RAF Ballyhalbert

RAF Ballyhalbert was a Royal Air Force station at Ballyhalbert on the Ards Peninsula, County Down. RAF Kirkistown was a satellite to the larger Ballyhalbert.

Construction began in 1940 and Ballyhalbert was opened in May 1941, prior to completion of the works, as a Fighter Command base where the primary weapon was the Supermarine Spitfire. The base provided local protection from Luftwaffe raids on Belfast and the rest of the province. Other aircraft operated from the base were the Hawker Hurricane, Bristol Beaufighter, P-51 Mustang and Boultan Paul Defiant night fighter.

As HMS Corncake the airfield was used by the Fleet Air Arm for sqadrons working up for carrier duty. On November 13, 1945 the airfield was closed and placed on Care and Maintenance. By 1947, with no further use made of the site it was abandoned. The site is presently used as a caravan site.

ee also

*List of RAF stations
* [http://www.upperardshistory.org/PenHistProject2004.htm Extensive history]