RAF Angle

Royal Air Force Angle, or more simply RAF Angle, is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Angle Peninsula Coast, west of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational from 1 June 1941 to 11 July 1946, having been used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

The village of Angle is north of the airfield, which is located along the coast. Notable landmarks are, Freshwater West beach to the south of the airfield, and the St. Gowans lightship, south of Linney Head.

History

Angle airfield was constructed with six fighter dispersal pens, each with room for four Spitfire aircraft, which were located on the south east side, and the watchtower was in one of the corners of the airfield, facing south-west. The airfield had three runways, constructed in triangular pattern, measuring: 1463 m (4800 ft) long, 914 m (2999 ft) long, and 1097 m (3599 ft) long. Angle had one T2 hangar and four Blister hangars. A battle headquarters was installed and the airfield was defended by a windmill, converted into a pillbox.

RAF Fighter Command

The airfield opened on the 1 June 1941, designed as a fighter airfield for convoy escort patrols. It was initially used by No. 32 Sqn flying Hawker Hurricane Mk.I aircraft, arriving from RAF Pembrey and then relocating in the November to RAF Manston. They were replaced by No. 615 Sqn, moving in the opposite direction from Manston in the same month, which operated Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc aircraft.Notes from Pembroke County War Memorial site
/ref> On the 1 December 1941, RAF Angle was designated as a forward base under No. 10 Group RAF, Fairwood Common Fighter Command Sector, taking on the responsibility of the air defence for the whole of South and West Wales and the protection of convoys in the Bristol and St George's Channels.

No. 615 Sqn left for RAF Fairwood Common in January 1942. Several Squadrons followed: No. 312 (Czech) Sqn equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Vb aircraft replaced 615 Sqn and operated out of RAF Angle until April. Next to be stationed here was No. 263 Sqn which used the twin-engine Westland Whirlwind I aircraft. 263 Sqn remained until August 1942, when it departed for RAF Colerne. Next came No. 152 Sqn, equipped with Supermarine Spitfire, but left in September. Then from November to January 1943 No. 421 Sqn RCAF occupied the base, operating Supermarine Spitfire Vb. January and February 1943 saw the fighter cover provided by No. 412 Sqn RCAF also flying Supermarine Spitfire Vb.

The next use of the air station saw a detachment of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley aircraft and Airspeed Horsa military gliders stationed at RAF Angle in April 1943, for exercises with the 9th (Eastern and Home Counties) Parachute Battalion.

On the 29 May 1943 a Short Sunderland of No. 461 Sqn RAAF made a successful forced landing at RAF Angle. It had considerable damage to its hull and was unable to land on the water at RAF Pembroke Dock. Having rescued the survivors of two crashed aircraft: Short Sunderland JM675 and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber BD282, the crews were passed to the Free French destroyer ''La Combattante''. The damage was sustained while taking off in heavy seas. Pilot Officer Gordon Singleton performed the first ever ‘dry’ airfield flying boat landing with no further casualties.

Royal Navy

RAF Angle was transferred to the Admiralty, on the 1 May 1943, from No. 19 Group RAF. 794 Naval Air Firing Unit was posted here, conducting target towing duties. with the air station being renamed Royal Naval Air Station Angle (RNAS Angle, also known as HMS ''Goldcrest''). 759 Advanced Flying School sent a detachment here, in July 1943, from RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron).

However, on 5 September 1943, RAF Dale was transferred to the Admiralty in exchange for RNAS Angle, from No. 19 Group RAF, with the Coastal Command Development Unit moving in. 794 NAS left Angle for Dale, in September and 759 NAS departed Angle, in November 1943.

RAF Coastal Command

During October 1943 RAF Angle was used by specially adapted de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, involved in trials with a new type of depth charge developed by Barnes Wallis, a bouncing bomb code-named Highball. On 6 October 1943, a Mosquito of No. 618 Sqn, took off from RAF Angle, it was flown by Sqn Ldr Longbottom and carried a prototype Highball bouncing bomb. The south portal of Castle Hill (Maenclochog) Tunnel, on the North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway acted as the target for the trial and he managed to get four out of twelve to go through the tunnel, whilst two hit the portal.

Highball was a spherical design with dimples by Barnes Wallis and two were carried by de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, dropped either singly or in a salvoed pair.Photo and notes from Maenclochog Tunnel
/ref>

The Coastal Command Development Unit RAF (CCDU) arrived at RAF Angle in September 1943. Its role was to undertake anti-submarine warfare trials. Once these were completed the unit left for RAF Thorney Island in January 1945. The CCDU was joined by the No. 1 Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF in April 1944. In June it became known as the Engine Control Instructional Flight RAF and also departed in January 1945.

RAF Angle was controlled by RAF Coastal Command, however, any flying on the south of Milford Haven was controlled by RAF Pembroke Dock due to a dispersed flying-boat flare path in Angle Bay and night flying co-ordination from a single control. RAF Angle was closed on the 1 January 1946, it remained inactive and parented by RAF Pembroke Dock, then in 1953 it was relinquished.

Royal Air Force Operational History

Air Defence and Convoy Patrols

No. 32 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF Pembrey, on the 1 June 1941. The squadron operated with Hawker Hurricane Mk.I and was led by Sqn Ldr T. Grier, DFC. It provided air defence until leaving for RAF Manston on the 26 November 1941.

No. 615 Squadron RAF moved from RAF Manston, on the 27 November 1941. It was equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk.I & II aircraft. Battle of Britain pilot, Sqn Ldr D. E. Gilliam, DSO, DFC and Bar, AFC, was the CO. The squadron's main role was performing shipping and convoy patrols over the Irish Sea, which involved hunting for ''Luftwaffe'' aircraft, along with escorting allied shipping and bomber aircraft. No. 615 Sqn relocated to RAF Fairwood Common, on the 10 January 1942.

No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF, a Czechoslovak-manned fighter squadron, arrived at RAF Angle, on the 24 January 1942. Its CO was Sqn Ldr H. Bird-Wilson, DFC, and it was tasked with convoy patrols, as well as providing air defence cover for Milford Haven Waterway. While at RAF Angle the unit flew 231 hours of operations and had several encounters with the ''Luftwaffe''. It was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire Vb aircraft and on the 16 February was credited with a Junkers Ju 88 aircraft kill. The aircraft were also fitted with bomb racks enabling ground attack exercises with the Army. No. 312 Sqn left for RAF Fairwood Common on the 18 April 1942.

The Westland Whirlwind twin-engined Fighter aircraft equipped No. 263 Squadron RAF, moved from RAF Fairwood Common, on the 18 April 1942. The unit was led by Sqn Ldr R. S. Woodward, DFC. It provided convoy protection in the Irish Sea and was also part of bombing raids across occupied France. Ten Whirlwind aircraft went on detachment to RAF Portreath to support Ramrod missions. The squadron lost two pilots when two of its Whirlwind aircraft were shot down by Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft of the ''Luftwaffe'' over France, on 23 July, during a Rhubarb raid (''fighter sweep''). The squadron left for RAF Colerne on the 18 August 1942.

No. 152 Squadron RAF equipped with Supermarine Spitfire Vb & Vc aircraft arrived from RAF Eglington, on the 16 August 1942. The unit undertook convoy patrols, but was only at RAF Angle for a short time, leaving for RAF Collyweston on the 27 September 1942.

No. 421 Squadron RCAF was a Canadian fighter squadron. It arrived at RAF Angle on the 26 October 1942 from RAF Fairwood Common. The squadron operated with Supermarine Spitfire Vb aircraft. Its dual role was to provide Irish Sea convoy fighter cover and local air defence, under the leadership of Sqn Ldr F. E. Green, DFC. The squadron relocated to RAF Kenley on the 29 January 1943.

No. 412 Squadron RCAF a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter squadron, operated out of RAF Angle for a short time, it provided the air cover between the 29 January and the 8 February 1943, equipped with Supermarine Spitfire Vb and led by Sqn Ldr F. W. Kelly. The squadron transferred from RAF Redhill but a week and a half later it departed for RAF Fairwood Common

Coastal Command Development Unit

In September 1943 the RAF and Coastal Command Development Unit RAF (CCDU) relocated from RAF Dale to RAF Angle. The units initial purpose was to undertake service trials of all radar equipment such as air-to-surface (ASV) radar to assist RAF Coastal Command operations. It was required to investigate the tactics for the use of all types of radar equipment in Coastal Command aircraft, but its role changed to cover both service and tactical trials of all Coastal Command aircraft and equipment, including trials of anti-submarine warfare equipment and techniques. One of the key tests performed while at RAF Angle was to measure audibility of aircraft from submarines on the surface. The unit operated a wide variety of aircraft types to carry out the trials:

*Consolidated B-24 Liberator GR Mk.V - one aircraft
*Handley Page Halifax GR.II - one aircraft
*Vickers Wellington B Mark X - two aircraft
*Vickers Warwick GR Mk II - one aircraft
*Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk.X - two aircraft
*Percival Proctor - a number of aircraft for communications flights

With the trials completed the unit left for RAF Thorney Island in January 1945.

Royal Navy Operational History

Naval Air Firing Unit

794 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Firing Unit. It moved here from RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) on the 1 July 1943. Its role was to provide target-towing for Rayal Navy ships, and was responsible for pilot training. At Angle it operated with sixteen Hawker Sea Hurricane, four Boulton Paul Defiant TT. III, eight Miles Martinet TT. I and four Miles Master II aircraft, working with the Fighter School from RNAS Yeovilton. The squadron moved to RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest) on the 10 September 1943.

759 Naval Air Squadron was the Advanced Flying Training Squadron. It operated a detachment here, from RNAS Yeovilton, from the 1 July 1943 to support 794 NAS and the Naval Air Firing Unit. It was equipped with Hawker Sea Hurricane and Fairey Fulmar aircraft. The detachment ended and returned to RNAS Yeovilton on the 22 November 1943.

Previous units

Royal Air Force

Royal Navy

;Fleet Air Arm

Current use

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

See also

* List of former Royal Air Force stations
* List of air stations of the Royal Navy
* Angle, Pembrokeshire

References

Citations

Bibliography

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Angle
Royal Air Force stations in Wales