RAF Stormy Down

Royal Air Force Stormy Down, or more simply RAF Stormy Down is a former Royal Air Force station located near Pyle, Bridgend and opened in 1940.

RAF Stormy Down
Pyle, Bridgend in Wales
RAF Stormy Down
Shown within Bridgend
Coordinates51°30′15″N 003°40′13″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1939 (1939)
In use1939-1947 (1947)
Airfield information
Elevation97 metres (318 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00  Grass field

History

It was an armament training school for the Royal Air Force (RAF) then after they departed the French took the station over and later American forces were also stationed at 'Stormy'. Flying ceased in August 1944 due to the dangerous grass landing strip. However the airfield continued to be used for occasional private aircraft and a glider club for a number of years.[1]

Stormy Down parented the RAF marine base at Porthcawl harbour. Once Stormy Down closed, the Sea Rescue unit at Porthcawl was parented by St Athan. Known as 1105 Marine craft unit, it had three 43 ft range safety launches. It was still operating in 1958. Stormy Down ceased use as a flying station because the chalk was collapsing due to the rain. Once the RAF personnel left it became a French Air Force and Naval Aviation Initial Training school. The airfield continued in use by an Air Training Corps gliding school and then a gliding club. There was only one aircraft landing there after the field shut and the pilot was lucky to escape prosecution. The only American involvement was the garaging of two Piper Cub reconnaissance aircraft from Porthcawl.

Units

The following units were at Stormy Down at some point:[2]

  • No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAF
  • No. 3 Service Flying Training School RAF
  • No. 7 Air Gunners School RAF
  • No. 7 Air Observers School RAF
  • No. 7 Bombing & Gunnery School RAF
  • No. 7 Service Flying Training School RAF
  • No. 9 Armament Training Station RAF
  • No. 9 Service Flying Training School RAF
  • No. 14 Operational Training Unit RAF
  • No. 23 (French) Initial Training Wing
  • No. 32 (French) Personnel Reception Centre
  • No. 68 Gliding School RAF

Current use

The site is now used by Cenin Concrete Products Ltd, as a Research, Development & Production Centre. The site is also the operating base for Bridgend Motorcycle Training Centre. The site is also used for a weekly car boot sale. A proposal to site wind turbines on the disused airfield has been made and a solar energy facility built on the site.

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References

Citations
  1. Smith-Wales 1990, p. 00.
  2. "Stormy Down (Newton Down) (Porthcawl)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

Bibliography
  • Smith, D J (1990). Action Stations: Vol 3. Military airfields of Wales and the North-West. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 1-85260-375-5.


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