RAF Prestwick airfield

17/01/36, Opened as Civil airport.
17/01/36 to 03/41, No. 12 EFRTS (Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School) formed here wth Tiger Moth and Hawker Hart biplanes, 9/39 renamed No. 12 EFTS with Ansons and Battles.
08/38 to 07/41, SAL, (Scottish Aviation Ltd) formed No. 1 CANS (Civil Air Navigation School), 11/39 renamed No. 1 AONS (Air Observer Navigation School).
12/39 to 04/40, 603 and 04/40 to 05/40, 610 Sqn Spitfires.
07/40 to 08/40, The remnants of 141 Sqns Defiants were sent here during the Battle of Britain before moving to Turnhouse.
08/40 to 10/40, 615 Sqn from Kenley, went to Northolt.
09/40 to 10/40, 102 Sqn Whitleys. 08/40 to 11/40, 1 OTU Blenheims from Silloth.
09/40 to 10/45, No. 4 Ferry Pilots Pool, Air Transport Auxiliary.
12/40 to 04/41, 602 Sqn from Westhampnett, went to Ayr.
/41 to /42, No. 3 Radio School, moved to Hooton Park.
/41 to , ATFERO (Atlantic Ferry Organisation) formed to control aircraft flown to Great Britain from Canada and the USA with 37,000 aircraft landing at Prestwick. 03/43, ATFERO now under control of RAF Transport Command.
01/07/42 to 09/45, the first B-17 Flying Fortress arrived for the USAAF, the first of over 12,000 aircraft for the USAAF. USAAF Air Transport Command also flew mail and after D-Day flew casualties back to the USA in C-54's.
01/04/46, Preswick civil airport was back in business with flights by BOAC, KLM, SAS, TCA and other airlines. SAL began overhauling Douglas aircraft and went on to build the Pioneer and 'Twin-Pin' transports up to 1962.
/1951 to /??, USAF MATS facility for flights to and from the USA. 67th Air Rescue Squadron, USAF.
23/11/70, Commissioned as HMS Gannet with Royal Navy 819 Sqn Sea King helicopters. 01/94, Renamed RNAS Prestwick.

RAF Prestwick airfield
Airfield Today:	Prestwick Airport, RNAS Prestwick S&R Flight, HMS Gannet
Tower Type:	1. 1938, Art Deco style HQ and Clubhouse 2. Airport hotel with rooftop air traffic control - unique! Date built unknown 3. 1965, new tower built, details unknown
Tower:	1. Destroyed by fire in 1941 2. Demolished 1966 3. Not known - photographs welcome!
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	17/01/36, Opened as Civil airport. 17/01/36 to 03/41, No. 12 EFRTS (Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School) formed here wth Tiger Moth and Hawker Hart biplanes, 9/39 renamed No. 12 EFTS with Ansons and Battles. 08/38 to 07/41, SAL, (Scottish Aviation Ltd) formed No. 1 CANS (Civil Air Navigation School), 11/39 renamed No. 1 AONS (Air Observer Navigation School). 12/39 to 04/40, 603 and 04/40 to 05/40, 610 Sqn Spitfires. 07/40 to 08/40, The remnants of 141 Sqns Defiants were sent here during the Battle of Britain before moving to Turnhouse. 08/40 to 10/40, 615 Sqn from Kenley, went to Northolt. 09/40 to 10/40, 102 Sqn Whitleys. 08/40 to 11/40, 1 OTU Blenheims from Silloth. 09/40 to 10/45, No. 4 Ferry Pilots Pool, Air Transport Auxiliary. 12/40 to 04/41, 602 Sqn from Westhampnett, went to Ayr. /41 to /42, No. 3 Radio School, moved to Hooton Park. /41 to , ATFERO (Atlantic Ferry Organisation) formed to control aircraft flown to Great Britain from Canada and the USA with 37,000 aircraft landing at Prestwick. 03/43, ATFERO now under control of RAF Transport Command. 01/07/42 to 09/45, the first B-17 Flying Fortress arrived for the USAAF, the first of over 12,000 aircraft for the USAAF. USAAF Air Transport Command also flew mail and after D-Day flew casualties back to the USA in C-54's. 01/04/46, Preswick civil airport was back in business with flights by BOAC, KLM, SAS, TCA and other airlines. SAL began overhauling Douglas aircraft and went on to build the Pioneer and 'Twin-Pin' transports up to 1962. /1951 to /??, USAF MATS facility for flights to and from the USA. 67th Air Rescue Squadron, USAF. 23/11/70, Commissioned as HMS Gannet with Royal Navy 819 Sqn Sea King helicopters. 01/94, Renamed RNAS Prestwick.
RAF Prestwick - RNAS Prestwick

RAF Station - Prestwick airport - HMS Gannet - RNAS Prestwick
Airfield:		Civil airport, RN and RAF airfield
Opened:		17/01/1936
Closed:		N/A
ID Code:		PW
USAAF Station:		500
Runways:		Grass then 2x - concrete
Hangars:		2x - B1, 2x - Freight, 3x - Bellman
County:		Scotland
Location:		1 mile N of Prestwick, 3 miles NE of Ayr
OS Ref:		NS365268
Links:
©:		Photographs © as stated
RAF Prestwick airfield - HMA Gannet