| Ross Marven's Modelling Pages |
RAF Portreath
History
Opened: 7/3/41 - Closed: 9/10/45.Units
Information derived from RAF Squadrons (Jefford), RAF Flying Training & Support Units (Sturtivant et al), Military Airfields of Britain - South Western England (Delve) and other books.N.B. (det) means only a part of the unit was detached to here from its main base, and possibly only for part of the period noted.
| Unit | Arrival | Departure | Aircraft | Notes |
| 263 Sqdn. | 18/3/41 | 10/4/41 | Whirlwind | |
| 152 Sqdn. | 9/4/41 | 25/8/41 | Spitfire | |
| 247 Sqdn. | 10/5/41 | 18/6/41 | Hurricane | |
| 130 Sqdn. | 16/6/41 | 25/10/41 | Spitfire | |
| 313 Sqdn. | 29/11/41 | 15/12/41 | Spitfire | |
| 66 Sqdn. | 14/12/41 | 27/4/42 | Spitfire | |
| OADU | Jan 42 | 10/10/45 | Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit | |
| 286 Sqdn. det | 1942 | 1942 | various | spring 1942 |
| 234 Sqdn. | 27/4/42 | 23/8/42 | Spitfire | |
| 263 Sqdn. | 1942 | 1942 | Whirlwind | summer 1942 |
| 264 Sqdn. det. | 1942 | 1943 | Mosquito | |
| 276 Sqdn. det | 1942 | Apr 44 | various | from winter 1942. Air Sea Rescue |
| 400 Sqdn. (det) | 3/12/42 | 23/12/42 | Mustang I | 6 a/c for fighter escorts over Biscay |
| 330 (B) Wing | 9/12/42 | 18/12/42 | none ? | Wing HQ |
| 153 Sqdn | 18/12/42 | 20/12/42 | Beaufighter | |
| 414 Sqdn | 4/6/43 | 20/6/43 | Mustang | |
| 1478 Flt. | 11/6/43 | 12/6/43 | ? | |
| 613 sqdn. | 20/6/43 | 15/7/43 | Mustang | |
| 235 Sqdn. | 29/8/43 | 6/9/44 | Beaufighter | |
| 143 Sqdn. | 16/9/43 | 12/2/44 | Beaufighter | |
| Station Flt. | 1944 | 1946 | various | |
| 248 Sqdn. | 17/2/44 | 12/9/44 | Mosquito VI, XVIII | |
| 276 Sqdn. | 4/4/44 | 18/9/44 | various | Air Sea Rescue |
| 153 (GR) Wing | 15/4/44 | 14/9/44 | none ? | Wing HQ (for 235 & 248 Sqdns.) |
| 275 Sqdn. det. | 1944 | 1945 | various | from summer 1944. Air Sea Rescue |
| 639 Sqdn. det. | 1944 | 1945 | Henley, Hurricane | from summer 1944. Target towing |
| ASDU | 1944 | 1945 | Wellington, Warwick | Anti-Submarine Development Unit ? |
| 277 Sqdn. det. | 1944 | 1945 | various | from late 1944. Air Sea Rescue |
References
The general references listed on the RAF in Devon & Cornwall home page- The Story of RAF Portreath 1940 to 1945 published by Bridge Publishers March 1994
Modelling Notes for individual aircraft
- Blenheim V BA442 of the OADU was lost between Portreath and Gibraltar 18/6/42. Most Blenhiem Vs in the range BA950 to BB184 seem to have gone through the hands of the OADU.
- This article from the Flight Global archive mentions the deliveries of AW Ensigns from Portreath to the Middle and Far east during WWII
- This article from Peter Harvey details his father's victory over a Ju88 after taking off from Predannack and returning to Portreath
- More when I get a chance !
| Pictorial References For Modellers | |||||||
| Type | Mark | Unit | Code | Serial | Reference | Page | Resident/Visitor |
| Halifax | V srsI (special) | 295 Sqdn | NN | EB139 | IWM online | CM 6934 | V |
| Mosquito | FBVI | 235 Sqdn | W.3 | HR118 | Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 69 | 48/52 | R |
| Mosquito | FBVI | 235 Sqdn | W.3 | HR118 | SAM Combat Colours No6 | 33/38 | R |
| Mosquito | FBVI | 235 Sqdn | T | LR347 | SAM Combat Colours No6 | 38 | R |
| Mosquito | FBXVIII | 248 Sqdn | O | NT225 | SAM Combat Colours No6 | 36/37 | R |
| Mosquito | FBXVIII | 248 Sqdn | 0 | NT225 | IWM online | CH 14113 | R |
| Mosquito | VI | 248 Sqdn | T | LR347 | Coastal Command (Ashworth) | 114 | R |
| Warwick | I | 276 Sqdn | AQ.P | BV531 | Jefford (1st ed) | 10 | R |
| Warwick | I | 276 Sqdn | AQ.P | BV531 | Cornish Skies | 66 | R |