RAF Harrowbeer

RAF Harrowbeer
Aircraft and personnel required for a WWII Air/Sea rescue operation
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Yelverton, Devon
Built	1940
In use	1941-1950
Coordinates	50°29′27″N 004°05′36″W / 50.49083°N 4.09333°WCoordinates: 50°29′27″N 004°05′36″W / 50.49083°N 4.09333°W
Map
RAF Harrowbeer Location in Devon
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 11/29 3,840 1,171 Asphalt 17/35 3,345 1,020 Asphalt 05/23 2,736 834 Asphalt
Operating dates.[1]

RAF Harrowbeer is former Royal Air Force airfield situated next to Yelverton in the parish of Buckland Monachorum, Devon England

Location

RAF Harrowbeer was located approximately 9 miles (14 km) NNE of the city of Plymouth and approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Tavistock, and also sits within the boundary of Dartmoor National Park. Although sited near the village of Yelverton, it was called 'Harrowbeer' in order to distinguish it from the similar-sounding RNAS Yeovilton. The airfield was under the control of No. 10 Group RAF and was never assigned a station badge.

The former Ravenscroft School became the officers' mess.^[2]

Based units

The airfield opened in May 1941. It closed following the end of World War II.^[3][4]

A large number of units used the airfield at some point, such as:

• No. 1 Squadron RAF.^[5]
• No. 19 Squadron RAF.^[4]
• No. 26 Squadron RAF.^[6]
• No. 64 Squadron RAF.^[7]
• No. 126 Squadron RAF.^[8]
• No. 130 Squadron RAF.^[9]
• No. 131 Squadron RAF.^[9]
• No. 165 Squadron RAF.^[4]
• No. 175 Squadron RAF.^[10]
• No. 183 Squadron RAF.^[11]
• No. 193 Squadron RAF.^[12]
• No. 263 Squadron RAF.^[13]
• No. 266 Squadron RAF.^[14]
• No. 275 Squadron RAF.^[15]
• No. 276 Squadron RAF.^[15]
• No. 286 Squadron RAF.^[4]
• No. 302 Squadron RAF.^[16]
• No. 312 Squadron RAF.^[17]
• No. 329 Squadron RAF.^[18]
• No. 414 Squadron RCAF.^[19]
• No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron.^[20]
• No. 610 (County of Chester) Squadron.^[21]
• No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron.^[22]
• No. 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron.^[22]
• No. 691 Squadron RAF.^[4]
• 834 Naval Air Squadron.^[1]
• 838 Naval Air Squadron.^[1]

Other units

• Force 135 (RAF Element).^[1]
• No. 229 Maintenance Unit RAF.^[1]
• No. 82 Gliding Squadron.^[1]
• No. 19 Group Comms Flight.^[1]

References

Citations

1. "Harrowbeer". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
2. RAF HARROWBEER YELVERTON Miscellaneous Information
3. "The History of RAF Harrowbeer" Retrieved on 7 November 2008
4. "Harrowbeer". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
5. Jefford 1988, p. 23.
6. Jefford 1988, p. 33.
7. Jefford 1988, p. 45.
8. Jefford 1988, p. 58.
9. Jefford 1988, p. 59.
10. Jefford 1988, p. 65.
11. Jefford 1988, p. 66.
12. Jefford 1988, p. 67.
13. Jefford 1988, p. 80.
14. Jefford 1988, p. 81.
15. Jefford 1988, p. 82.
16. Jefford 1988, p. 84.
17. Jefford 1988, p. 86.
18. Jefford 1988, p. 87.
19. Jefford 1988, p. 90.
20. Jefford 1988, p. 94.
21. Jefford 1988, p. 99.
22. Jefford 1988, p. 100.

Bibliography

• Jefford MBE, Wg Cdr 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.

External links

• Dedicated website