RAF Eglinton airfield - HMS Gannet - City of Derry airport

1983 (© Alan Rainey)

RAF Eglinton airfield

City of Derry airport

1. Watch Office with Met Section 518/40
2. Civil control tower

1. Demolished
2. In use

Other Buildings:

04/41 to , Planned as a Coastal Command airfield it became a day fighter base for the defence of Londonderry. 504 Squadron Hurricanes from Ballyhalbert here until 09/41.
10/41 to 01/42, 133 (Eagle) Squadron from Fowlmere with Hurricanes then Spitfires, moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey.
01/41 to 08/41, 134 and 152 Squadrons with Spitfires.
07/42 to 8/42, 2nd, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons of the 52nd Fighter Group with Spitfires, moved to Goxhill.
10/42 to 12/42, 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons of the 82nd Fighter Group here with P-38 Lightnings, moved to 12th USAAF in Algeria.
01/05/43 to 04/59, Airfield transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Gannet 15/08/43 for naval fighter training.
/60 to 09/66, Part of airfield reopened for helicopter use, commissioned as HMS Sea Eagle.
1960s, Used briefly by Emerald Airways flights to Renfrew. Current civil airport started in 1978. 1994, The name of the airport was officially changed from Londonderry Eglinton to the City of Derry Airport.

RAF Eglinton airfield

1983 (© Alan Rainey)

RAF Eglinton airfield - HMS Gannet - HMS Sea Eagle -

Fighter airfield

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

7 miles NE of Londonderry

RAF Eglinton - 52nd Fighter Group - 82nd Fighter Group -

RAF Eglinton airfield - HMS Gannet - HMS Sea Eagle - City of Derry airport -

RAF Eglinton airfield - HMS Gannet - HMS Sea Eagle -
Airfield:	Fighter airfield
Opened:	04/1941
Closed:	/1966
Code:	QM
USAAF Station:	344
Runways:	3x - tarmac
Hangars:	4
County:	Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Location:	7 miles NE of Londonderry
OS Ref:	C540220
Links:
©:	All photographs and artwork copyright © as stated
RAF Eglinton - 52nd Fighter Group - 82nd Fighter Group -

RAF Eglinton airfield
Airfield Today:	City of Derry airport
Tower Type:	1. Watch Office with Met Section 518/40 2. Civil control tower
Tower:	1. Demolished 2. In use
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	04/41 to , Planned as a Coastal Command airfield it became a day fighter base for the defence of Londonderry. 504 Squadron Hurricanes from Ballyhalbert here until 09/41. 10/41 to 01/42, 133 (Eagle) Squadron from Fowlmere with Hurricanes then Spitfires, moved to Kirton-in-Lindsey. 01/41 to 08/41, 134 and 152 Squadrons with Spitfires. 07/42 to 8/42, 2nd, 4th and 5th Fighter Squadrons of the 52nd Fighter Group with Spitfires, moved to Goxhill. 10/42 to 12/42, 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons of the 82nd Fighter Group here with P-38 Lightnings, moved to 12th USAAF in Algeria. 01/05/43 to 04/59, Airfield transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Gannet 15/08/43 for naval fighter training. /60 to 09/66, Part of airfield reopened for helicopter use, commissioned as HMS Sea Eagle. 1960s, Used briefly by Emerald Airways flights to Renfrew. Current civil airport started in 1978. 1994, The name of the airport was officially changed from Londonderry Eglinton to the City of Derry Airport.
RAF Eglinton airfield