RAF Andreas

Royal Air Force Station Andreas
Located Near Andreas, Isle of Man
Type	Disestablished Military Airfield
Coordinates	54°22′15″N 4°25′25″W
Built	1941
In use	1941–1946
Demolished	1946
Current condition	Part usable, Control tower, hangars and other buildings still stand. Runways still extant. Used for local gliding club.
Current owner	private
Controlled by	Royal Air Force
Garrison	RAF Flying Training Command
Occupants	No. 11 Air Gunnery School
Battles/wars	European Theatre of World War II Air Offensive, Europe July 1942 – May 1945

Royal Air Force Station Andreas, was a former RAF airfield in the Isle of Man which was operational between 1941 and 1946. It was built in fields between Andreas and Bride. As was common practice, the Station was named after the parish in which it was situated.

History

Construction

When the Luftwaffe, in October 1940, began to attack British cities under the cover of darkness, the North West of England with its industrial centres and ports came within easy reach of German aircraft operating from occupied France. The first fighter squadron had arrived at nearby RAF Jurby in November 1940, and came under the control of the newly formed 9 Group, Fighter Command. Group Control was positioned at Barton Hall, near Preston, and its sectors covered Lancashire, Cheshire and Shropshire. Andreas was to be a separate sector with responsibility for the Irish Sea and its surrounds. The new wing of Ramsey Grammar School was commissioned as Control Centre for the sector and was hastily prepared before the arrival of the new fighters at Jurby. The Control Centre was linked to three radar stations at Dalby, Scarlett and Bride.

The siting of a fighter airfield in the location of Andreas had been chosen because of its central location with regard to Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow, as it was in an excellent position to provide protection to the vital shipping arriving at these ports. Finally, with the relevant compensation payments agreed, work on the construction of RAF Andreas began in earnest by the end of June 1940. A total of 500 acres (200 ha) of choice farmland was earmarked, 200 acres (81 ha) coming from both Ballaghaue Farm and Braust Farm, and a small portion of land was acquired which stretched into the adjacent parish of Bride.

By the spring of 1941 the airfield, to be built to the full specification of an operational fighter station was beginning to take shape. The main NE/SW runway was 1,100 yards (1,000 m) long and 50 yards (46 m) wide and was obviously meant to take larger aircraft than fighters. From the perimeter track there was access to the flight dispersals in which a total of 24 blast pens were built, half to provide protection for the fighters while larger ones were for twin-engined aircraft. Considerable thought had also gone into the airfield's defences, with the whole area being surrounded by 5-foot-high (1.5 m) roller concertina barbed wire, with gaps located at the main entrance and crash gates.

During the summer of 1941 the first RAF personnel arrived at Andreas. This mainly consisted of a flight of Royal Air Force Police, whose first duties were the lonely twelve hour vigils guarding the mounting stores of supplies kept in the completed hangars. Others arriving at that time included MT drivers and soldiers of the Wiltshire Regiment, under the command of Major G.K. Waite MC, who arrived to man the airfield's defences, along with the first of many WAAFs whose duties were to staff the administration offices and operations rooms. The newly appointed Commanding Officer of RAF Andreas, Wing Commander E.V. Knowles, took up residence in Glen Auldyn, just outside Ramsey.

Becoming operational

By October 1941, RAF Andreas was ready to receive the first of No. 457 Squadron's Spitfires from RAF Jurby as a prelude to working up to operational efficiency. This work-up would take six months, however the transfer of 457's ground crew and administrative staff brought welcome relief to the congestion at Jurby. It was during this period that an unfortunate accident occurred in December, when one of the aircraft was coming in to land. Crossing the end of the runway at the time was one of the builder's foremen driving a lorry. One of the Spitfire's wheels hit the cab of the lorry, causing severe injuries to its occupant, who was killed instantly. It was also during this work-up period, that the Air Ministry insisted that the height of Andreas church tower be reduced, as it was a hazard, and in line with the southern end of the main runway. The church tower was originally 120 feet (37 m) high, and the most striking feature of the Island's northern plain being visible throughout the parish.

RAF Andreas had become fully operational in March 1942, but by now No. 457 Squadron was ready to move south to join 11 Group at RAF Redhill and to take part in air strikes over northern France. It was immediately replaced by its sister Australian squadron, 452, which had been formed in April 1941, and whose most celebrated pilot was the maverick Irishman Paddy Finucane who scored 18 out of his 32 victories whilst flying on Rhubarbs (operations when sections of fighters or fighter-bombers, would take advantage of low cloud and poor visibility, cross the English Channel, and then drop below cloud level to search for targets of opportunity, such as railway locomotives and rolling stock, aircraft on the ground, enemy troops and vehicles on roads).

On May 8, 1942, two of 452's Spitfires were in collision over Andreas resulting in the death of Sergeant Pilot Reginald Goodhew, who crashed at Farrant Ford Farm, and who is buried in Andreas. The following month saw 452's stay at Andreas come to an end. In August 1942, the Station Commander Wing Commander Knowles was killed flying in a visiting Armstrong Whitworth Whitley when the aircraft failed to clear the Bride hills just to the north soon after take off from Andreas.

The third fighter unit to occupy RAF Andreas was No. 93 Squadron which had an entirely different background. No. 93 Squadron had been involved in the development of night fighter tactics using Havocs equipped with radar and Turbinlite searchlights. After becoming operational, it was decided to split the squadron into flights attached to other night fighter units. Following this, 93 reformed at Andreas as an entirely new squadron equipped with Spitfires as it worked up to operational efficiency. Considerable time was spent over the air-to-ground firing range along the Ayres coastline at Smeale which had been constructed not long after the first fighters had arrived at RAF Jurby. When Andreas airfield was under construction, the coastline north of Smeale had been heavily mined as a precaution against an enemy landing. After four months, 93 Squadron was ready to move on to more direct action, and orders were received which would see the squadron re-locate to Algiers ready for the North African landings as part of Operation Torch.

After No. 93 Squadron had exchanged the sands of the Ayres for the sands of North Africa, the station grew quiet and much of it was reduced to care and maintenance. There was little to do for 9 Group now that the emergencies which had brought it into being had largely passed. Nevertheless, RAF Andreas remained officially part of 9 Group until August 1944, Wing Commander Raynor being responsible for the signing and despatch of the operational orders which signalled the disbanding of the Group, and many of the 900 airmen and 400 WAAFs were posted out whilst new plans were awaited for this very fine station. One of the residents who did not leave was the detachment from No. 275 Squadron which was based at RAF Valley, Anglesey. No. 275 Squadron was 9 Group's Air Sea Rescue Unit which covered the Irish Sea, and the detachment's Walrus amphibians were often to be seen flying around the Island.

Another strange but permanent resident at Andreas, was a Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake of the Fleet Air Arm. It belonged to No. 772 Squadron (FAA), and was employed to provide simulated conditions for the Royal Navy's No 1 Radar Training School ideally positioned on Douglas Head. The Chesapeake was replaced in October 1944, after crashing on Douglas Head, killing the pilot Sub Lieutenant R. S. Paton. During the spring of 1943, a new role was found for the excellent facilities at Andreas, and preparations began to set up No. 11 Air Gunnery School of Training Command.

No. 11 Air Gunnery School

With the specialisation required in aircrew for the heavy bombers of Bomber Command, air gunners became a separate category. Each Avro Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax required two or three gunners in its crew, so thousands would be required to meet the demands of the growing strategic offensive and to replace losses. RAF Andreas was to play an important role in the training programme, and thus began the busiest period in the life of the station. The Station's new Commanding Officer was Group Captain Mackay, who would remain at Andreas for the rest of the war period, and the station completely changed in character from that of a fighter station to that of a training establishment.

Whilst at Andreas, the volunteer pupils selected for air gunners underwent an intensive ten-week course, before passing on to the operational training units of Bomber Command. The course involved sighting; aircraft recognition; pyrotechnics; clay-pigeon and 25 yard range shoots; care and maintenance of .303 and .5 Browning machine guns and 20mm cannon; turret hydraulics, manipulation and operation, and the use of cine-camera guns. The training huts were equipped with the various types of turrets then in use, including Boulton Paul Types A and F, and Frazer Nash 121 which were installed in the Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster respectively.

The first aircraft to arrive were 15 Avro Anson gunnery trainers. For more advanced experience, training was conducted on a succession of Vickers Wellingtons which were being withdrawn from the front-line squadrons of Bomber Command, and target towing duties were the responsibility of Bristol Mercury engined Miles Martinets. Firing took place in allotted zones over the sea on both sides of the Point of Ayre, care being taken not to interfere with the Jurby bombing ranges.

Despite the continual flying programme over the congested north of the Island, accidents involving Andreas aircraft proved to be very rare, and only one documented incident resulted in the loss of a life. During 1944, Andreas, because of the length of its main runway, became an emergency landing ground for the Atlantic ferry route and was occasionally used by American aircraft such a the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. The ending of the war in Europe in May 1945, saw no let up in the routine at Andreas with the prospect of a long campaign in the Pacific war zone.

The detachment of Fleet Air Arm 772 Squadron, which had been responsible for operating the Chesapeakes, became 772B Squadron in May 1945 with the arrival of Boston 111s, Corsairs and de Havilland Mosquitoes. The purpose of the Bostons was to train gunners from the naval air station at Ronaldsway, and Fairey Barracudas were added to the scene as they brought in telegraphists to have air gunnery added to their training. However, this only lasted for a short period, as 772B was disbanded in September 1945 following the defeat of Japan.

Post-war and closure

With the ending of the war, RAF Andreas entered the mundane routine of day-to-day life after the exertions of the previous five years. In July 1946, the Douglas High School Flight of 506 Squadron Air Training Corps, spent a week's camp at Andreas. The squadron, together with 440, had been set up in the early years of the war to encourage the interest of schoolboys in the Royal Air Force, many going on to train as aircrew. The cadets enjoyed daily flights in some of the Wellingtons at the station, taking advantage of what was now considerably quieter airspace over the north of the Island, as well as south west Scotland and Cumberland.

The one and only opportunity the general public had of visiting Royal Air Force Andreas, was on Battle of Britain Day, September, 1946. It had already been announced that the station would close and that the Gunnery School would transfer to nearby Jurby. The Commanding Officer was now Group Captain G. C. Crawford, and he and the rest of the station personnel made every effort to show what the work of the station involved. On show were the link trainer, parachute packing by the WAAFs and parachute dinghies and equipment used by the Andreas Rescue Station, which had so often been called upon in emergencies. The following week, the transfer of stores to RAF Jurby was completed, and the gates of Royal Air Force Andreas were finally closed.

Current use

As soon as the station was closed, steps were taken by the Isle of Man Government, through the Local Government Board, to acquire three of the communal sites – the WAAF quarters, the hospital and sick quarters and a site in the centre of Andreas village – for the conversion into family accommodation. These were badly needed to re-house families living in condemned properties in Ramsey and to relieve the general housing shortage on the Island as a consequence of the war. Every effort was made to convert the brick-built huts into acceptable two- and three-bedroom homes with electrically heated living rooms and kitchens. Each had a toilet installed, but bathrooms had to be shared. During 1947, a total of 81 families were accommodated as a temporary measure pending the construction of new housing estates. It was to be several years before such new housing was ready, and upon their completion, this temporary housing by now badly affected by damp, was demolished. One structure to survive, was the old gymnasium which still stands, and continues to provide the village of Andreas with a very useful Parish Hall.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the Manx Government and the Air Ministry were proceeding as to the future of the airfield. Tynwald, the Isle of Man's Parliament, accepted an offer to purchase the whole of the airfield for the price originally paid in compensation to the land owners – a total of £23,740. No charge was made for the buildings, the Air Ministry agreeing to this as a gesture of appreciation to the government and people of the Isle of Man for their co-operation during the early years of the war. The airfield's runways were soon put to good use by the newly formed Andreas Racing Association for motorcycle racing. The Association's emblem is that of the Three Legs of Man, set against the 'A' layout of the airfield's runways.

After a short time in the ownership of the Manx Government, the airfield was put up for sale as a complete entity, and was purchased by a Mr Morrey for the sum of £33,000. The facility is still owned by the Morrey family, and many of its buildings still exist, being mostly used for storage. The local gliding club still uses the airfield, together with a small number of privately owned light aircraft. To this day, within easy view of the airfield, is the (still) stunted tower of the parish church of St. Andrew (Andreas is Manx Gaelic for Andrew), a permanent legacy of Royal Air Force Station Andreas, and below which lie twenty-three RAF graves.