Visited here recently on holiday to be honest it was a pump explore but still interesting.
RAF Turnberry was first a World War I aerodrome, and then a World War II airfield which occupied a small headland on the Ayrshire coast, now better known as Turnberry Golf Course. In both conflicts, the airfield served as a school of aerial gunnery. The airfield literally lies on the A719 Maidens to Turnberry road, which cuts through the former airfield and two of its tarmac runways, including one which is still used by private flyers.
World War I
Turnberry aerodrome served as one of a pair of air gunnery schools located in Ayrshire during World War I, operated by the Royal Flying Corps. Air Gunnery School No 2 was located at Turnberry[1], while School No 1 was located at HMS Wagtail, Heathfield.[2]
The aerodrome opened in 1917, and closed in 1918 with the end of World War I.
During the 1930s the site was reactivated, then being described as an anti-aircraft landing ground.
World War II
The airfield had been in use as a base by the Auxiliary Air Force until 1942, but the arrival of World War II saw the reconstruction of the airfield as a formal training facility by Wimpey in 1941, when tarmac runways were laid, and the airfield was reopened in 1942. It was then used to train RAF units in torpedo bombing at the nearby River Clyde torpedo ranges, and for air sea rescue missions. It seems some 1,200 men were stationed at Turnberry.
In use, the layout proved less than ideal as approaches either had to be made over the sea, or from the hills to the east, and both routes were compromised by the prevailing winds which generally blew inland from the sea. The hills to the east housed the bomb store and technical site.
The layout of the surrounding land meant there was no possibility for expansion, and when the war ended and the operational units finally moved out in November 1945, the airfield was closed.
Following the closure of the airfield, the accommodation remained in use, and was used to house Prisoners of War (PoW) until 1946, after which much of the accommodation was cleared.
Thanks for looking.
RAF Turnberry was first a World War I aerodrome, and then a World War II airfield which occupied a small headland on the Ayrshire coast, now better known as Turnberry Golf Course. In both conflicts, the airfield served as a school of aerial gunnery. The airfield literally lies on the A719 Maidens to Turnberry road, which cuts through the former airfield and two of its tarmac runways, including one which is still used by private flyers.
World War I
Turnberry aerodrome served as one of a pair of air gunnery schools located in Ayrshire during World War I, operated by the Royal Flying Corps. Air Gunnery School No 2 was located at Turnberry[1], while School No 1 was located at HMS Wagtail, Heathfield.[2]
The aerodrome opened in 1917, and closed in 1918 with the end of World War I.
During the 1930s the site was reactivated, then being described as an anti-aircraft landing ground.
World War II
The airfield had been in use as a base by the Auxiliary Air Force until 1942, but the arrival of World War II saw the reconstruction of the airfield as a formal training facility by Wimpey in 1941, when tarmac runways were laid, and the airfield was reopened in 1942. It was then used to train RAF units in torpedo bombing at the nearby River Clyde torpedo ranges, and for air sea rescue missions. It seems some 1,200 men were stationed at Turnberry.
In use, the layout proved less than ideal as approaches either had to be made over the sea, or from the hills to the east, and both routes were compromised by the prevailing winds which generally blew inland from the sea. The hills to the east housed the bomb store and technical site.
The layout of the surrounding land meant there was no possibility for expansion, and when the war ended and the operational units finally moved out in November 1945, the airfield was closed.
Following the closure of the airfield, the accommodation remained in use, and was used to house Prisoners of War (PoW) until 1946, after which much of the accommodation was cleared.
Thanks for looking.
nice work, and excellent write up of the history of the site. thank you. 
