RAF Cleave
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| RAF Cleave | |
|---|---|
| Command: | Fighter Command |
| Function: | Army Cooperation |
| Runways: | 360 deg, 900yd
066 deg, 750yd |
| Runway surface: | Grass |
| Hangars: | Bellman x2, Blister x1 |
| Dispersals: | |
| Personnel: | Officers - 13 (inc 2 WAAF)
Other Ranks - 486 (inc 78 WAAF) |
| Coordinates: | SS 205 128 |
RAF Cleave was an airbase just north of Bude in Cornwall, United Kingdom from 1939 until 1945. Despite a few periods of intense activity it was one of Fighter Command's lesser used airfields.
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[edit] History
RAF Cleave was conceived as housing target and target support aircraft for firing ranges along the north Cornwall coast and land was acquired from Cleave Manor.
In May 1939 two flights of 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit (1 AACU) with the Westland Wallace and a naval steam catapult was soon erected near the cliffs for the pilotless Queen Bee aircraft due to be stationed there. Aircraft were initially housed in temporary Bessoneaux hangers (type H of World War 1 vintage) and later replaced by more permanent structures.
In December 1943, the 4 Flights were amalgamated into 639 Squadron, which served at Cleave for the remainder of the war.
The airfield was put under maintenance in April 1945 and later became a government signals station.
[edit] Squadrons Stationed at RAF Cleave
[edit] Royal Air Force
| Unit | Dates Stationed | Aircraft Used | Duties |
| 1 AACU (D, G & O Flights) | - 31 October 1942 | Hawker Henley, Westland Wallace | Target towing |
| 1602 (AAC) Flt | 1 November 1942 - 1 December 1943 | Hawker Henley | Formed from D Flight 1AACU, Target towing |
| 1603 (AAC) Flt | 1 November 1942 - 1 December 1943 | Hawker Henley, Fairey Battle | Formed from G Flight 1AACU, Target towing |
| 1604 (AAC) Flt | 1 November 1942 - 1 December 1943 | Hawker Henley, de Havilland Tiger Moth | Formed from O Flight 1AACU, Target towing |
| 1618 (AAC) Flt | 1 November 1942 - 1 December 1943 | de Havilland Tiger Moth, de Havilland Queen Bee | Target towing & pilotless targets |
| 639 Sqn | 1 December 1943 - 30 April 1945 | Hawker Henley, Hawker Hurricane | Formed from 1602, 1603 & 1604 Flts |
[edit] RAF Cleave today
Apart from an undisturbed piece of the grass runway to the north, a very short section of concrete track and a few of the married quarters accommodation on Cleave Crescent, the base has been almost completely re-modelled as CSOS Morwenstow (qv).
[edit] References
- Jefford C G (1988) RAF Squadrons, Airlife Publishing Shrewsbury, 271pp & 12 App, ISBN 1-85310-053-6
- Lake A (1999) Flying units of the RAF, Airlife Publishing Shrewsbury, 316pp & 16 App, ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
- Smith G (2000) Devon and Cornwall Airfields in the Second World War, Countryside Books Newbury, 288pp, ISBN 1-85306-632-X.
- Willis S and Holliss B R (1987), Military airfields in the British Isles 1939-1945 (Omnibus Edition), Enthusiasts Publications Newport Pagnell, 283pp, ISBN 0-90770-012-8.
[edit] External links
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