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- RAF Jurby during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

RAF Jurby



   Jurby Airfield, on the Isle of Man, was used during World War 2 from, September 1939 to February 1944 by the Bombing and Gunnery School, later renamed No.5 Air Observer School. They trained on Battle, Blenheim, Wallace, Anson, Henley and Hampden aircraft. 307 Squadron trained on Defiants there in the fall of 1940. 258, 302 and 312 Squadrons trained on Hurricanes from January 1941 to March 1942 and 457 Squadron trained on Spitfires at both Andreas and Jurby airfields, from August 1941 to March 1942. From February 1944 to September 1946. The Airfield was used by the Air Navigation and Bombing School, flying Ansons and Wellingtons. This squadron was later renamed Number 5 Squadron, Air Navigation School, which was relocated to Topcliffe. From 1946 to 1963 it continued to be used as an Air Gunnery and Training school. After the RAF closed its military use of the airfield, it was used as a diversion airfield for Ronaldsway until 1972.
Squadrons stationed here during the Second World War.
  • No.5 Air Bombing and Gunnery School
  • No.5 Air Observer School
  • 258 Squadron
  • 302 Squadron
  • 307 Squadron
  • 312 Squadron


 


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have served at

RAF Jurby

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Frost Frank Arthur. Sgt. (d.6th Aug 1942)
  • Ivey Terence O'Connell. Sgt Pilot.
  • Smith . Albert Victor Haig.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about RAF Jurby?


There are:0 items tagged RAF Jurby available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Albert Victor Haig "Smudger" Smith

My dad, Albert Smith, told me he was stationed on Isle of Man during the war, I think he must have been at Jurby. He was a Police officer stationed in London and so did not get called up until about 1942/3. He was trained as a pilot/navigator/bomb aimer but mostly did the bomb aiming. He said that he always remembered the boat trip over to the Island because the North Sea could get so bad and so many men were really sick but he was O.K.

One story he told always made my blood run cold. He said he was coming back from a raid one night and was feeling so cold that he decided to get up from his bomb aiming position and walk back along the aircraft to get a drink from a flask of tea. Unfortunately the bomb doors had not closed and he fell through them, just managing to throw his arms around a strut and cling on for dear life. He was shouting to the crew but no-one could hear him because of the engine noise and the slip stream was pulling him out. Finally one of the crew realised that he was late coming for his tea and went to see if he was all right and on discovering him managed to pull him back into the aircraft. Thank you unknown friend - you saved my life too, for if you had not pulled my dad back into the plane I would not be around to write this story!!

My dad went back to the police force after the war and died in 2001 aged 83.

June Bennett



Sgt Pilot. Terence O'Connell Ivey

My father Terence Ivey was a sergeant in the RAF and was stationed at several aerodromes around Britain. He taught pilots at RAF Jurby on the Isle of Man. He was a pilot in the Battle of Britain and flew many planes.

I am looking for information about him as, unfortunately, I have no photos or information about which years he was operational.

Gerald Ivey



Sgt. Frank Arthur Frost 102 Sqdn. (d.6th Aug 1942)

My father, Frank Frost, was in the RAF from December 1940 until his last flight in August 1942. I have his service record but it is somewhat sparse in some respects. He enlisted at Uxbridge on 13th December 1940 and on 14th December there is an entry that reads 1RC Reserve. I'm not sure what that is and would appreciate any info. Would it have been Basic Training?

On 12th April 1941 he went to 9RW at Stratford but I dont know what that was for or precisely where it was located.

On 3rd May 1941 he went to 11.I.T.W until 28th August. I think this was in or near Scarborough. But I dont know the precise place or what his training would have entailed.

On 28th August 1941 he went to RAF Jurby on the Isle Of Man until 3rd March 1942. I have his logbook, which details his flights and duties for this period. On 3rd Mar 1942 he was posted to 10 O.T.U at (I think) Stanton Harcourt but Im not positive about that.

On 18th June 1942 he was posted to 102 Squadron at RAF Topcliffe from where he flew on his last flight on 5th August.

I am particularly interested in confirming where possible, the precise places where he was stationed and the sort of things he would have been doing in those places. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can help in this respect. If, in addition to this, anyone actually remembers him, then that would of course be the icing on the cake.

Peter Frost







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