Kirkistown
KIRKISTOWN: Military aerodrome
Military users: RAF Fighter Command
504 Sqdn (Hawker Hurricanes)
1944: RAF NI, Care & Maintenance
JULY 1945 ROYAL NAVY (HMS CORNCRAKE)
A bit of research appears to reveal that all these squadrons etc had a presence here. However, every attempt in every case to cross-reference this information has failed. But, that of course is no indication that the information in incorrect. It must neverthless be borne in mind that mostly I am guessing at the aircraft types being operated by these squadrons when at KIRKISTOWN.
808 Sqdn (Fairey Fulmars)
818 Sqdn (Probably Fairey Swordfish, but perhaps Fairey Albacores as well later on?)
835 Sqdn (Probably Fairey Swordfish at first, converting to Grumman Wildcats?)
881 Sqdn (This seems straightforward, operating Grumman Wildcats only whist here?)
885 Sqdn (Vickers-Supermarine Seafires)
887 Sqdn (Possibly Fairey Fulmars initally (?), later Seafires?)
1493 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight (Fairey Swordfish?)
1993 (TT) Flight [Target Towing] Perhaps using the Swordfish too?
Location: Just E of Kirkistown, 2nm S of Ballyhalbert, 17 nm SE of Belfast City airport
Period of operation: 1941 to 1952
Runways: WW2: 04/22 1189x46 hard 10/28 1061x46 hard
16/343 914x46 hard
NOTES: One of the main problems with producing a basic 'Guide' such as this, is that I cannot spend weeks or months researching every individual site. Therefore I have no choice but to rely very heavily on the information available either in books or on the web. A lot of which cannot be trusted, and, could this be a good example?. Heh ho, onward ever onward.
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