RAF Patrington
RAF Patrington Grid reference | TA297203 | |
---|---|---|
Type | Radar site | |
Code | 09G | |
Area | 39 acres (16 ha) | |
Site information | ||
Owner | Air Ministry (1942–1964) Ministry of Defence (1964–1975) | |
Operator | Royal Air Force | |
Controlled by | RAF Fighter Command | |
Site history | ||
In use | 1942–1955 (Radar site) 1951–1975 (domestic site) | |
Fate | Partially demolished |
RAF Patrington (or Royal Air Force Patrington), was a Ground-controlled interception (GCI) station of the Royal Air Force in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The base was operational during the Second World War, but was replaced by RAF Holmpton during the Cold War, although Patrington's domestic site remained open until the mid-1970s to house personnel for Holmpton. Some of the buildings of the old technical site survive abandoned near to Patrington Haven, but the domestic site has had a holiday park built upon it.
History
The site was opened in January 1942 as Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) station number 09G,[1] staffed by technicians from No. 73 Signals Wing, part of No. 60 Group RAF.[2] The main building on the technical site was known as the Happidrome, which was used as the Northern Sector Operations Centre (SOC) between 1947 and 1953, until the SOC at RAF Shipton was opened.[3][4] Domestic accommodation was opened at Patrington Haven in the early 1950s which remained until 1975 and the combined RAF Patrington locations covered an area of 39 acres (16 ha).[5] The houses were later sold, but the barrack blocks were demolished and replaced with a holiday site.[6]
In October 1952, during Exercise Ardent, 100 paratroopers were dropped in East Yorkshire to simulate an attack on a Sector Operations Centre (SOC), with Patrington being chosen as the target.[7] At the same time, Patrington was being used as a reporting centre for a Search and Rescue helicopter (SAR) which was based out of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[8] It would continue to have a helicopter role when a Sycamore from No. 275 Sqn was outbased at Patrington during 1953 and 1954.[9] During the early 1950s, controllers of the Bloodhound surface to air (SAM) missile programme were outbased at Patrington.[10] During this time, the staff at weekends were drawn from the RAuxAF Fighter Control Units, No. 3609 (West Riding) Squadron being a large supplier of auxiliary workers at the site.[11][12]
The original site at Patrington was due to be upgraded to have a new bunker under the
Chronology
- 1942 – sites opens as a GCI at TA297203[4]
- 1951 – Domestic site opens at TA302212[note 1]
- 1953–1954 – Underground bunker site opens at TA366288 as RAF Holmpton[15]
- 1955 – Technical site at Patrington closes[17]
- 1958 – The domestic site at Patrington, and the technical site at Holmpton become known as RAF Patrington[18]
- 1975 – Domestic site at Patrington closes, the bunker site reverts to being called RAF Holmpton[17]
- 1984 – The domestic site is auctioned off by the MoD[17]
Post closure
Since it was sold off in the 1980s, the domestic site now hosts a holiday park. In 2013, a memorial sculpture was unveiled on the holiday site.[19] The original buildings at the Patrington Second World War site are still there, including the Happidrome.[20]
Notable personnel
- Geoffrey Cooper, former officer commanding in 1971[21]
- Ted Hughes – Hughes served as a ground wireless mechanic at the site between 1949 and 1952.[22]
- Alan Rawlinson, former officer commanding in 1958[23]
Notes
- RAF Sutton-on-Hull each time, leaving at 18:00, and returning "at 5 at night.." (05:00).[16]
References
- ^ Dobinson 2010, p. 625.
- ISSN 1741-8917.
- ^ "ROYAL AIR FORCE RADAR, 1939–1945". iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Ground Controlled Interception Station 09g". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ISSN 1741-3419.
- ISBN 0-19-722760-0.
- ^ Dunnell, Ben (10 May 2018). "Preparing For War: Exercise 'Ardent'". Aeroplane Monthly. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ISBN 9781472960887.
- ^ Dowling, J. R. (1987). "RAF helicopters the first twenty years part one". raf.mod.uk. p. 194. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ISBN 0951-9824-6X.
- ^ "Squadrons and Units - Fighter Control Units". rauxaf.org. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ISBN 0951-9824-6X.
- ^ a b Holmes, Kevin. "Association of Royal Air Force Fighter Control Officers". www.raffca.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Holmpton Rotor Radar Station – Subterranea Britannica". www.subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ ISSN 1741-3419.
- ISBN 9780571262946.
- ^ ISSN 1741-3419.
- ^ "Patrington GCI Radar Station – Subterranea Britannica". subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Ex-East Yorkshire RAF base memorial statue unveiled". BBC News. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Campbell, James (8 May 2022). "The Gogglebox country walk where you may bump into Jenny and Lee". Hull Live. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ISSN 0307-1235.
- ISSN 0963-1496.
- ISSN 0140-0460.
Sources
- Dobinson, Colin (2010). Building radar: forging Britain's early-warning chain, 1935–45. London, UK: Methuen. ISBN 978-0-413-77229-9.