RAF Jurby

RAF Jurby
"Quocunque Jeceris Stabit"
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Jurby, Isle of Man
Built	1938 (1938)
In use	1939–1963 (1963)
Elevation AMSL	85 ft / 26 m
Coordinates	54°21′09″N 4°30′29″W / 54.35250°N 4.50806°W / 54.35250; -4.50806
Map
RAF Jurby Location in Isle of Man
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 07/25 (originally 08/26) 3,818 (4,799) 1,164 (1,463) Concrete 16/34 (disused) 2,969 905 Concrete

Royal Air Force Jurby, or more simply RAF Jurby, is a former Royal Air Force station built in the north west of the Isle of Man. It was opened in 1939 on 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF. During the Second World War the station was used for training as No. 5 Armament Training Station, No. 5 Air Observer School, No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School and the No. 5 Air Navigation & Bombing School. In addition RAF Jurby also played host to a variety of operational squadrons.

RAF Jurby was originally a grass airfield but was later equipped with hard runways. Operationally it helped protect Belfast and Liverpool from German air raids, being strategically placed in order to offer fighter protection.

During the 1950s and 60s the No. 1 Initial Training School (No. 1 ITS) subsequently replaced by the No. 1 Officer Cadet Training Unit^[1] (No. 1 OCTU) was based at RAF Jurby, jokingly referred to by the trainee cadets as "The Camp on Blood Island"^{[citation needed]}.

Following the closure of the station in 1963, the airfield was used as a diversion for Ronaldsway Airport. To be able to accept Vickers Viscount turboprop airliners the main East–west runway was extended eastwards and bisected by the Ballamenagh Road (A14). To facilitate the use of the extended runway, barriers were placed across the road and the road was closed whilst the runway was in use.

The airfield has been earmarked for potential development as a future replacement for the current Isle of Man Airport as part of the Draft Area Plan for the North and West.^[2]