Llangefni
Note: This map is only a rough approximation of the actual location. If anybody could be kind enough to offer a more exact location, this will be most welcome.
LLANGEFNI: RNAS Naval Airship Patrol Station (Also spelt LLANGFRI)
(Also known or referred to as ANGLESEY, BODFFORDD, GWALCHMAI and HENEGLWYS).
Since WW2 the site is part of RAF MONA. Also for a short period an airfield for fixed wing types. Later, (from April 1918), operated by No.14 (Marine Operations) Group of the newly formed RAF.
Military users: RNAS (Airships)
521 & 522 SDF (SS, SSP & SSZ types)
Note: These airships also had a Mooring-out Station at Malahide near Dublin. Now of course in the Irish Republic.
255 Sqdn (Airco DH.4s & DH.6s)
Civil users: There seems no doubt at all that the Alan Cobham tours conducted during the late 1920s and early to mid 1930s used this site.
On the 12th September 1935 tour for example the No.2 NAD tour certainly visited LLANGEFNI and featured two freshly imported Mignet Pou-du-Ciel ‘Flying Fleas’ G-ADSC and G-ADSD with Permits to Fly dated 11th September! The ‘Flying Flea’ craze made a huge impression at that time of course but little impact on British aviation history in the long term. The type was soon grounded after several very serious and often fatal crashes - which was not really due to a design fault, but rather amateur builders with no knowledge of building aircraft, and no knowledge of how to fly them! Especially it now appears, the incredible importance of understanding weight and balance considerations.
On the 3rd April 1936 the C W A Scott’s Flying Display Ltd ‘Flying for all – All for flying’ campaign visited LLANGEFNI and this time showed off their own home-built 'Flea' G-AEFK.
Location: 3nm from Llangfni and 5 nm from Gaerwen railway station
Period of operation: Military: 1915 to 1919
Site area: 260 acres (others say 242 acres) 1463x1097
NOTES: This Station was founded in September 1915, and stood-down in January 1919. It does appear that although a Bristol Scout D type was operated in support duties, and that later Airco DH.6s of 255 Sqdn operated from here for brief period. These aircraft were later based at GLAN-Y-MÔR-ISAF farm near Penrhyn Castle north east of Bangor.
It seems that in November 1917 six Airco DH.4s left HENDON for anti-submarine duties here, but none made it due to bad weather and other considerations. In fact it seems they never arrived and two crew died in the attempt!
Due to it’s proximity to RAF MONA these two sites are actually almost the same site.
The SSZ type airships were stationed here and workshops were provided to assist maintenance etc.
A TALE WORTH TELLING
Immediately after the Armistice, (and very much in party mode I suppose), Major Thomas Elmhirst, the Commanding Officer at LLANGEFNI, flew the airship SSZ.73 beneath the Menai suspension bridge! It also seems that earlier Major Probyn,(CO of 244 Squadron), had treated his senior officer to a flight in a DH.6 beneath this bridge. Quite frankly I believe that, given adequate planning and training, we should still be allowed to fly underneath bridges, and why not? But please don't tell the CAA that I said this!
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