RAF Towyn

Royal Air Force Towyn or more simply RAF Towyn is a former Royal Air Force airfield located 10.3 miles (16.6 km) west of Machynlleth, Powys and 12.2 miles (19.6 km) north of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales.

RAF Towyn
Tywyn, Gwynedd in Wales
Looking south westwards over what was the grassed runway area for aircraft at RAF Towyn
RAF Towyn
Shown within Gwynedd
Coordinates52°35′38″N 004°05′53″W
TypeRoyal Air Force airfield
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1939 (1939)
In use1940-1945 (1945)
Airfield information
Elevation4 metres (13 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00 3,900 feet (1,200 m) Grass field
00/00 3,600 feet (1,100 m) Grass field
00/00 2,100 feet (640 m) Grass field

It was operational from 1940 and closed in 1945.

History

The camp was opened on 8 September 1940 as an Anti-Aircraft Co-operation unit for nearby Tonfanau under No.70 Group Army Co-operation Command (AACU).[1] The main function of the Flights on the base was to tow targets for the AACU at Tonfanau.[2]

In December 1943, No 1603 and 1628 Flights were disbanded and joined together to form No. 631 Squadron (RAF).[3] This Squadron stayed at Towyn until May 1945 when it moved on to RAF Llanbedr and the base was closed to flying soon afterwards.[4]

The base continued to be a military working environment being used periodically over the years.

The following units were here at some point:[5]

  • 'C' Flight of No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1 AACU).[5]
  • 'U' Flight of 1 AACU .[5]
  • No. 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF.[5]
  • No. 8 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF.[5]
  • No. 1605 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF[5]
  • No. 1628 (Anti-Aircraft Co-operation) Flight RAF[5]
  • No. 631 Squadron RAF[6]
  • Aberystwyth UAS[5]
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References

Citations
  1. Phillips, Alan (2012). Welsh Military Airfields Through Time. Stroud: Amberley. p. 78. ISBN 9781445609935.
  2. Smith, George (November 2004). "Tywyn Coastal Protection Scheme: Archaeological Assessment" (PDF). Herwales.co.uk (in English and Welsh). Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. "No 631 Sqn". Royal Air Force. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  4. Delve, Ken (2007). The military airfields of Britain: Wales and West Midlands. Marlborough: Crowood Press. pp. 317–318. ISBN 978-1-861269-17-1.
  5. "Towyn". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 101.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.



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