RAF Fairwood Common

Royal Air Force Fairwood Common or more simply RAF Fairwood Common (IATA: EGFH, ICAO: SWS) is a former Royal Air Force station located at Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea. It is now the location of Swansea Airport.

RAF Fairwood Common
Gower Peninsula, Swansea in Wales
RAF Fairwood Common Shown within Swansea
Coordinates	51°36′19″N 004°04′04″W
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Fighter Command
Site history
Built	15 June 1941
In use	1941–1949
Battles/wars	Second World War
Airfield information
Elevation	91 metres (299 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 05/23 1,349 metres (4,426 ft) Concrete 11/29 1,199 metres (3,934 ft) Tarmac 15/33 1,199 metres (3,934 ft) Concrete

History

RAF Fairwood Common was built on what was originally common land during the Second World War. The aerodrome was declared operational on 15 June 1941 after taking nearly a year to develop. Built as a day and night fighter station elements of the first day fighter squadron arrived on 14 June 1941 (79 Squadron equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk.II aircraft). On 17 June 1941 the first night fighter squadron arrived (a flight of 600 Squadron equipped with Bristol Beaufighter Mk.II aircraft) and by the end of June 1941 a second Hurricane equipped day fighter squadron arrived (317 Squadron). The aerodrome became a 10 Group RAF Fighter Command Sector Station within a few months of opening, taking on the responsibility of the air defence for the whole of South and West Wales and the protection of convoys in the Bristol and St George's Channels.

On 23 January 1942, No. 615 Squadron (County of Surrey Squadron) Auxiliary Air Force, arrived from RAF Angle, equipped with Hawker Hurricane fighters, operating there until 17 March when the squadron moved by train to Liverpool Docks, boarding the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. On 20 March the ship moved to the Firth of Clyde and then, filled with Army and RAF personnel, on 23 March it sailed in convoy to India.

In November 1943 No 456 Squadron RAAF arrived from RAF Colerne, equipped with a mix of de Havilland Mosquito II's and VI's. On 29 January 1944 Mosquito XVII's arrived but by the end of February the squadron had moved to RAF Ford in Sussex.

The aerodrome fulfilled a variety of military roles during the Second World War, following which it was decommissioned by the RAF in 1949.

The following units were here at some point:[1]

• No. 2 Fighter Command Servicing Unit RAF
• No. 18 Armament Practice Camp RAF became No. 1 Armament Practice Station RAF
• No. 19 Squadron RAF
• No. 33 Squadron RAF
• No. 41 Squadron RAF
• No. 65 Squadron RAF
• No. 66 Squadron RAF
• No. 68 Squadron RAF
• No. 70 Gliding School RAF
• No. 74 Squadron RAF
• No. 79 Squadron RAF
• No. 91 Squadron RAF
• No. 118 Squadron RAF
• No. 124 Squadron RAF
• No. 125 Squadron RAF
• No. 127 Squadron RAF
• No. 131 Squadron RAF
• No. 132 Squadron RAF
• No. 137 Squadron RAF
• No. 164 Squadron RAF
• No. 165 Squadron RAF
• No. 183 Squadron RAF
• No. 193 Squadron RAF
• No. 197 Squadron RAF
• No. 198 Squadron RAF
• No. 222 Squadron RAF
• No. 245 Squadron RAF
• No. 247 Squadron RAF
• No. 257 Squadron RAF
• No. 263 Squadron RAF
• No. 264 Squadron RAF
• No. 266 Squadron RAF
• No. 268 Squadron RAF
• No. 276 Squadron RAF
• No. 285 Squadron RAF
• No. 286 Squadron RAF
• No. 288 Squadron RAF
• No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 303 Squadron RAF
• No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 307 Polish Night Fighter Squadron
• No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF
• No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron
• No. 322 (Dutch) Squadron RAF
• No. 329 Squadron RAF
• No. 331 Squadron RAF
• No. 332 Squadron RAF
• No. 345 Squadron RAF
• No. 401 Squadron RAF
• No. 402 Squadron RAF
• No. 403 Squadron RAF
• No. 411 Squadron RAF
• No. 412 Squadron RAF
• No. 421 Squadron RAF
• No. 456 Squadron RAAF
• No. 485 Squadron RAF
• No. 504 Squadron RAF
• No. 536 Squadron RAF
• No. 577 Squadron RAF
• No. 595 Squadron RAF
• No. 600 Squadron RAF
• No. 609 Squadron RAF
• No. 610 Squadron RAF
• No. 615 Squadron RAF
• No. 616 Squadron RAF
• No. 634 Gliding School RAF
• No. 636 Gliding School RAF
• No. 636 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF
• No. 691 Squadron RAF
• No. 1487 (Target Towing) Flight RAF became No. 1487 (Fighter) Gunnery Flight RAF
• No. 1498 (Target Towing) Flight RAF became No. 11 Armament Practice Camp RAF
• No. 2722 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2786 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2790 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 2799 Squadron RAF Regiment
• No. 4138 Anti-Aircraft Flight RAF Regiment
• RAF Fairwood Common Station Flight
• RADAR Meteorological Flight RAF

Current use

Renamed Fairwood Common, the aerodrome became the home of Swansea and District Flying Club and School and they hosted a number of air shows, air races and motor sports events from 1950 to 1955. In 1957 the County Borough of Swansea took over the aerodrome and on 1 June 1957 Swansea Airport was officially opened by Group Captain Douglas R S Bader, CBE, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar. The airport was developed for commercial usage by Cambrian Airways Ltd on behalf of the local council.

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

1. "Fairwood Common (Swansea)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 16 May 2020.

External links

• Swansea Airport - official site