| RAF Mullaghmore USAAF Station AAF-240   | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballymoney, County Antrim in Northern Ireland | |||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Type | Satellite Station | ||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force Royal Navy United States Army Air Forces | ||||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Coastal Command Fleet Air Arm | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
RAF Mullaghmore Shown within Northern Ireland Show map of Northern IrelandRAF Mullaghmore RAF Mullaghmore (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 55°01′33″N 006°35′49″W / 55.02583°N 6.59694°W / 55.02583; -6.59694 | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1942 (1942) | ||||||||
| In use | 1942-1946 (1946) | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 7 metres (23 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Royal Air Force Mullaghmore or more simply RAF Mullaghmore is a former Royal Air Force station located 4.2 miles (6.8 km) southwest of Ballymoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and 4.9 miles (7.9 km) northeast of Garvagh, County Londonderry.
History
It was a United States Army Air Forces 8th Air Force Composite Command base until being passed to the Royal Air Force in May 1944 for use as a training establishment.1
Between December 1943 and February 1944 the airfield was used the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF)'s 6th Replacement and Training Squadron (Bombardment) and the 6th Combat Crew Replacement Centre before the unit moved to RAF Cheddington. The airfield was then used for storage until May 1944.1
The following units were based there:
- No. 4 Refresher Flying Unit RAF2 which moved from RAF Haverfordwest and stayed between October 1945 and March 19451
- No. 7 (Coastal) OTU2 flying Vickers Wellingtons between December 1942 and January 1944
- No. 104 (Transport) OTU2 arrived from RAF Maghaberry flying Vickers Wellingtons between October 1943 and January 19441
- No. 281 Squadron RAF2
- 815 Naval Air Squadron2
- 825 Naval Air Squadron2
- 842 Naval Air Squadron2
- 850 Naval Air Squadron2
- 1771 Naval Air Squadron2
- Loran Training Unit RAF (October 1944 – April 1945)3
The airfield was closed and placed on care and maintenance during May 1945.1
Current use
The airfield, now in private hands, is used as a microlight base known locally as Aghadowey Aerodrome.2 Other uses include a racing circuit built on one of the old runways and a short-oval track hosting Stock car and Banger racing on selected weekends.
References
References
Citations
- "RAF Mullaghmore". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- "Mullaghmore". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 202.
Bibliography
- Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.