RAF Long Kesh

Royal Air Force Long Kesh or more simply RAF Long Kesh is a former Royal Air Force station at Maze, Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

RAF Long Kesh
Maze, Lisburn in Northern Ireland
RAF Long Kesh Shown within Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°29′22″N 006°06′16″W
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force Royal Navy
Controlled by	RAF Coastal Command Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1940 (1940)-41
In use	1941-1947 (1947)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Airfield information
Elevation	35 metres (115 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

Various aircraft operated from the airfield during the Second World War, including the Supermarine Seafire and Spitfire.

History

In 1940-1941, during Second World War, RAF Long Kesh was a primary attack target in "Operation Green", a planned second front to accompany "Operation Sea Lion" for the conquest of the British Isles by Nazi Germany. RAF Long Kesh was to be attacked and wrecked by German airborne forces, whilst Aldergrove, Nutts Corner and Langford Lodge were to be captured.

Hangars were constructed at the airfield by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the use of Short Brothers to assemble the Short Stirling bomber.[1] Some Stirlings were also built at the site, before their assembly line moved to RAF Maghaberry, the aircraft production facilities at RAF Long Kesh then concentrated on aircraft wing manufacturing. One of the RAF Long Kesh hangars was later used by Miles Aircraft for final assembly and test flying work of the Miles Messenger, which was made at its factory in a linen mill at Banbridge.[1] The hangars are now the home of the Ulster Aviation Society and their collection of military, civil and general aviation aircraft.

Long Kesh Detention Centre

From August 1971, during The Troubles, the then disused airfield and facilities of RAF Long Kesh became the Long Kesh Detention Centre, where Irish paramilitary suspects were detained by the British Government without trial during the Operation Demetrius phase of Operation Banner. From 1976 the makeshift structures housing the detainees were replaced by newly constructed "H-Blocks", and the facility was re-designated HM Prison Maze.

Units

• No. 74 Squadron RAF(1942) - Supermarine Spitfire I.[2]
• No. 88 Squadron RAF Detachment (1941-1942) - Douglas Boston III.[3]
• No. 226 Squadron RAF Detachment (1941) - Bristol Blenheim IV.[4]
• No. 231 Squadron RAF (1941-1942) - Curtiss Tomahawk I & IIB.[5]
• No. 290 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) - Miles Martinet.[6]
• No. 422 Squadron RCAF (1942) - Consolidated Catalina IB.[7]
• No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF[8]
• No. 31 Wing RAF[8]
• No. 96 (Wireless) Wing RAF[8]
• No. 96 Wireless (Observer) Wing RAF[8]
• No. 103 Personnel Dispersal Centre[8]
• No. 201 Gliding School RAF[8]
• No. 203 Gliding School RAF[8]
• No. 671 Gliding School RAF[8]
• 800 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 807 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 809 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 838 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 879 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 881 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 882 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 899 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• No. 1494 (Target Towing) Flight RAF[8]
• No. 2774 Squadron RAF Regiment[8]

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. Ernie Cromie. "Long Kesh & Maghaberry". Ulster Aviation Society.
2. Jefford 1988, p. 47.
3. Jefford 1988, p. 51.
4. Jefford 1988, p. 73.
5. Jefford 1988, p. 74.
6. Jefford 1988, p. 84.
7. Jefford 1988, p. 91.
8. "Long Kesh". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 June 2020.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.