RAF Kirkistown

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Coordinates: 54°27′18″N 005°27′57″W / 54.45500°N 5.46583°W / 54.45500; -5.46583
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RAF Kirkistown
HMS Corncrake II
Portavogie, County Down in Northern Ireland
RAF Kirkistown is located in Northern Ireland
RAF Kirkistown
RAF Kirkistown
Shown within Northern Ireland
RAF Kirkistown is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Kirkistown
RAF Kirkistown
RAF Kirkistown (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates54°27′18″N 005°27′57″W / 54.45500°N 5.46583°W / 54.45500; -5.46583
TypeSatellite station
CodeIK[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
Admiralty
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-44
RAF Northern Ireland 1944-45
Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1940 (1940)/41
In useJuly 1941 – 1952 (1952)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation6 metres (20 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac

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

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

History[edit]

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.[2] In 1945, Ballyhalbert Airfield was designated a Royal Naval Air Station as "H.M.S. Corncrake", and Kirkistown Airfield was known as "H.M.S. Corncrake II".[3] The following units were here at some point:[4]

Current use[edit]

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[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 122.
  2. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  3. ^ "Kirkistown". Ballyhalbert Airfield. A Brief Chronology. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Kirkistown". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 94.
  6. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 136.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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