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{{Short description|Former RAF base in Cornwall, England}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=NovemberAugust 20122021}}
{{Infobox military installation
{{Refimprove|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = RAF St Eval<br>USAAF Station 129
| nativenameensign = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]]
| nativename-aensign_size =
| nativename-rnative_name =
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| image = RAF St Eval aerial photograph WWII IWM HU 92963.jpg
| image-width = 250px
| caption = RAF St Eval airfield on 18 July 1942
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| type = Military
| owner = [[Air Ministry]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]]
| city-served =
| location = [[St Eval]], [[Cornwall]]
| country = England
| built = {{Start date|1938}}
| image = [[File:RAF St Eval aerial photograph WWII IWM HU 92963.jpg|250px]]
| used = 1939-{{End date|1959}}
| caption = RAF St Eval airfield on 18 July 1942
| elevation-f = {{Convert|98|m|disp=output number only|0}}
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| elevation-m = 98
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force Station]]
| coordinates = {{coord|50|28|41|N|004|59|58|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| pushpin_map = Cornwall#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cornwall
| pushpin_label = RAF St Eval
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Cornwall
| ownership = [[Air Ministry]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]]
| controlledby = [[RAF Fighter Command]]<BR>[[RAF Coastal Command]]
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| built = {{Start date|1938}}
| used = 1939 - {{End date|1959}}
| builder =
| fate =
| condition =
| battles = [[European theatre of World War II]]
| events =
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations =
| website =
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox -->
| r1-number = 00/00
<!-- begin airfield information -->
| r1-length-f = 3,000
| r1-length-mIATA = 914
| ICAO =
| r1-surface = Concrete/Tarmac
| r2-numberLID = 00/00
| r2-length-fGPS = 3,600
| r2-length-mWMO = 1,097
| elevation = {{Convert|98|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Concrete/Tarmac
| r3r1-number = 0006/0024
| r3r1-length-f = {{Convert|1750|m|0}}
| r3r1-length-msurface = 0Concrete
| r3r2-surfacenumber = Concrete12/Tarmac 30
| r2-length = {{Convert|1700|m|0}}
| stat-year =
| stat1r2-headersurface = Concrete
| stat1r3-datanumber = 18/36
| r3-length = {{Convert|1430|m|0}}
| stat2-header =
| stat2r3-datasurface = Concrete
| h1-number =
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface =
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!-- end airfield information -->
}}
'''Royal Air Force St. Eval''' or '''RAF St. Eval''' was a strategic [[Royal Air Force]] [[Royal Air Force station|station]] for the [[RAF Coastal Command]] during the [[Second World War]] (situated in [[Cornwall]], England, UK). St Eval's primary role was to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast. Aircraft from the airfield were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, [[air-sea rescue]] missions and protection of the airfield from the [[Luftwaffe]].
 
'''Royal Air Force St Eval''' or '''RAF St Eval''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] for the [[RAF Coastal Command]], southwest of [[Padstow]] in [[Cornwall]], England, UK. St Eval's primary role was to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast. Aircraft from the airfield were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, [[air-sea rescue]] missions and protection of the airfield from the [[Luftwaffe]].
==History==
 
==History==
[[File:Target Dossier for St. Eval, Cornwall, England - DPLA - b769b0f995458321f50e8de4f20fcd6d (page 1).jpg|thumb|right|RAF St Eval on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1943]]
===The construction of the station===
The [[Royal Air Force|RAF's]] 1930s expansion plan included a requirement for a station to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the South-west coast of England. The site at St Eval was chosen as a Coastal Command airfield and work started in 1938.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=163}} Five widely dispersed cottages, two houses and portions of two farms were acquired by [[compulsory purchase]]; the village of [[St Eval]] was completely demolished in order to build the airfield. Levelling of the site by G Wallace Ltd involved the removal by bulldozers of many Cornish [[dry stoneCornish wallhedge]]s and three ancient [[tumuli]]. One householder tried to hold out against the authorities and refused to leave his cottage for several days. Only the church survived which the RAF adopted as their station church and it still stands today.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=163}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Buckton|first1=Henry|title=The Lost Villages - in Search of Britain's Vanished Communities|date=2008|publisher=I B Tauris & Co|location=London|isbn=978 1 84511 671 2|page=115}}</ref> and it still stands today.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=163}} The work progressed well and RAF St Eval opened on 2 October 1939.
 
===Battle of Britain===
In June 1940 St Eval became a [[RAF Fighter Command|Fighter Command]] sector headquarters during the [[Battle of Britain]] and [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s were stationed there.<ref name=":0">{{PastScape|num=1411212|desc=St Eval Airfield|accessdateaccess-date=11 July 2016}}</ref> and [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s were stationed there. These were joined by [[Hawker Hurricane]] and [[Bristol Blenheim]] fighters. The station's aircraft took an active part in the conflict.
 
===Meteorological flights===
Line 58 ⟶ 82:
 
===Attacks on St Eval===
The presence of the Spitfires was not a great success as the Luftwaffe's change in tactics led to an increase in night raids for which the Spitfires were not suited. Therefore, [[No. 238 Squadron RAF|238 Squadron]] were posted in with Hurricanes. The airfield was unfortunately hit a number of times in the summer of 1940 and early 1941. This caused considerable damage and casualties with the Germans carrying out further raids in May 1942, causing damage to buildings and the destruction of aircraft. St Eval was equipped with a [[green box barrage]] rocket device which sent a steel wire curtain into the air to descend on parachutes. This was intended to enmesh enemy aircraft and cause them to crash, but the device was unsuccessful.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 64 ⟶ 88:
! Date !! Incident
|-
| 12 July 1940 || During the afternoon a single [[Junkers Ju 88|Ju 88]] dropped eight bombs, causing minor damage andbefore it was chased off by two Spitfires. Another source gives the count as 3 bombs plus strafing.<ref name=peoples>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/80/a8346080.shtml |title= "When Bombs Fell" - The air-raids on Cornwall during WW2 : Part 2 - 1940 |website= WW2 People's war |publisher= BBC |access-date= 3 May 2021}}</ref>
|-
| 21 August 1940 || Three Ju 88s bombed St Eval, causing damage to two hangars and destroying three Blenheims. Hurricanes managed to shoot down two of the German aircraft. Another source gives the attacking aircraft as Messerschmitts and records 17 casualties.<ref name=peoples />
|-
| 22 August 1940 || 14 [[high explosive]] bombs and 200 [[incendiary bombs|incendiaries]] were dropped without causing much damage.
Line 73 ⟶ 97:
|-
| 26 August 1940 || St Eval was bombed at 2130 and 2158&nbsp;hours.
|-
| 29 August 1940 || 5 HE and some incendiary bombs were dropped on St Eval, but no damage was caused.<ref name=peoples />
|-
| 30 September 1940 || At about 2300&nbsp;hours, five high explosive bombs were dropped, two landing on the aerodrome and three outside. No damage was reported.
|-
| 3 October 1940 || St Eval was attacked between 0655 and 0710&nbsp;hours two Spitfires, one [[Avro Anson]] were completely destroyed and two hangars were also hit. Out of 20 bombs dropped on the airfield in this raid only 4 went off, causing injuries to four people.<ref name=peoples />
|-
| 149 October 1940 || AtSeveral 2111&nbsp;hours,bombs sixwere highdropped explosiveon bombsSt andEval 20with incendiariessome weredamage droppedbut onno the Stationcasualties.<ref name=peoples />
|-
| 14 October 1940 || At 2111&nbsp;hours, six high explosive bombs and 20 incendiaries were dropped on the Station. Another source states only 20 bombs in total. There were no casualties and no damage was caused.<ref name=peoples />
|}
 
Line 84 ⟶ 112:
On 6 April 1941 a small force of [[Bristol Beaufort|Beauforts]] from [[No. 22 Squadron RAF|22 Squadron]], operating on detachment from St Eval, launched an attack on the German battleship [[German battleship Gneisenau|''Gneisenau'']] in [[Brest, France|Brest]] harbour. A Beaufort was able to launch a torpedo at point blank range but was shot down. However, the ship was severely damaged below the water line, so was obliged to return to the dock for repair. The pilot of the Beaufort, Flying Officer [[Kenneth Campbell (soldier)|Kenneth Campbell]] RAF, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|pp=165-166}}
 
===NoAttempted 61Irish Squadrondefection===
 
In the summer of 1942 [[No. 61 Squadron RAF|No. 61 Squadron]] was twice loaned to Coastal Command for anti-submarine operations in the [[Bay of Biscay]]. It was detached from its station in [[Rutland]] to ''St Eval'' and on the very first occasion that it operated from there - on 17 July 1942 - a crew became the first in [[RAF Bomber Command]] to bring back irrefutable evidence that they had destroyed a [[U-boat]] at sea - a photograph showing the U-boat crew in the water swimming away from their sinking vessel.
On 9 January 1942, a [[Supermarine Walrus]] of the [[Irish Air Corps]] was stolen from [[Shannon Airport|Rineanna airfield]], Country Clare, by four Irish servicemen. Their intention was to fly to France to join the Luftwaffe. However, they were intercepted by RAF Spitfires and escorted to St Eval, where they landed and were detained by RAF Police. Subsequently, they and the aircraft were returned to Ireland.<ref name="FAAM">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/en-GB/exhibit/Supermarine_Walrus_L2301/1_29_9.aspx |title=Supermarine Walrus (L2301) |publisher=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Ger |title=Clare in WW2 / The Emergency |url=https://clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/Clare_Emergency_Individual_Profiles.pdf |website=Clare County Council Libraries}}</ref>
 
===No. 61 Squadron===
In the summer of 1942 [[No. 61 Squadron RAF|No. 61 Squadron]] was twice loaned to Coastal Command for anti-submarine operations in the [[Bay of Biscay]]. It was detached from its station in [[Rutland]] to St Eval and on the very first occasion that it operated from there – on 17 July 1942 – a crew became the first in [[RAF Bomber Command]] to bring back irrefutable evidence that they had destroyed a [[U-boat]] at sea – a photograph showing the U-boat crew in the water swimming away from their sinking vessel.
 
===American use of the airfield===
To boost the anti-submarine forces and to gain experience in the role, the Americans began to use the airfield (as station 129)<ref name=":0" /> with [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]] bombers of the [[409th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[93d Bombardment Group]]), being deployed from [[RAF Alconbury]] in [[Huntingdonshire]] in October 1942.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=167}}
 
The following month they were replaced by the [[1st Antisubmarine Squadron]] being deployed from [[Langley Field]], [[Virginia]] with the [[2d Antisubmarine Squadron]] arriving in January 1943 forming the 1st Antisubmarine Group (Provisional) with specialized long-range Liberator bombers equipped with RADAR and other submarine detection equipment. From St. Eval, the squadrons flew killer hunts against German U-Boatsboats in the Bay of Biscay. Both of these squadrons were reassigned to [[Naval Air Station Port Lyautey|Port Lyautey]] in [[French Morocco]] in March 1943 to shore up scanty Allied anti-submarine defences in the Atlantic approaches to the [[Straits of Gibraltar]]. German U-boats had very recently sunk four ships in an Allied convoy about a hundred miles off the coast of [[Portugal]]. Also, over the long term, the Allies wanted to increase air anti-submarine patrols and convoy coverage to secure their preparations for the impending Tunisian offensive and the subsequent invasion of Sicily.
 
The [[Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command]] formed the [[479th Antisubmarine Group]] at St Eval in July with four squadrons of Liberators to continue the antisubmarine campaign. The 479th's most effective antisubmarine patrols were conducted from 18 July to 2 August 1943, the period in which the group made nearly all of its attacks on the U-boats. After that time the Germans avoided surfacing during daylight and adopted a policy of evasion, but the group continued its patrols, often engaging Luftwaffe fighter interceptor aircraft.
 
This was once again a short-lived arrangement and the group took its Liberators to [[Dunkeswell Aerodrome|RAF Dunkeswell]] on 6 August, ending the American use of the station.
 
===Loss of Whitley in submarine attack===
On 20 June 1943, in the Bay of Biscay, one of a pair of Whitleys operated by 10 OTU from St. Eval was shot down while attacking a submarine believed to be the ''[[Italian submarine Barbarigo|Barbarigo]]'', of the Italian navy. All of the Whitley's crew were killed.<ref>Dave O'Malley, "The Memory that Would Not Die: the Story of Olive Bingham's Memorial Cross," Vintage Wings of Canada, 17 April 2020. http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/626/The-Memory-that-Would-Not-Die.aspx</ref>
 
===Accident at St Eval===
In August 1943 a [[Whitley Bomber|Whitley]] and Liberator collided on the runway. The Whitley caught fire which cooked the depth charges and caused a massive explosion and the loss of both the aircraft and crews. The collision was in part due to the poor runway layout, with a blind spot that hid one aircraft from the other.{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=168}}
 
===1944 -– The end of the war===
The importance of St Eval was such that it was given a [[Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation (FIDO)|FIDO]] installation in early 1944 for dispersal of fog around the runway so that aircraft could land safely.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Robertson|first1=Bruce|title=The RAF - a pictorial history|date=1978|publisher=Robert Hale|location=London|isbn=0 7091 6607 9|page=169}}</ref> St Eval was destined to have a busy time during the allied invasion of Europe.
 
Line 107 ⟶ 142:
[[File:St eval memorial.jpg|thumb|right|200px|RAF St Eval memorial]]
 
===Post Second World War II===
The station continued to be used for maritime patrols and search and rescue duties. It was also a site for diversions with a number of military and commercial aircraft making use of St Eval due to bad weather at their destination airfield. The Station closed on 6 March 1959, with the existing squadrons moving to nearby [[RAF St. Mawgan]].{{sfn|Ashworth|1982|p=170}} The airfield became home to the transmitters and aerial farm used for the low frequency communications used by the maritime Nimrods flying from RAF St Mawgan with the receiver site near RAF Mountbatten, [[Plymouth, Devon|Plymouth]].
 
==Current use==
===RAF St Eval today===
MuchThe ofsite theis basichome structureto stilla exists[[high butfrequency]] manytransmitter station forming part of the buildings[[Defence haveHigh goneFrequency Communications Service]]. The airfieldstation is currentlyoperated aby communication[[Babcock stationInternational Group]] on behalf of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hfindustry.com/meetings_presentations/presentation_materials/2012_sept_hfia/presentations/Babcock_DHFCS_NCS_Forest_Moor_Visit.pdf|title=Defence High Frequency Communications Service|date=5 September 2012|website=High Frequency Industry Association|publisher=Babcock International Group|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Development brief for St Eval Cornwall|url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/media/15703784/supplementary-docs-development-brief-4.pdf|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdateaccess-date=11 July 2016|page=4|format=PDF|date=October 2011}}</ref> A new village has been built on the east side of the station, providing married accommodation for the RAF. The station is now ex RAF housing and when this was revealed people queued for 24 – 78&nbsp;hours in tents to buy their own houses.
 
==Memorials==
There are various memorials in the St Ulvelus church, including a Book of Remembrance, a memorial window and a memorial to the crew of Shackleton VP254, who were killed in a crash off the [[Borneo]] coast on 9 December 1958.
 
A memorial tablet to the two crews of Shackletons WG531 and WL743 (squadron codes A-H and A-F respectively) of No.42 Squadron that probably collided whilst on an [[1955 RAF Shackleton aircraft disappearance|exercise off]] the [[Fastnet Rock]] on 11 January 1955, is displayed in [[St Columba's Church, St Columb Major|St Columba's church]], [[St Columb Major]].
 
==Units stationed at RAF St Eval==
===1939–1945===
 
===1939 - 1945===
 
{| class="wikitable"
Line 256 ⟶ 290:
| Air Sea Rescue (ASR)
|-----
| [[No. 304 SquadronPolish RAFBomber Squadron|304 Squadron]]
| 6 March 1945 – 9 July 1945 || Vickers Wellington
|
Line 269 ⟶ 303:
|-----
| [[No. 415 Squadron RCAF|415 Squadron RCAF]]
| 11 April 1942 -– late 1942 || [[Handley Page Hampden]]
|
|-----
Line 283 ⟶ 317:
| February 1942 – June 1943
| Armstrong Whitworth Whitley<br>Handley Page Halifax
| Anti-submarine patrols over the Bay of Biscay
|
|-----
| [[No. 517 Squadron RAF|517 Squadron]]
Line 307 ⟶ 341:
|-----
| [[796 Naval Air Squadron]] det
| August – September 1948 || [[Fairey Gannet]] ||
|-----
| [[801 Naval Air Squadron]]
Line 346 ⟶ 380:
| ? - April 1940 || various ||
|-----
| [[No. 6 Coastal Patrol Flight RAF]] || 15 January 1940 – 27 May 1940
| [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]] ||
|-----
| [[No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF]] (PRU)
| 1 July 1940 – October 1942 || various
| Recces of targets in Western France, particularly naval bases
Line 365 ⟶ 399:
|}
 
===1945 - 19591945–1959===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
Line 388 ⟶ 422:
| [[No. 240 Squadron RAF|240 Squadron]] || Avro Shackleton MR 1 || 27 May 1952 || 5 June 1952 || RAF Ballykelly || {{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=84}} Maritime reconnaissance
|-
| [[No. 95 Gliding SquadronSchool RAF]]<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/st-eval |title=St. Eval |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|accessdateaccess-date=22 December 2012}}</ref> || [[AvroSlingsby Cadet]] || June 1945 || 31 January 1950 || Unknown ||
|-
| [[No. 19 Group CommunicationsCommunication Flight RAF]]<ref name="ABCT"/> || Various || 29 July 1948 || 27 August 1951 || Unknown ||
|-
| Target Towing Flight? || [[de Havilland Mosquito]] || September 1953 || September 1955 || Unknown ||
|-
| [[No. 626 Gliding SquadronSchool RAF]]<ref name="ABCT"/> || AvroSlingsby Cadet || 1 June 1958 || 16 March 1963 || Unknown ||
|}
 
The following units were also here at some point:<ref name="ABCT"/>
* [[No. 67 Maintenance Unit RAF]]
* [[No. 2731 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2738 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2782 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[Signals Development Unit RAF]]
 
==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
*[[St Eval]]
*[[Anti-submarine warfare]]
Line 407 ⟶ 449:
 
===Bibliography===
*''Airfield Focus - 7:St Eval'' by Chris Ashworth ({{ISBN |1-870384-19-9}})
*''The Military airfields of Britain, South-Western England'' ({{ISBN |1-86126-810-6}})
*''A Guide to Airfields of South Western England'', Baron Jay Publishers
*{{cite book |last=Ashworth|first=Chris |title= Action Stations 5; Military Airfields of the South-West|year=1982|publisher= Patrick Stephens|location=Cambridge|isbn=0-85059-510-X|ref={{harvid|Ashworth|1982}} }}
*{{cite book |last1=Jefford [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] |first1=[[Wing Commander (rank)|Wg Cdr]] C G |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= [[Shrewsbury]] |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 |ref= {{harvid|Jefford|1988}} }}
 
==External links==
{{Commons category|RAF St Eval}}
*[http://www.raf.mod.uk Official RAF website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928090124/http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/awall_use/steval01/html/page01.htm Atlantik Wall - RAF St Eval]
 
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{USAAF Antisubmarine Command}}
 
{{authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:St Eval}}
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1938]]
[[Category:Military history of Cornwall]]
[[Category:Military installations closed in 1959]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military history of Cornwall]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_St_Eval"