RAF Templeton
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2014) |
RAF Templeton Templeton Dry Training Area | |||||||||||
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Part of Defence Training Estate | |||||||||||
Near Templeton, Pembrokeshire in Wales | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 51°45′54″N 004°45′14″W / 51.76500°N 4.75389°W | ||||||||||
Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||
Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||
Operator | Royal Air Force 1942 - 1945 British Armed Forces | ||||||||||
Controlled by | RAF Coastal Command *No. 17 (Training) Group RAF Defence Infrastructure Organisation | ||||||||||
Open to the public | Yes | ||||||||||
Website | GOV.UK (Wales - Public access to military areas) | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
Built | 1942 | ||||||||||
In use |
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Battles/wars | AMSL | ||||||||||
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Royal Air Force Templeton, or more simply RAF Templeton, is a former Royal Air Force station located 9.75 miles (15.69 km) south east of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and 10 miles (16 km) north east of Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Situated near Templeton, 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Narberth, Pembrokeshire. It was operational between December 1942 and July 1945,[2] as a satellite airfield for RAF Haverfordwest.[3] It remains in use, under Defence Training Estate Pembrokeshire, as Templeton Dry Training Area.[4]
Templeton airfield was constructed during 1942, waste from Reynalton Colliery being utilised in the build,[5] and was officially opened in January 1943. In the middle of the triangular runway layout was a hill limiting all-round vision.[6] This posed a danger to aircraft using the runways. A lookout was regularly posted and used flag signals to warn of aircraft movements.[7]
History
Station design
Many of the dispersal
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Templeton initially formed part of No. 17 Group RAF, the training organisation within RAF Coastal Command, and had a particular role in training for the defence of the oil installations in Milford Haven. No. 306 Ferry Training Unit (Bristol Beaufort) formed at the station in January 1943, later departing to Maghaberry in Northern Ireland.[8] The Observer training flight, "O" Flight, of No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (Avro Anson[9]) moved in from nearby Haverfordwest, staying until December 1943.[8]
- United States Army Air Forces
From December 1943 to May 1944, the station hosted an American unit, using British-built aircraft, 1st Gunnery and Tow Target Flight, VIII USAAF, (Westland Lysander and Miles Master) towing targets for the fighters at the American training base at RAF Atcham, Shropshire.[8]
During the latter part of 1944, anti-aircraft target-towing Miles Martinets and Supermarine Spitfires of No. 595 Squadron RAF, based at Aberporth, used the airfield.[8] In January 1945, No 8 OTU moved into Haverfordwest, and "A" Flight was detached to Templeton, training aircrew on photo-reconnaissance aircraft including the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito. They only stayed until March but a small engineering unit remained at Templeton to carry out aircraft repairs. They moved to Benson, Oxfordshire, in June.[9]
In July 1945, the RAF closed RAF Templeton although No 74 Gliding School Air Training Corps continued to use part of the airfield as they had done since 1944.[9]
The Royal Marines took over the camp in 1945 and it was used as a holding camp prior to de-mob for marines from all over the world.[9]
The airfield was sold in 1960. The Ministry of Defence leased it back and is now used militarily as a Dry Training Area for various equipment trials. Not much of the wartime buildings are left and vegetation has taken hold of most the airfield.[6]
Royal Air Force operational history
Ferry Flight Operations
306 Ferry Training Unit
Operational Training Units
No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
'O' Flight of
No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit
'A' Flight of
An engineering section of No. 8 (C) OTU remained at RAF Templeton between February and June 1945. The T2 hangar was used for the repair and maintenance of the unit's Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, which operated out of Haverfordwest.[15] When No. 8 (C) OTU left for RAF Benson on the 21 June 1945, RAF Templeton was closed down.[14]
Anti Aircraft Co-Operation
595 Squadron
No. 595 Squadron RAF conducted its first official towed glider trial at RAF Templeton on the 17 August 1944.[15] The squadron operated Miles Martinet and Supermarine Spitfire aircraft.[5] Templeton’s concrete runways were far more suitable for aircraft towing winged glider targets, than the grass strip at the School of Anti Aircraft, located nearby at RAF Manorbier. The glider targets stability benefited from being towed on a firm surface. They had a wingspan of either eight or sixteen feet and had a tendency to flip over on a grass strip, more so when waterlogged, and often flipped the towing aircraft as well.[15]
These initial trials were not successful and several gliders crashed on landing, however these incidents lead to improvements being made to both the gliders and the towing aircraft. No. 595 Sqn’s modified Miles Martinet aircraft did twice successfully used towed gliders, for the School of Anti Aircraft, resulting in several hits on the target and with both aircraft and target returning safely to Templeton.[15] Further trials continued until the squadron returned to RAF Aberporth,[5] on the 24 February 1945.[15]
Other Units
74 Gliding School
No 74 Gliding School formed at RAF Templeton in October 1944. The school was equipped with Slingsby Kirby Cadet TX.1, a single-seat glider.[16] It moved to RAF Carew Cheriton during 1946.[17]
United States Army Air Forces operational history
Gunnery & Tow Target
On 14 December 1943 the 1st Gunnery and Tow Target Flight, of the
Current use
Templeton Dry Training Area
Templeton Dry Training Area is used for training tasks such as helicopter and air defence exercises, along with low-level infantry tactics, and driver training. A permanent orienteering course is also part of the facility.[4]
Both regular and territorial soldiers along with cadet units use Templeton Training Area for dry training. Pyrotechnics are authorised for use but have to be within specific designated areas. An army orienteering course exists for visiting units and a bridging pit is available for engineering units to use. Public access across the site is via two bridleways transversing the runways. The grassland is leased for grazing.[20]
It is used for a variety of training tasks, including helicopter and air defence exercises, infantry and driver training. Usage is shared with a number of other activities, including agriculture, storage and model aircraft flying.[citation needed]
Geography
The dry training area is part of Defence Training Estate Pembrokeshire. Templeton Training Area is the disused World War II airfield initially known as RAF Templeton of approximately 164 hectares (404 acres). It still has the three intersecting runways, along with the taxiways and aircraft hardstand areas. The topography is flat to a smooth rise and fall.[20]
Nearby military sites
As well as the Templeton Dry Training Area, DTE Pembrokeshire (DTE P) consists of the Castlemartin Training Area and ranges at Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, the Penally Training Camp just outside Tenby in Pembrokeshire, and the CAD range at ADR Manorbier about 5 miles (8.0 km) south west of Tenby, Pembrokeshire.[4]
Nearby places
Templeton Dry Training Area is located between the town and
, to the east.See also
- List of former Royal Air Force stations
- List of ferry units of the Royal Air Force
- List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units
- RAF Manorbier, Air Defence Range (ADR) Manorbier, a missile range, part of Defence Training Estate Pembrokeshire.
- Castlemartin Training Area, a direct-fire Armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) live gunnery range, part of Defence Training Estate Pembrokeshire.
References
Citations
- ^ Delve 2007, p. 310.
- ^ "Templeton Aerodrome". Templeton Heritage Group. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ Phillips 2006, p. 236.
- ^ a b c "Templeton" (PDF). Defence Training Estate. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Templeton Airfield, Templeton (91717)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Phillips 2012, p. 83.
- ^ Phillips 2006, p. 225.
- ^ a b c d "RAF Templeton airfield". controltowers.co.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Templeton Heritage Group – Education". templetonheritagegroup.org.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 68.
- ^ a b c Phillips 2006, p. 238.
- ^ "A Brief History of Lisburn's Airbases". lisburn.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Jones 2007, p. 47.
- ^ a b Jones 2007, p. 49.
- ^ a b c d e Phillips 2006, p. 239.
- ^ Lake 1999, p. 113.
- ^ a b "Templeton". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ a b "1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight". americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Jones 2007, p. 48.
- ^ a b "Wales - Public access to military areas". Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
Bibliography
- Delve, Ken (2007). The Military Airfields of Britain Wales and West Midlands. ISBN 978-1-86126-917-1.
- Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- Jones, Ivor (2007). Airfields and Landing Grounds of Wales: West. ISBN 978-0-7524-4418-5.
- Phillips, Alan (2006). Military Airfields of Wales. ISBN 1-84494-019-5.
- Phillips, Alan (2012). Welsh Military Airfields Through Time. ISBN 978-1-4456-0993-5.