R A F Harrowbeer, Yelverton, Plymouth, Devon, UK

[Spiritualman]

R A F Harrowbeer. A Brief History.

R A F Station Harrowbeer was a second Word War Airfield under the control of No 10 Group Fighter Command.
The station opened on the 15th August 1941 and closed as an operational airfield on 31st July 1945, when Harrowbeer was put on Care and Maintenance Service until the 1960's.
The three runways were laid on a hardcore foundation made from the rubble of Plymouth following the Blitz.
R A F Harrowbeer was home to to many squadrons and a range of nationalities:- Polish, Czechoslovakian, Canadian, Americans, Free-French, Rhodesian, New Zealand, Australians, etc.
The types of aircraft used consisted of:- Spitfire, Hurricane, Typhoon, Blenheim, Walrus, Lysander, Anson, Mustang, etc.
Harrowbeer played a vital role in the War, providing escorts to merchant shipping in the English Channel watching for enemy E-Boats
and U-Boats, operational sorties to the Cherbourg area and later escort duties to Bombers to and from their missions in Europe.
Re-produced with the permission of Michael Hays, R A F Harrowbeer Archivist.

Much more information is available from the R A F Harrowbeer Archive, you can visit throughout the year. An annual event is held.
This Historic Dartmoor site is well worth a visit, more details can be found at the on site HQ Knightstone Tearooms or at http://www.rafharrowbeer-dartmoor.org.uk