RAF Harrowbeer

RAF Harrowbeer

Aircraft and personnel required for a WWII Air/Sea rescue operation
IATA: noneICAO: 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°W / 50.49083; -4.09333Coordinates: 50°29′27″N 004°05′36″W / 50.49083°N 4.09333°W / 50.49083; -4.09333
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. Roborough Rock is a tor-like igneous rock outcrop immediately south-west of the airfield on Roborough Down, next to the border with the A386.[2] This location created problems for the airfield during the Second World War, as two runways were positioned in front of the rock.[2]

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.[3]

Based units

The airfield opened in May 1941. It closed following the end of World War II.[4][5]

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

Other units

References

Citations

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

Bibliography

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