Predannack Airfield

RNAS Predannack Predannack Airfield
Part of RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)
Mullion, Cornwall
EGDO Location in Cornwall
Coordinates	49°59′57″N 005°13′50″W / 49.99917°N 5.23056°W / 49.99917; -5.23056Coordinates: 49°59′57″N 005°13′50″W / 49.99917°N 5.23056°W / 49.99917; -5.23056
Type	Satellite Airfield
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Navy
Website	www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/rnas-culdrose/predannack/
Site history
Built	1940 (1940)–1
In use	1941–present
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: EGDO
Elevation	90 metres (295 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 18/36 1,405 metres (4,610 ft) Asphalt 13/31 884 metres (2,900 ft) Asphalt 09/27 1,309 metres (4,295 ft) Asphalt 05/23 1,821 metres (5,974 ft) Asphalt
Tower callsign: Predannack Tower Radio Freq:122.10 (Mhz)

Predannack Airfield is situated near Mullion on Cornwall's Lizard Peninsula in the United Kingdom. The runways are operated by the Royal Navy and today it is used as a satellite airfield and relief landing ground for nearby RNAS Culdrose.

The fall of France in 1940 gave impetus to the construction of a large number of airfields across the South West of England which suddenly found itself vulnerable to attack by the Luftwaffe. RAF Predannack was opened in May 1941 as a satellite for RAF Portreath. Accommodation was dispersed over a wide area, with officers accommodated in the Mullion Cove and Polurian Hotels. The number of personnel reached peak strength of 3,600 by 1944.

The first squadron to arrive was 247 Squadron with Hawker Hurricanes, specialising in night defence of the South West's towns and ports. The night fighting element was later augmented by 1457 Flight flying Douglas Havocs with its unsuccessful Turbinlite searchlight tactics. However, the arrival of 600 Squadron with radar equipped Bristol Beaufighters produced better results. GCI (Ground Control Interception) in the area was covered by RAF Treleaver radar station.

Several raids were made by the Luftwaffe; the first attack on the night of 12 October 1941 followed a Beaufighter on the approach and shot up the airfield. Defence soon gave way to offensive operations; fighter sweeps and intruder operations took place over France. The airfield’s southerly location made it also suitable for anti-shipping strikes over the Bay of Biscay. Westland Whirlwind and Beaufighter squadrons mounted successful patrols, followed later by a number of de Havilland Mosquito squadrons.

The geographical position of Predannack offered the opportunity for emergency landings, particularly with the buildup in the European bomber offensive. Many RAF Bomber Command and US Eighth Air Force aircraft found safe haven at the base. Resultantly, the RAF agreed extension of the runways in 1943 to enable larger aircraft to operate, including Vickers Wellington and Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft for anti U-boat operations. This allowed Predannack’s to act as a jumping off point for aircraft en route to the North African theatre. Late 1942 saw part of the 67th TCG Douglas C-47 Skytrains and the 81st FG's Bell P-39 Airacobras refuelled before their long flight around the Iberian peninsula.