Royal Air Force Penrhos, or more simply RAF Penrhos, is a former Royal Air Force airfield near Penrhos in the community of Llanbedrog, west of Porthmadog in Gwynedd, Wales.
It was operational from 1 February 1937 to 21 October 1946 for armament training, air observer, bombing and gunnery 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 purchased 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 German attack. with photographs of RAF Pernhos on pages 105-106
The site of the former RAF base was used to house a nursing home for elderly Poles called "Polish Village". By 2025, it was demolished and redeveloped.
Units
During the course of the operation of the station, the following units were at sometime based at RAF Penrhos: 'C' Flight of No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1 AACU) 'J' Flight of No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (1 AACU) No. 1 Air Observers School RAF No. 2 Air Crew Holding Unit RAF No. 2 Service Flying Training School RAF. No. 5 Armament Training Camp RAF with Westland Wallaces No. 5 Armament Training Station RAF No. 5 Flying Training School RAF No. 5 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 6 Flying Training School RAF No. 6 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 9 Air Observers School RAF with Handley Page Harrows and Fairey Battles the unit was renamed No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School two months later No. 9 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF No. 9 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 10 Flying Training School RAF No. 10 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 11 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 12 Flying Training School RAF No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF No. 12 Service Flying Training School RAF No. 63 Squadron RAF No. 258 Squadron RAF A detachment of No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF with Hawker Hurricanes until April 1941 No. 2780 Squadron RAF Regiment 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.
References
Citations
Bibliography
Annand, David. RAF Penrhos near Pwllheli 1937–45 and RAF Llandwrog near Caernarvon 1940–45. Tywyn: David Annand, 1986.
External links