RAF Kirkistown

RAF Kirkistown
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Portavogie, County Down
Built 1941 (1941)
In use 1941-1946 (1946)
Elevation AMSL 276 ft / 84 m
Coordinates 54°27′18″N 005°27′57″W / 54.45500°N 5.46583°W / 54.45500; -5.46583Coordinates: 54°27′18″N 005°27′57″W / 54.45500°N 5.46583°W / 54.45500; -5.46583
Map
RAF Kirkistown

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

RAF Kirkistown is a former Royal Air Force satellite airfield located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) of Ballyhalbert, County Down, Northern Ireland and 6.3 miles (10.1 km)

It was a satellite to the RAF Fighter Command airfield at Ballyhalbert on the Ards Peninsula.

History

RAF Ballyhalbert opened officially on 28 June 1941 and the Kirkistown satellite airfield opened in July 1941. On 22 January 1942, No. 504 Squadron RAF moved to Kirkistown.[1] In 1945 Ballyhalbert Airfield transferred to the Admiralty and became a Royal Naval Air Station commissioned as HMS Corncrake. On 17 July 1945 Kirkistown Airfield was commissioned as HMS Corncrake II.[2]

Current use

Today the site is home to Kirkistown Circuit, a regular venue for car and motorcycle races. The circuit utilises the northern parts of the former air base's runways and perimeter roadways.

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  2. ↑ "Kirkistown". Ballyhalbert Airfield. A Brief Chronology. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Kirkistown". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 16 October 2013.

Bibliography


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