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RAF Sydenham RAF Belfast RNAS Belfast RNAY Belfast HMS Gadwell HMS Gannet III
Belfast, County Antrim in Northern Ireland
RAF SydenhamShown within Northern IrelandShow map of Northern IrelandRAF SydenhamRAF Sydenham (the United Kingdom)Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	54°36′51″N 005°52′37″W / 54.61417°N 5.87694°W / 54.61417; -5.87694
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry Admiralty
Operator	Royal Air Force Royal Navy
Controlled by	RAF Flying Training Command Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1939 (1939)
In use	1939-1970 (1970)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation	1 metre (3 ft 3 in) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 04/22  Asphalt 00/00  Concrete

Royal Air Force Sydenham or more simply RAF Sydenham is a former Royal Air Force station in Northern Ireland. In the 1970s it was the main servicing base for Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft, employing 650 civilian workers.

History

The following units were posted here at some point:

Royal Navy

• 702 Naval Air Squadron
• 706 Naval Air Squadron
• 721 Naval Air Squadron
• 800 Naval Air Squadron
• 804 Naval Air Squadron
• 807 Naval Air Squadron
• 808 Naval Air Squadron
• 811 Naval Air Squadron
• 812 Naval Air Squadron
• 815 Naval Air Squadron
• 818 Naval Air Squadron
• 819 Naval Air Squadron
• 822 Naval Air Squadron
• 825 Naval Air Squadron
• 826 Naval Air Squadron
• 827 Naval Air Squadron
• 836 Naval Air Squadron
• 836M Flight
• 838 Naval Air Squadron
• 842 Naval Air Squadron
• 845 Naval Air Squadron
• 848 Naval Air Squadron
• 849 Naval Air Squadron
• 857 Naval Air Squadron
• 881 Naval Air Squadron
• 882 Naval Air Squadron
• 885 Naval Air Squadron
• 886 Naval Air Squadron
• 887 Naval Air Squadron
• 888 Naval Air Squadron
• 889 Naval Air Squadron
• 891 Naval Air Squadron
• 899 Naval Air Squadron
• 1772 Naval Air Squadron
• 1790 Naval Air Squadron
• 1830 Naval Air Squadron
• 1831 Naval Air Squadron
• 1833 Naval Air Squadron
• 1835 Naval Air Squadron
• 1836 Naval Air Squadron
• 1843 Naval Air Squadron
• 1850 Naval Air Squadron
• 1851 Naval Air Squadron
• 1852 Naval Air Squadron
• 870 Squadron RCN (VF-870)

Royal Air Force

• No. 88 Squadron RAF
• No. 226 Squadron RAF

Units

• No. 3 Civilian Fighter Control Co-operation Unit RAF (March 1957 – June 1958)
• Detachment of No. 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1943)
• No. 8 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA (March 1941 – May 1942) became No. 8 Ferry Pool ATA (May 1942 – August 1945)
• No. 13 Air Experience Flight RAF
• No. 23 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF (September 1939)
• No. 24 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF (January – September 1939) became No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School RAF (September 1939 – February 1942)
• No. 75 (Bomber) Wing RAF (June 1940 & February – April 1941) became No. 31 Wing RAF (April – June 1941)
• No. 79 Wing Calibration Flight RAF
• No. 203 Gliding School RAF (September 1949 – November 1952)
• Detachment of No. 1480 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF (September 1942)
• No. 1494 (Target Towing) Flight RAF (April 1942 – April 1943)
• Belfast University Air Squadron (January – May 1941) became Queens University Air Squadron (May 1941 – December 1945 & March 1947 – January 1992)
• RAF Northern Ireland Communication Flight RAF (October 1940 – October 1942 & December 1945 – December 1946)

Current use

The site is now George Best Belfast City Airport.

References

Citations

1. Northern Ireland Committee of Irish Congress of Trade Unions, "The Defence Stations in Northern Ireland: The Case for Retention", March 1976
2. "Sydenham (Belfast City) (George Best Belfast City)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
3. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 91.
4. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 71.
5. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 115.
6. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 110.
7. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 106.
8. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 318.
9. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 314.
10. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 168.
11. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 134.
12. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 136.
13. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 306.
14. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 228.

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.

External links

• Northern Ireland base closes, Flight International, 15 April 1978, v. 113, no. 3604, p. 1035.

v t e Royal Naval Air Stations
current	RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) (1947–) Predannack Airfield (1959–) RNAS Merryfield (1956–1958, 1960–1961, 1972–) RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (1940–)
former UK	A Abbotsinch (1943–1963) Angle (HMS Goldcrest) (1943) Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch) (1944–1958) Arbroath (HMS Condor) (1940–1971) Ayr (HMS Wagtail) (1944–1946) B Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake) (1945) Ballykelly (HMS Sealion) (1945–1971) Bramcote (1946–1958) Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (1946–1971) Bungay (HMS Europa III) (1945–1946) Burscough (HMS Ringtail) (1943–1946) Bush Barn (1944) C Campbeltown (HMS Landrail II) (1940–1945) Charlton Horethorne (HMS Heron II) (1943–1945) Cowdray Park (1941–1945) Crail (HMS Jackdaw) (1940–1947) Culham (HMS Hornbill) (1944–1953) D Dale (HMS Goldcrest) (1943–1948) Donibristle (HMS Merlin) (1939–1959) Dounreay (HMS Tern II) (1944–1954) Drem (HMS Nighthawk) (1945–1946) Dundee (HMS Condor II) (1941–1944) Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II) (1942–1946) E East Haven (HMS Peewit) (1943–1946) Eastleigh (HMS Raven) (1939–1946) Eglinton (HMS Gannet & HMS Sea Eagle) (1943–1963) Evanton (1944–1948) F–G Fearn (HMS Owl) (1942–1946) Ford (HMS Peregrine) (1939–1940, 1945–1948, 1950–1958) Gosport (HMS Siskin) (1945–1956) Grimsetter (HMS Robin) (1943–1945) H Haldon (HMS Heron II) (1941–1943) Halesworth (HMS Sparrowhawk) (1945–1946) Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (1939–1945) Henstridge (HMS Dipper) (1943–1946, 1959–1954) Hinstock (HMS Godwit) (1942–1947) I–K Inskip (HMS Nightjar) (1943–1946) Kirkistown (HMS Corncrake II) (1945–1946) L Lawrenny Ferry (HMS Daedalus II) (1942–1943) Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus & HMS Ariel) (1939–1996) Limavady (1945–19??) Lossiemouth (HMS Fulmar) (1945–1972) Ludham (HMS Flycatcher) (1944–1945) Lympne (HMS Buzzard & HMS Daedalus II) (1939–1940) M Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (1941–1946, 1951–1952) Macmerry (1945–1946) Maydown (HMS Shrike & HMS Gannet II) (1943–1945) Middle Wallop (HMS Flycatcher) (1945–1946) Milltown (HMS Fulmar II) (1946–1972) N–P Nutts Corner (HMS Pintail) (1945–1946) Peplow (HMS Godwit II) (1945–1949) Portland (HMS Osprey) (1959–1999) Prestwick (HMS Gannet) (1971–) R Crimond/Rattray/Rattray Head (HMS Merganser) (1944–1946) Roborough (HMS Drake II) (19??–19??) Ronaldsway (HMS Urley) (1944–1946) S Sandbanks (HMS Daedalus II) (1940–1943) St Davids (1947–1961) St Merryn (HMS Vulture & HMS Curlew) (1940–1952, 1952–1956) Skaebrae (HMS Tern II) (19??–19??) Stretton (HMS Blackcap) (1942–1958) Sydenham (1943–1973) T–Z Toome (1947–1954) Treligga (HMS Vulture II) (1939–1955) Twatt (HMS Tern) (1941–1957) Weston Park (HMS Godwit II) (1945) Woodvale (HMS Ringtail II) (1945–1946) Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel & HMS Ariel II) (1939–1950, 1952–1960) Zeals (HMS Hummingbird) (1945–1946)
former overseas	Bermuda

• Royal Air Force stations in Northern Ireland