RAF Aldergrove airfield

1918 to 12/1919, No.16 Aircraft Acceptance Park, airfield then used for annual air excercises.
05/25 to 01/41, 502 Sqn equipped with many different bomber types including Vimy, Hyderabad, Wallace, Hind and Whitley, moved to Limavady.
01/36 to 10/36, 10 Sqn from Andover with Virginia and Heyford bombers.
03/36 to 07/40, No. 2 Armament Training Camp, 04/39 became No. 3 Air Observers School.
11/39 to 07/40, Royal Navy 774 Sqn with Roc, Skua and Swordfish.
11/39 to /78, No. 23 Maintenance Unit handling many different aircraft types.
07/40 to 07/41, 245 Sqn Hurricanes from Turnhouse, moved to Ballyhalbert.
1940 - 1945, Used by many Coastal Command Squadrons on anti-submarine and met patrols.
02/44 to 08/45, No. 1 Heavy Conversion Unit with Fortress, Halifax and Liberators.
09/45 to 07/64, 518 Sqn met flights with Halifax then Hastings.
03/48 to 08/51, 224 Sqn met flights with Halifax then Hastings.
07/46 to 03/57, 502 Sqn with Spitfires and Vampires.
04/52 to /59, 120 Shackletons, moved to Kinloss.
05/60 to 08/62, 118 Sqn with Sycamore helicopters. 09/63, RAF Aldergrove became Belfast airport.

RAF Aldergrove airfield
Airfield Today:	Belfast airport, RAF 230 Sqn with Puma helicopters
Tower Type:	1. Original air traffic control building not known 2. Watch Office for all Commands 343/43
Tower:	1. Not known 2. In use
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	1918 to 12/1919, No.16 Aircraft Acceptance Park, airfield then used for annual air excercises. 05/25 to 01/41, 502 Sqn equipped with many different bomber types including Vimy, Hyderabad, Wallace, Hind and Whitley, moved to Limavady. 01/36 to 10/36, 10 Sqn from Andover with Virginia and Heyford bombers. 03/36 to 07/40, No. 2 Armament Training Camp, 04/39 became No. 3 Air Observers School. 11/39 to 07/40, Royal Navy 774 Sqn with Roc, Skua and Swordfish. 11/39 to /78, No. 23 Maintenance Unit handling many different aircraft types. 07/40 to 07/41, 245 Sqn Hurricanes from Turnhouse, moved to Ballyhalbert. 1940 - 1945, Used by many Coastal Command Squadrons on anti-submarine and met patrols. 02/44 to 08/45, No. 1 Heavy Conversion Unit with Fortress, Halifax and Liberators. 09/45 to 07/64, 518 Sqn met flights with Halifax then Hastings. 03/48 to 08/51, 224 Sqn met flights with Halifax then Hastings. 07/46 to 03/57, 502 Sqn with Spitfires and Vampires. 04/52 to /59, 120 Shackletons, moved to Kinloss. 05/60 to 08/62, 118 Sqn with Sycamore helicopters. 09/63, RAF Aldergrove became Belfast airport.
RAF Aldergrove airfield

RAF Station
Airfield:	AAP, Bomber, Fighter, Coastal Command, HTU, OCU
Opened:	/1918
Closed:	09/1963, RAF closure
Code:	JV
USAAF Station:	439
Runways:	2x - concrete
Hangars:	18x -
County:	Co. Antrim
Location:	12 miles NW of Belfast
OS Ref:	J145795
©:	All photographs copyright © as stated
RAF Aldergrove airfield


2003 (© Robert Wells)