Benbecula
BENBECULA: Civil regional airport, in WW2 a military aerodrome (aka BALIVANICH)
The second picture (2017) was obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by:
1965: Ministry of Aviation
1975: Department of Trade & Industry (Civil Aviation Authority)
1980s to 2000: Highlands & Islands Airports
British airline users: Pre 1940: Scheduled services by Scottish Airways in the 1930s
Post: 1945: BEA, Loganair, Scottish Airways
Military users: WW2: RAF Coastal Command 15 Group
304 (Polish) Sqdn (Vickers Wellingtons)
206 Sqdn (Consolidated PBY-5 Catalinas)
279 (ASR) Sqdn (Lockheed Hudsons)
A MIKE CHARLTON GALLERY
Note: These pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
Second picture: Without too much doubt a 'Pionair' Class Douglas DC-3 being operated by BEA (British European Airways), taking-off.
Third picture: This colour scheme was applied from 1960 to 1971. As a general rule BEA gradually replaced the Scottish regional routes served by DC-3s with Viscounts, whereas those destinations served by Dragon Rapides were replaced with DH.114 Herons. Hardly an ideal choice in this region, although the Heron was a very fine regional airliner Later, Loganair picked the Britten-Norman Islander. which was vastly superior to serve many of these routes.
Location: NE of B892, west side of Isle, W of Grimsay
Period of operation: 1930s to present day. (Military operations from 1941 to ?)
Note: These maps are reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: Originally ‘all over’ grass/sand airfield?
WW2: 07/25 1819x46 hard 18/36 1289x46 hard 11/29 960x46 hard
(In 1941 at least, these ‘hard’ runways were of sand and bitumen composition)
1959: Exactly the same WW2 runways still in use
1965: 07/25 1568x46 hard 18/36 1300x46 hard 11/29 945x46 hard
1990: 07/25 1651x46 hard 18/36 1200x46 hard
2000: 06/24 1656x46 hard 18/36 1220x46 hard
NOTES: In 1959 it appears that only BEA were using this airport with services to and from Glasgow (RENFREW) and STORNAWAY. Possibly if not probably with just one service a day?
An entry in the UK & Eire Commercial Airports book, published by Airline Publications & Sales in 1974 reveals that the airport was being served by scheduled services by British Airways (Scottish) with Vickers 802 Viscount to Glasgow, Inverness and Stornoway, and Loganair to Glasgow using the Islander and Trislander. Loganair were by then also operating the Air Ambulance flights.
It was noted that occasional visits by smaller military transports, private and air taxi aircraft were being made. In 1973 it was recorded that 37,454 passengers were carried plus 201,521kg of freight.
Geoff McGladdery
This comment was written on: 2020-10-04 12:27:12I believe my dad - Sam McGladdery - spent some time at RAF Benbecula in WWII. How can I find out more?
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2020-10-04 19:47:15Hi Geoff, I shall leave this posted in case others have better ideas. I think I'd contact the RAF Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the Public Records Office. All in London I'm afraid. Best regards, Dick
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