Treligga
TRELIGGA: Initially a civil gliding site, later Military Emergency Landing Ground (aka HMS VULTURE II)
Military user: RN (1948 Books of HMS VULTURE)
Note: Used primarily in WW2 as a aerial bombing and gunnery range
Location: Just W of Treligga, 1nm WNW of Delabole, about 2.5nm SSW of Tintagel
Period of operation: Civil gliding, 1930s. Royal Navy, 1939 to 1955
Runways: 1939: Three rough grass strips of around 580 metres.
Note: These were later improved.
(1944) 04/22 640x91 grass 10/28 668x91 grass
16/34 732x91 grass
NOTES: In late 2017 I discovered more information on Wikipedia. It appears that when the Range opened it was thought wise to provide a rough and ready ELG (Emergency Landing Ground) suitable for use by damaged aircraft making a wheels-up landing. The Range facilities were I think most unusual in that they were manned entirely by Wrens (Women's Royal Navy Service). The main Range user in WW2 was, it seems, aircraft based at or using St. MERRYN but the RAF also used the Range.
One notable arrival, on the 16th September 1943, was a crippled USAAF Boeing B-17 Fortess returning from a raid on Nantes in France. Flying on three engines and desperately short of fuel the Captain Jack Omohundro, spotted TRELIGGA and, ignoring signals to stay clear made a superb wheels-down landing, stopping about 50 yards from the Wrens quarters.
I imagine the crew were both surprised and delighted to find the facility manned entirely by women! Having been fed, watered and accommodated, the Fortress was stripped down, and provided with enough fuel for it to take-off with a 'skeletal crew', over the cliffs, to make a short flight to St EVAL where it could be inspected and refuelled. Capt. Omohundra was clearly either a resourceful individual or a fool. I'd prefer to think he knew exactly what he was doing, and, knew the capabilities of his aircraft. He may well have waited until a stiff wind was blowing?
In late 1944 it seems that no facilities were listed and nobody based here. I suppose it is doubtful the runways were kept available for use after WW2? However, it appears the Range for several years after WW2 was used by, for example Royal Navy Fairey Gannets and RAF Avro Shackletons.
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