Misplaced Pages

RAF Kirkistown HMS Corncrake II
Portavogie, County Down in Northern Ireland
RAF Kirkistown on a target dossier of the German Luftwaffe, 1941
RAF KirkistownShown within Northern IrelandShow map of Northern IrelandRAF KirkistownRAF Kirkistown (the United Kingdom)Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	54°27′18″N 005°27′57″W / 54.45500°N 5.46583°W / 54.45500; -5.46583
Type	Royal Air Force satellite station
Code	IK
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry Admiralty
Operator	Royal Air Force Royal Navy
Controlled by	RAF Fighter Command 1941-44 RAF Northern Ireland 1944-45 Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1940 (1940)/41
In use	July 1941 – 1952 (1952)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	6 metres (20 ft) 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 station 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

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. 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". The following units were here at some point:

• No. 485 Squadron RNZAF (1942)
• No. 1493 (Target Towing) Flight RAF (April – May 1942) became No. 1493 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight RAF (May – November 1942)
• No. 2898 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 4117 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment

Naval Units

• 808 Naval Air Squadron
• 818 Naval Air Squadron
• 835 Naval Air Squadron
• 881 Naval Air Squadron
• 885 Naval Air Squadron
• 887 Naval Air Squadron

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

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. ^ 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

• 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.

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
• World War II sites in Northern Ireland
• Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom
• Buildings and structures in County Down
• Military history of County Down
• Defunct airports in Northern Ireland