RAF St Eval: Difference between revisions
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===American use of the airfield=== |
===American use of the airfield=== |
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To boost the anti-submarine forces and to gain experience in the role, the Americans began to use the airfield (as station 129) with [[B-24 Liberator]] |
To boost the anti-submarine forces and to gain experience in the role, the Americans began to use the airfield (as station 129) with [[B-24 Liberator]] bombers of the [[409th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[93d Bombardment Group]]) being deployed from [[RAF Alconbury]] in [[Huntingdonshire]] in October 1942. |
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The following month they were replaced by the [[1st Antisubmarine Squadron]] being deployed from [[Langley Field]], [[Virginia]] with the [[2d Antisubmarine Squadron]] arriving in January 1943 with specialized long-range Liberator bombers equipped with RADAR and other submarine detection equipment. From St. Eval, the squadrons flew killer hunts against German [[U-Boats]] in the [[Bay of Biscay]]. Both of these squadrons were reassigned to [[Naval Air Station Port Lyautey|Port Lyautey]] in [[French Morocco]] in March 1943 to patrol the eastern [[North Atlantic]], [[Strait of Gibraltar]] and western [[Mediterranean Sea]]. |
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The [[Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command]] formed the [[479th Antisubmarine Group]] at St. Eval in July with four squadrons of long-range Liberators to continue the antisubmarine campaign. The 479th's most effective antisubmarine patrols were conducted from 18 July to 2 August 1943, the period in which the group made nearly all of its attacks on the U-boats. After that time the Germans avoided surfacing during daylight and adopted a policy of evasion, but the group continued its patrols, often engaging [[Luftwaffe]] fighter interceptor aircraft in combat. |
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Again this was a short-lived arrangement and the group took its [[Liberators]] to [[Dunkeswell Aerodrome|RAF Dunkeswell]] on 6 August, ending the American use of the station. |
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===Accident at St Eval=== |
===Accident at St Eval=== |
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Revision as of 02:18, 9 March 2009
| RAF St Eval | |
|---|---|
| Command: | Coastal Command |
| Function: | Operational, Parent |
| Runways: | 261 deg 1,980 x 50yd
201 deg 1,970 x 50yd 320 deg 1,600 x 50yd |
| Runway surface: | Part Concrete/Tarmac |
| Hangars: | Blister (69ft) x 5
Type C x 4 Blister (45ft) x 2 T.2 x 2 Bellman x 1 |
| Dispersals: | 48 x Spectacle |
| Personnel: | Officers - 18
Other Ranks - 1,284 |
| Coordinates: | SW 873 685 |
RAF St Eval was a strategic airbase for the RAF Coastal Command in the Second World War (situated in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom). St Eval's primary role was to provided vital anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the South West coast of England. Aircraft from the base were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, air-sea rescue missions and protection of the airbase from the Luftwaffe.
History
The construction of the airbase
The RAF's 1930s expansion plan included a requirement for an airbase to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the South-west coast of England. The site at St Eval was chosen as a Coastal Command base and work got underway in 1938. Five widely dispersed cottages, two houses and portions of two farms were acquired by compulsory purchase and with the village of St Eval completely demolished in order to build the air station. Levelling of the site by G.Wallace Ltd involved the removal by bulldozer of many Cornish dry stone walls and three ancient tumuli. One householder tried to hold out against the authorities and refused to leave his cottage for several days. Only the church survived from the village (which still stands today). The work progressed well and St Eval opened on 2 October 1939.
Battle of Britain
In June 1940 St Eval became a Fighter Command sector headquarters for the Battle of Britain and Supermarine Spitfires were based there. These were joined by Hawker Hurricane and Bristol Blenheim Fighters and the station's aircraft took an active part in the conflict with considerable success. After the Battle of Britain the station went on the offensive to the end of the war.
Meteorological flights
The formation in December 1940 of No 404 (later 1404) Meteorological Flight was significant. The squadron was tasked with providing basic weather data on which the Command meteorologists could base their forecasts. This meteorological role was highly important and it was a role which St Eval performed throughout the war.
Attacks on St Eval
The fighter presence of the Spitfires was not a great success. The Luftwaffe's change in tactics lead to increase in night raids which the Spitfires were not suited to. Therefore 238 Squadron were drafted in with Hurricanes. The base was unfortunately hit a number of times in the summer of 1940 and early 1941. This caused considerable damage and casualties. The Germans again made a number of raids in May 1942 causing damage to buildings and destruction of aircraft. St Eval was equipped with an amazing green box barrage rocket device which sent a steel wire curtain into the air to descend on parachutes. This was intended to enmesh enemy aircraft and cause them to crash but unfortunately the device was unsuccessful.
| Date | Incident |
| 12 July 1940 | During the afternoon a single Ju 88 dropped eight bombs causing minor damage. It was chased off by two Spitfires. |
| 21 August 1940 | Three Ju 88s bombed bombed St Eval causing damage to two hangars and destroying three Blenheims. Hurricanes managed to shoot down two of the Ju 88. |
| 22 August 1940 | 14 high explosive bombs and 200 incendiaries were dropped without causing much damage. |
| 23 August 1940 | There was a direct hit on a pyrotechnics store causing a large explosion. |
| 26 August 1940 | St Eval was bombed at 2130 hours and 2158 hours. |
| 30 September 1940 | At about 2300 hours 5 high explosives were dropped, two landing on the aerodrome and three outside. No damage was reported. |
| 3 October 1940 | St Eval was attacked between the hours of 0655 and 0710. Two Spitfires and one Avro Anson were completely destroyed and two hangars were also hit. |
| 14 October 1940 | At 2111 hours, 6 high explosive bombs and 20 incendiary bombs were dropped on the Station. |
Attack on the German battle cruiser Gneisenau
On 6 April 1941 a small force of Beauforts from 22 Squadron, operating as a detachment from St Eval, launched an attack on the German cruiser Gneisenau in Brest harbour. A Beaufort was able to launch a torpedo at point blank range but was immediately shot-down. The ship was severely damaged below the water line and obliged to turn to the dock. She was however later repaired.
No 61 Squadron
In the summer of 1942 No. 61 squadron was twice loaned to Coastal Command for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of Biscay. It was detached from its base in Rutland to St Eval and on the very first occasion that it operated from there - on 17 July 1942 - a crew became the first Bomber Command crew to bring back irrefutable evidence that they had destroyed a U-boat at sea - a photograph showing the U-boat crew in the water swimming away from their sinking vessel.
American use of the airfield
To boost the anti-submarine forces and to gain experience in the role, the Americans began to use the airfield (as station 129) with B-24 Liberator bombers of the 409th Bombardment Squadron (93d Bombardment Group) being deployed from RAF Alconbury in Huntingdonshire in October 1942.
The following month they were replaced by the 1st Antisubmarine Squadron being deployed from Langley Field, Virginia with the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron arriving in January 1943 with specialized long-range Liberator bombers equipped with RADAR and other submarine detection equipment. From St. Eval, the squadrons flew killer hunts against German U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay. Both of these squadrons were reassigned to Port Lyautey in French Morocco in March 1943 to patrol the eastern North Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and western Mediterranean Sea.
The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command formed the 479th Antisubmarine Group at St. Eval in July with four squadrons of long-range Liberators to continue the antisubmarine campaign. The 479th's most effective antisubmarine patrols were conducted from 18 July to 2 August 1943, the period in which the group made nearly all of its attacks on the U-boats. After that time the Germans avoided surfacing during daylight and adopted a policy of evasion, but the group continued its patrols, often engaging Luftwaffe fighter interceptor aircraft in combat.
Again this was a short-lived arrangement and the group took its Liberators to RAF Dunkeswell on 6 August, ending the American use of the station.
Accident at St Eval
In August 1943 a Whitley and B-24 Liberator collided on the runway, causing a massive explosion and the loss of both the aircraft and crews. The collision was in part, due to the poor runway layout, with a blind spot that hid one aircraft from the other.
1944 - The end of the war
The importance of St Eval was such that it was given a FIDO installation in early 1944 for dispersal of fog around the runway so that aircraft could land safely. St Eval was destined to have a busy time during the allied invasion of Europe. It was home to three RAF Liberator squadrons (53, 224, 547). Many of these were equipped with the highly successful Leigh Light. In the April a fourth squadron arrived giving the base one of the most powerful anti-submarine forces in the RAF. This force flew thousands of hours of patrols each month and was rewarded with a number of sightings, many of which were converted into attacks and with at least three confirmed U-boat kills in June alone. The Allied capture of French ports meant that the U-boat threat was drastically reduced. This meant that the units based at St Eval would be better used elsewhere. By Autumn of 1944 the base was a shadow of its former self.
Post World War II
The base continued to be used for maritime patrols and search and rescue duties. The airfield was also a site for diversions with a number of military and commercial aircraft making use of St Eval due to bad weather at their destination airfield. The Station closed on 6 March 1959, with the existing squadrons moving to nearby RAF St. Mawgan.
RAF St Eval today
Much of the basic structure still exists but many of the buildings have gone. The base is currently a communication station. A new village has been built on the east side of the base providing married accommodation for the RAF. The base is now ex RAF housing. When this was revealed people had to queue for 24 - 78 hours in tents to buy their own houses.
Memorial
There are various memorials in the St Ulvelus church, including a Book of Remembrance, a memorial window and a memorial to the crew of Shackleton VP254, who were killed in a crash off the Borneo coast on 9 December 1958.
Squadrons stationed at RAF St Eval
Royal Air Force 1939 - 1945
Royal Air Force Post 1945
See also
References
- Airfield Focus - 7:St Eval by Chris Ashworth (ISBN 1-870384-19-9)
- The Military airfields of Britain, South-Western England (ISBN 1-86126-810-6)
- A Guide to Airfields of South Western England, Baron Jay Publishers
- www.raf.mod.uk
External links
- worldwar2airfields.fotopic.net RAF St Eval
- www.atlantikwall.co.uk RAF St Eval
- RAF St Eval today in Google Maps
50°28′39″N 4°59′57″W / 50.47763°N 4.99922°W
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