Jurby Airfield
RAF Jurby was opened
in late 1939 and was used during WW2 mainly as an armaments & navigation
training airfield, although it also accommodated fighter unites until nearby
Andreas was completed. The original timber control tower was replaced by
1942 by a standard RAF 'Watch Office' which has remained in use for both
aviation and non aviation purposes until the present day. It would no doubt
have been supplemented by Runway Control Caravans.
RAF
Airshow 1950s, pictures © Tim Harris
The RAF finally departed
in 1963 and from then on the airfield was only used on an occasional if
regular basis for diversions from Ronaldsway when the main airport was
'fogged out'. The airport would be manned by a team dispatched from Ronaldsway,
ATC facilities were basic, an NDB being provided for navigational assistance
and letdown (see chart below) and radio and telephone facilities in the
control tower. The main runway was lengthened across the Sandygate Road
to allow Viscount turboprops to operate into Jurby. Eventually, logistics
and costs put an end to the use of Jurby as a diversion airfield for Ronaldsway.
For a number of years until the early 1990s Jurby hosted an annual airshow,
ATC being provided by controllers from Ronaldsway, using the WW2 RAF control
tower.
Airfield Charts from
the 1950s & 60s
    
The Airfield and
Control Tower, 1990s/2001
  
In the 1990s the airfield
was used occasionally by the Army and RAF for training exercises. There
was also some light aircraft and microlight activity, no civil ATC was
supplied.
   
In the late 1990s and
early 2000s, the airshows were revived for a while, also including air
races both to the island and around a closed circuit course. Radio and
Air Traffic Control again being provided by Ronaldsway controllers, using
very basic equipment from the RAF control tower.
Jurby Air Show and
races 1996
   
Jurby Air Show 2003
    
Jurby Air show 2004
    
Airfield diagrams
for the 2002 - 2004 Airshows
 
Jurby Control Tower
2010
Andreas Airfield
Andreas
Airfield was opened in 1941, designed as an RAF day and night fighter unit.
Chain Home and Chain Home Low radar stations were established at Scarlett,
Dalby, Bride and Cregneash to provide data to Filter Rooms at Barton Hall,
Preston and a local one established at Ramsey. They would direct the fighters
to enemy aircraft operating over the Irish Sea. A standard RAF control
tower was built which had an additional Watch Office on the roof which
has since been demolished, but the main building remains. No doubt there
would also have been the ubiquitous runway control caravan, moved into
position by the runway in use. The RAF ceased using the base in 1946 and
the site mainly reverted to agricultural and industrial use.
In
1964 the British Aircraft Corporation established a radar unit here to
monitor flight trials of the TSR2 bomber aircraft over the Irish Sea. It
was equipped with a Decca radar system. With cancellation of the TRS2 the
equipment would have been removed.
In
recent years an active gliding club has been established here and the airfield
is also regularly used by light aircraft. Two of the three original tarmac
runways are available, the third having buildings on it.
   
Andreas
Gliding Club
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