Llanbedr
LLANBEDR: Military aerodrome (also known as HARLECH)
Note: Pictures by the author.
Military users: WW2: RAF Fighter Command 12 Group
41 Sqdn (Spitfires)
306 (Polish) Sqdn (Spitfires later Mustangs)
308 (Polish) Sqdn (Spitfires)
Post 1945:
'V' Bomber dispersal airfield
1975: RAE Gloster Meteors & Jindavik target drones (also BAe Hawks & English Electric Canberras)
1985: RAE DTEO Air & Sea Capabilities Sectors
Operated by: 2001: Serco Operations
Location: W of A496, 3nm SSW of Harlech
Period of operation: 1941 to 2004. But, some interests are still endeavouring to maintain the site as an active aerodrome, even regional airport, to the present day?
Runways: WW2: 05/23 1408x46 hard 16/34 1317x46 hard
2000: 05/23 1319x46 hard 18/36 2286x46 hard
NOTES: When 41 Squadron were posted here in WW2 it was to ‘rest’ and ‘re-group’ after being in the front line of combat missions. Probably the same applied to 306 and 308 Squadrons?
This was a RAF aerodrome until 1957 when the RAE (Royal Aircraft Establishment) took over, mostly to develop missiles until 1992. The remotely controlled GAF Jindavik, designed and produced in Australia as a joint project with the UK, was a major part in this episode. The first example flew in Australia on the 28th August 1952 but it seems clear they were not used in the UK, and only here I think, until at least 1957?
The site officially closed in 2004 but since then a number of interested parties have been attempting to re-develop the site for continued aviation activities, including use as a regional airport for which it would be ideal and very well suited. Needless to say local opposition is a prevalent factor. Typically the kind of people who have no objection to the din of passing motorbikes and scooters drowning out the radio or TV, but the soft and distant purr of modern turboprops being considered an intolerable nuisance. Not that I am showing any bias here obviously.
Later listed as being in the county of GWYNEDD.
Roy Bowler
This comment was written on: 2021-04-28 19:27:51My father Geoffrey Bowler from the midlands was employed as an earth mover driver at Llanbedr in 1940 to bulldoze flat the sand dunes which had to be moved for the runways. He had applied to join the R.A.F to fly but they said that it was more important to have some more runways to fly from. He went on to other runways including East Kirkby where he met my mother. I would be interested if you have any information on the construction. Roy.
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