Northern Ireland’s Wartime Airfields

Northern Ireland's wartime airfields were a hive of activity during World War Two with important bases established for the USAAF and RAF's Coastal Command.

Northern Ireland's wartime airfields numbered 28 during World War Two. Authorities built many of these in rural areas bringing great changes to the rural landscapes. Both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force made use of these bases.

British and American troops had bases at airfields in Co. Antrim, Co. Down, Co. Fermanagh, Co. Londonderry, and Co. Tyrone.

Co. Antrim Airfields

Map showing Langford Lodge Airfield, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

Langford Lodge Airfield, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

97 Largy Road, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

Langford Lodge lies near Crumlin, Co. Antrim. It is a former Second World War airfield used by both the R.A.F. and American Military based in Ulster.

Map showing Aldergrove Airfield, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

Aldergrove Airfield, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

Airport Road, Crumlin, Co. Antrim

Between 1918 and 2009, R.A.F. Aldergrove operated from where Belfast Internation Airport now stands. It was a busy airfield during the Second World War.

Map showing Long Kesh Airfield, Lisburn, Co. Down

Long Kesh Airfield, Lisburn, Co. Down

Maze, Lisburn, Co. Down

Long Kesh is best known in Northern Ireland as the site of HMP Maze but during World War Two it was a Royal Air Force airfield and hosted the USAAF in 1942.

Map showing Sydenham Airfield, Belfast

Sydenham Airfield, Belfast

Belfast

Now George Best City Airport in Belfast but from 1939 to 1941, the dockside airfield site was RAF Sydenham and was home to Bomber Command 88 Squadron.

Co. Down Airfields

Map showing Ballyhalbert Airfield, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

Ballyhalbert Airfield, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

1-5 Woodlark Link, Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

Ballyhalbert airfield operated as RAF Ballyhalbert, RNAS Ballyhalbert, and HMS Corncrake throughout World War Two between 1941 and its closure in mid-1946.

Map showing Greencastle Airfield, Kilkeel, Co. Down

Greencastle Airfield, Kilkeel, Co. Down

Greencastle Pier Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down

Greencastle Airfield opened for use by the Royal Air Force in 1942 but soon passed to the United States Army Air Force as a Combat Crew Replacement Centre.

Co. Londonderry Airfields

Map showing RNAS Eglinton, Eglinton, Co. Londonderry

RNAS Eglinton, Eglinton, Co. Londonderry

Airport Road, Eglinton, Co. Londonderry

RNAS Eglinton operated from 1943 after transfer to the Royal Navy from the Royal Air Force who established RAF Eglinton at the now City of Derry Airport.

Co. Tyrone Airfields

Map showing Cluntoe Airfield, Ardboe, Co. Tyrone

Cluntoe Airfield, Ardboe, Co. Tyrone

Kilmascally Road, Ardboe, Co. Tyrone

Cluntoe Airfield in rural Ardboe, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland saw use by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Force during World War Two.

Aviation Accidents around Northern Ireland

Between 1939 and 1945 many Allied planes came down in and around Northern Ireland. Many were the result of training accidents but others occurred on active service.

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley P5041 crash on Mull of Kintyre, Scotland

By

23rd January 2016

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley P5041 took off from RAF Aldergrove, Co. Antrim on 23rd January 1941. It crashed in poor weather killing all five of the aircrew.

Avro Anson N5372 crash in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim

By

18th October 2016

On 18th October 1943, Avro Anson N5372 crashed near Ballycastle, killing 3, after many factors contributed to it striking high ground at Knocklayd Mountain.

Consolidated Catalina JX242 crash at Lough an Laban, Co. Fermanagh

By

20th November 2018

On 20th November 1944, RAF 202 Squadron's Consolidated Catalina JX242 came down on a rugged Co. Fermanagh hilltop on its return to RAF Castle Archdale.

Featured image for A Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Condor crash in Belfast Lough

A Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Condor crash in Belfast Lough

By

7th March 2018

In July 1940 a Focke-Wulf Condor laid mines in Belfast Lough sinking of the SS Troutpool. A week later, the Luftwaffe returned with disastrous consequences.

Featured image for Liberator AL577 crash at Jenkinstown, Co. Louth

Liberator AL577 crash at Jenkinstown, Co. Louth

By

16th March 2018

On 16th March 1942, an American Liberator AL577 came down in bad weather near Jenkinstown in the Dundalk vicinity of Louth. 19 young airmen were on board.

Chance Vought Corsair JT357 crash at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

By

8th September 2017

On 8th September 1945, the pilot of Chance Vought Corsair JT357 crash-landed and burned out 5 miles south-by-southwest of R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down.

Featured image for De Havilland Mosquito NS557 crash at Langford Lodge, Co. Antrim

De Havilland Mosquito NS557 crash at Langford Lodge, Co. Antrim

By

6th August 2018

On 6th August 1944, United States Army Air Force 2nd Lieutenant James E Matuska crash landed De Havilland Mosquito NS557 at RAF Langford Lodge, Co. Antrim.

Featured image for Fairey Swordfish LS182 crash at Enagh, Co. Londonderry

Fairey Swordfish LS182 crash at Enagh, Co. Londonderry

By

28th June 2019

Fairey Swordfish LS182 piloted by the commanding officer of Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 836 Squadron crashed after hitting power cables on 28th June 1944.

Grumman Wildcat JV413 crash in Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry

By

19th November 2018

On 19th November 1943, Grumman Wildcat JV413 came down in the shallow water of Lough Foyle killing young New Zealander pilot Sub-Lieutenant John Hugh Nurse.

Lockheed Hudson T9326 crash at R.A.F. Aldergrove, Co. Antrim

By

30th September 2016

On 30th September 1940, Lockheed Hudson T9326 experienced problems, losing power and coming down soon after take-off from R.A.F. Aldergrove, Co. Antrim.

Lockheed Hudson T9328 crash at Slieveanee Mountain, Co. Antrim

By

16th October 2017

On 16th October 1940, Lockheed Hudson T9328 crashed at Slieveanee Mountain in the townland of Cargan, Co. Antrim killing all those on board.

Featured image for Short Sunderland NJ175 crash at Cashelard, Co. Donegal

Short Sunderland NJ175 crash at Cashelard, Co. Donegal

By

12th August 2016

Short Sunderland NJ175 was one of many flying boats operating from Castle Archdale, Co. Fermanagh in the hands of the Royal Canadian Air Force 422 Squadron.

Featured image for Short Sunderland W6028 crash near Trory, Co. Fermanagh

Short Sunderland W6028 crash near Trory, Co. Fermanagh

By

9th March 2018

Short Sunderland W6028 took off from RAF St. Angelo, Co. Fermanagh on 20th February 1944 in a training exercise with a Beaufighter from RAF 235 Squadron.

Supermarine Spitfire BL922 crash at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

By

9th September 2017

On 5th October 1943, Sergeant Henryk Andrzej Flegier's Supermarine Spitfire came down about a mile away from Ballyhalbert Airfield, Co. Down.

Supermarine Spitfire EP280 crash at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

By

5th September 2018

On 5th September 1943, R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down was the site of the crash of Spitfire EP280. The Polish pilot escaped alive but injured.

Supermarine Spitfire R6992 crash in Figullar, Co. Monaghan

By

20th September 2017

In May 2017, archaeologists from Belfast were part of a team to unearth Gordin Hayter Proctor's Spitfire R6992 in Figullar, Co. Monaghan.

Supermarine Spitfire W3937 crash at R.A.F. Ballyhalbert, Co. Down

By

9th September 2017

On 9th September 1943, Supermarine Spitfire W3937 crashed at Ballyhalbert, Co. Down. It would not be the Polish Pilot's last crash in Ulster.

Vickers Wellington JA308 crash in Stranocum, Co. Antrim

By

20th November 2018

On 20th November 1944, Vickers Wellington JA308 crash landed near Stranocum Hall, Co. Antrim. Fortunately all five men on board survived the accident.

Westland Lysander P1731 crash at Sydenham Airfield, Belfast

By

30th April 2016

Polish Airman Sergeant Edward Lewandowski piloted Westland Lysander P1731 on 30th April 1942. The plane crashed after taking off from Sydenham Airfield.

References

Content Delivery LAAS Data Wikipedia