RAF Long Kesh

History

In 1940–1941, during Second World War, RAF Long Kesh was a primary attack target in "Operation Green", a planned second front to accompany "Operation Sea Lion" for the conquest of the British Isles by Nazi Germany. RAF Long Kesh was to be attacked and wrecked by German airborne forces, whilst Aldergrove, Nutts Corner and Langford Lodge were to be captured.

Hangars were constructed at the airfield by the Ministry of Aircraft Production for the use of Short Brothers to assemble the Short Stirling bomber.{{Cite web

Units

• No. 74 Squadron RAF (1942) – Supermarine Spitfire I.
• No. 88 Squadron RAF Detachment (1941-1942) – Douglas Boston III.
• No. 226 Squadron RAF Detachment (1941) – Bristol Blenheim IV.
• No. 231 Squadron RAF (1941-1942) – Curtiss Tomahawk I & IIB.
• No. 290 Squadron RAF (1943-1944) – Miles Martinet.
• No. 422 Squadron RCAF (1942) – Consolidated Catalina IB.
• 800 Naval Air Squadron
• 807 Naval Air Squadron
• 809 Naval Air Squadron
• 838 Naval Air Squadron
• 879 Naval Air Squadron
• 881 Naval Air Squadron
• 882 Naval Air Squadron
• 899 Naval Air Squadron ;Units
• No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF (December 1942 – April 1944)
• No. 31 Wing RAF (June – December 1941)
• No. 96 Wireless (Observer) Wing RAF (April – May 1942) became No. 96 (Wireless) Wing RAF (May 1942 – ?)
• No. 103 Personnel Dispersal Centre
• No. 201 Gliding School RAF (May 1946 – 1947)
• No. 203 Gliding School RAF (July – September 1955) became No. 671 Volunteer Gliding School RAF (September 1955 – January 1956)
• No. 1494 (Target Towing) Flight RAF (December 1941 – April 1942)
• No. 2774 Squadron RAF Regiment
• RAF Northern Ireland Communication Flight RAF (September – December 1945)

Long Kesh Detention Centre

Main article: HM Prison Maze

From August 1971, during The Troubles, the then disused airfield and facilities of RAF Long Kesh became the Long Kesh Detention Centre, where Irish paramilitary suspects were detained by the British government without trial (under the Special Powers Act of 1922) during the Operation Demetrius phase of Operation Banner. In May 1974 Long Kesh housed 747 internees. On 15 October 1974 internees burned 21 of the compounds used to house the internees thereby destroying much of the camp. From 1976 the makeshift structures housing the detainees were replaced by newly constructed "H-Blocks", and the facility was re-designated HM Prison Maze.

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

1. "Directions".
2. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
3. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
4. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
5. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
6. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
7. {{Harvnb. Jefford. 1988
8. "Long Kesh". [[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]].
9. Mansbach, Richard (1973), ''Northern Ireland: Half a Century of Partition'', Facts on File, Inc, New York, pg 208, ISBN 0-87196-182-2
10. . (22 November 2014). ["''The burning of Long Kesh''"](https://republican-news.org/current/news/2014/11/the_burning_of_long_kesh_1.html#:~:text=Shortly%20after%206pm%20on%20October%2015%201974%20around,the%20internees%20and%20sentenced%20prisoners%20had%20been%20destroyed.). *RM Distribution*.