RAF Angle

Royal Air Force Angle, or RAF Angle, is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Angle Peninsula Coast, 8 miles (13 km) 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.[2]

RAF Angle
RNAS Angle (HMS Goldcrest)
Angle, Pembrokeshire in Wales
RAF Angle is located in Pembrokeshire
RAF Angle
RAF Angle
Shown within Pembrokeshire
RAF Angle is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Angle
RAF Angle
RAF Angle (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates51°40′28″N 005°05′54″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
RAF Forward Airfield 1941-43
CodeAE[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
Admiralty
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-43
* No. 10 Group RAF
RAF Coastal Command 1943-
* No. 19 Group RAF
Fleet Air Arm 1943
Site history
Built1941 (1941)
In useDecember 1941-1945 (1945)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation56 metres (184 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac

The village of Angle is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) 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, 8 miles (13 km) South of Linney Head.[3]

History

RAF Angle

It was initially used by No. 32 Squadron RAF flying the Hawker Hurricane I. In November 1941 they were replaced by 615 Squadron, and the Hurricane IIC. Several Squadrons followed: 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron flew the Supermarine Spitfire VB and 263 Squadron with the Westland Whirlwind.[4]

Next No. 152 Squadron RAF, No. 412 Squadron RCAF and No. 421 Squadron RCAF squadrons occupied the base, flying the Spitfire VB.[4]

RNAS Angle

RAF Angle was transferred to the Admiralty, on the 1 May 1943, from No. 19 Group RAF.[3] 794 Naval Air Squadron, a Naval Air Firing Unit was posted here, conducting target towing duties.[5] with the air station being renamed Royal Naval Air Station Angle (RNAS Angle, also known as HMS Goldcrest).[2] 759 Naval Air Squadron sent a detachment here, on the 1 July 1943, from RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron).[3]

However, RAF Dale was transferred to the Admiralty, in exchange for RNAS Angle, on 5 September 1943, from No. 19 Group RAF, with the Coastal Command Development Unit moving in.[5] 794 NAS left Angle for Dale, on the 10 September 1943 and 759 NAS departed Angle, on the 22 November 1943.[3]

Return to Royal Air Force control

The airfield was used as the base for trials of the prototype Highball bouncing bomb on 6 October 1943 using a tunnel at Maenclochog as a target. 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.[6]

Other units based at Angle were:

  • No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit (April 1944 – June 1944)[7] became the Engine Control Instructional Flight (June 1944 – January 1945)[8]
  • Coastal Command Development Unit RAF (September 1943 – January 1945)[9]

Between 1945 and the 1950s Angle was used as a Relief Landing Ground for Fleet Air Arm aircraft based at RNAS Brawdy.[2]

Units

Royal Air Force
RAF SquadronAircraftVariantFromToToNotes
No. 32 Squadron RAFHawker HurricaneI/IIB1 June 194127 November 1941RAF Manston[10]
No. 152 Squadron RAFSupermarine SpitfireVB16 August 194227 September 1942RAF Collyweston[11]
No. 254 Squadron RAF[2]
No. 263 Squadron RAFWestland WhirlwindI18 April 194215 August 1942RAF ColerneDetachment at RAF Portreath.[12]
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAFSpitfireIIB/VB24 January 194218 April 1942RAF Fairwood CommonDetachment at RAF Fairwood Common.[13]
No. 412 Squadron RCAFSpitfireVB29 January 19438 February 1943RAF Fairwood Common[14]
No. 421 Squadron RCAFSpitfireVB26 October 1942
14 November 1942
4 December 1942		1 November 1942
30 November 1942
29 January 1943		RAF Zeals
RAF Charmy Down
RAF Kenley		[15]
No. 615 Squadron RAFHurricaneIIB/IIC27 November 194123 January 1942RAF Fairwood Common[16]

Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
Naval Air SquadronAircraftVariantFromToToNotes
759 Naval Air SquadronHawker Sea Hurricane
Fairey Fulmar		-July 1943November 1943[2]
Detachment operated here from RNAS Yeovilton
794 Naval Air SquadronBoulton Paul Defiant
Miles Martinet
Miles Master II
Hawker Sea Hurricane		Defiant TT.III
Martinet TT.I
Master II		May 1943September 1943RNAS DaleTarget Towing.[5]

Current use

The site has reverted to farming[2] and only a few huts and the perimeter track are left.[5]

See also

References

Citations
  1. Falconer 2012, p. 35.
  2. "Angle". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  3. "RNAS Angle". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. Notes from Pembroke County War Memorial site
  5. "Angle Airfield, Angle (308209)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  6. Photo and notes from Maenclochog Tunnel
  7. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 94.
  8. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 112.
  9. Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 93.
  10. Jefford 2001, p. 35.
  11. Jefford 2001, p. 62.
  12. Jefford 2001, p. 80.
  13. Jefford 2001, p. 86.
  14. Jefford 2001, p. 90.
  15. Jefford 2001, p. 91.
  16. Jefford 2001, p. 100.

Bibliography
  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • 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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