Royal Air Force Penrhos, or more simply RAF Penrhos, is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Penrhos, Gwynedd and west of Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales, in the community of Llanbedrog.
It was operational from 1 February 1937 to 21 October 1946 for Weapon training, air observer, Airstrike and Air gunner schools.
History
In 1936 a decision was taken to establish an RAF bombing school at
Penyberth, a
farm of about for RAF Penrhos which was
purchasing by the
Air Ministry,
including the area of the low plateau in the bend of the river where the Afon Penrhos joins the Afon Geirch. Opposition was strongly felt, particularly as it was perceived that the sixteenth century house, Penyberth was, in
Saunders Lewis’ words, 'one of the essential homes of Welsh culture, idiom and literature'. As work proceeded, an
arson attack was carried out on 8 September 1936
after which the arsonists gave themselves up at
Pwllheli Police Station. Despite this the base came into operation in February 1937.
In December 1940 a detachment from No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron was moved to protect Penrhos from Nazi Germany attack.Ladislav Sitenský (1991). 802060247X, Naše vojsko. 802060247X
with photographs of RAF Pernhos on pages 105-106
RAF Hell's Mouth, to the south west, was commissioned in February 1937 as a Relief Landing Ground, later an Emergency landing Ground, for RAF Penrhos.
Units
During the course of the operation of the station, the following units were at sometime based at RAF Penrhos:
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'C' Flight of No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1 AACU)
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'J' Flight of No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1 AACU)
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No. 1 Air Observers School RAF
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No. 2 Air Crew Holding Unit RAF
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No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAF.
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No. 5 Armament Training Camp RAF with
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No. 5 Armament Training Station RAF
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No. 5 Flying Training School RAF
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No. 5 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 6 Flying Training School RAF
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No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 9 Air Observers School RAF with Handley Page Harrows and the unit was renamed No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School two months later
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No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF
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No. 9 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 10 Flying Training School RAF
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No. 10 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 11 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 12 Flying Training School RAF
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No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF
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No. 12 Service Flying Training School RAF
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No. 63 Squadron RAF
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No. 258 Squadron RAF
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A detachment of No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF with until April 1941
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No. 2780 Squadron RAF Regiment
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Signals Instructor School RAF
During the late 1980s privately owned aircraft used to land here during the summer on a 400-yard tarmac strip.
Current use
Part of the site is now
Pen-y-berth caravan park.
Citations
Bibliography
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Annand, David. RAF Penrhos near Pwllheli 1937–45 and RAF Llandwrog near Caernarvon 1940–45. Tywyn: David Annand, 1986.
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External links
