RAF Heathfield

RAF Heathfield
RNAS Ayr (HMS Wagtail)
USAAF Station 570
Prestwick, South Ayrshire in Scotland
RAF Heathfield is located in South Ayrshire
RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield
Shown within South Ayrshire
RAF Heathfield is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield
RAF Heathfield (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates55°29′10″N 004°35′56″W / 55.48611°N 4.59889°W / 55.48611; -4.59889
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Parent Station
CodeAR[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Navy
United States Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command 1941-44
* No. 13 Group RAF
Fleet Air Arm 1944-46
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In useApril 1941-1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation15 metres (49 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
01/19 1,261 metres (4,137 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt
06/24 1,463 metres (4,800 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt
13/31 1,097 metres (3,599 ft) Tarmac/Asphalt

Royal Air Force Heathfield, or more commonly RAF Heathfield, sometimes known as RAF Ayr/Heathfield due to its proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which was also used by military flights, is a former Royal Air Force station. It opened in April 1941 as an airbase for day and night fighter squadrons. In September 1944 it transferred to Fleet Air Arm control and commissioned as HMS Wagtail. The Royal Navy paid off the airbase in March 1946 and it was reduced to care and maintenance. The United States Air Force used it for storage between 1951 and 1957.

Like many other wartime airfields, its runways were of the triangular layout.

  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 38.