[2]

Current use

The site has reverted to farming[3] and only a few huts and the perimeter track are left.[2]

See also

References

Citations
  1. Notes from Pembroke County War Memorial site
  2. "Angle Airfield, Angle". National Monuments Record of Wales. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. "Angle". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  4. Photo and notes from Maenclochog Tunnel
  5. Jefford 2001, p. 35.
  6. Jefford 2001, p. 62.
  7. Jefford 2001, p. 80.
  8. Jefford 2001, p. 86.
  9. Jefford 2001, p. 90.
  10. Jefford 2001, p. 91.
  11. Jefford 2001, p. 100.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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