RAF Limavady

RAF Limavady RNAS Limavady
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Serves	Limavady Borough
Location	Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Built	1940
In use	1940-1958
Elevation AMSL	65 ft / 19.8 m
Coordinates	55°04′23″N 006°56′15″W / 55.07306°N 6.93750°WCoordinates: 55°04′23″N 006°56′15″W / 55.07306°N 6.93750°W
Map
RAF Limavady Location in Northern Ireland

Royal Air Force Station Limavady or more simply RAF Limavady is a former Royal Air Force station, also known as Aghanloo airfield, near the city of Derry, Northern Ireland.

Beginnings

The station was built in 1940 during the Second World War.

Squadrons

Sqn	Aircraft	Joined	Departed	From > To	Notes
48	Avro Anson I Bristol Beaufort I Lockheed Hudson V/III	16 July 1940	20 October 1941	RAF Hooton Park RAF Stornoway RAF Skitten	On detachment initially from RAF Hooton Park then squadron moved to RAF Stornoway then on to RAF Skitten.[1]
53	Lockheed Hudson V	July 1941	February 1942	RAF Bircham Newton > RAF St Eval	On detachment then squadron moved to RAF St Eval and continued its detachment.[2]
143	Bristol Blenheim IV	23 April 1942	11 June 1942	RAF Aldergrove > RAF Thorney Island	Squadron move.[3]
153	Boulton Paul Defiant I Bristol Beaufighter IF	October 1941	December 1942	RAF Ballyhalbert > RAF Portreath	On detachment.[4]
172	Vickers Wellington XIV	1 September 1944	4 June 1945	RAF Chivenor > DB	Squadron disbanded.[5]
221	Vickers Wellington IC	November 1940	25 December 1941	RAF Bircham Newton > RAF Docking	On detachment from RAF Bircham Newton then from RAF Reykjavik.[6]
224	Lockheed Hudson II	15 April 1941	20 December 1941	RAF Leuchars > RAF St Eval	Squadron move.[7]
245	Hawker Hurricane I	20 July 1940	1 September 1941	RAF Aldergrove > RAF Chilbolton	On detachment.[8]
281	Supermarine Sea Otter	31 March 1941	13 August 1945	RAF Mullaghmore > RAF Ballykelly	Squadron move.[9]
304	Vickers Wellington XIII	21 September 1944	6 March 1945	RAF Benbecula > RAF St Eval	On detachment.[10]
407	Vickers Wellington XI	29 January 1944	28 April 1944	RAF Chivenor > RAF Chivenor	Squadron move.[11]
500	Bristol Blenheim IV	30 May 1941	22 March 1942	RAF Bircham Newton > RAF Stornoway	On detachment then squadron move.[12]
502	Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V	27 January 1941	10 January 1942	RAF Aldergrove > RAF Bircham Newton	Squadron move.[13]
612	Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V	1 April 1941	15 December 1941	RAF Wick > RAF Reykjavik	On detachment then squadron move.[14]

After the Second World War the airfield was further used by the Fleet Air Arm when it was known as RNAS Limavady until 1958 when it was finally sold off.

References

Citations

1. Jefford, p.44 (No. 48 Sqn)
2. Jefford, p.45 (No. 53 Sqn)
3. Jefford, p.64 (No. 143 Sqn)
4. Jefford, p.65 (No. 153 Sqn)
5. Jefford, p.67 (No. 172 Sqn)
6. Jefford, p.75 (No. 221 Sqn)
7. Jefford, p.75 (No. 224 Sqn)
8. Jefford, p.79 (No. 245 Sqn)
9. Jefford, p.85 (No. 281 Sqn)
10. Jefford, p.87 (No. 304 Sqn)
11. Jefford, p.91 (No. 407 Sqn)
12. Jefford, p.95 (No. 500 Sqn)
13. Jefford, p.96 (No. 502 Sqn)
14. Jefford, p.101 (No. 612 Sqn)

Bibliography

• Jefford, C G MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). (2001). R.A.F Squadrons, A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.

External links