RAF Jurby
RAF Jurby
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"Quocunque Jeceris Stabit"
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Jurby, Isle of Man | ||||||||||||||
| Built | 1938 | ||||||||||||||
| In use | 1939-1963 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 85 ft / 26 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 54°21′09″N 4°30′29″W / 54.35250°N 4.50806°WCoordinates: 54°21′09″N 4°30′29″W / 54.35250°N 4.50806°W | ||||||||||||||
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 RAF Jurby
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Royal Air Force Jurby or more simply RAF Jurby is a former Royal Air Force station built in the north west of the Isle of Man. It was opened in 1939 on 400 acres (1.6 km2) of land acquired by the Air Ministry in 1937, under the control of No. 29 Group, RAF. During the Second World War the station was used for training as No. 5 Armament Training Station, No. 5 Air Observer School, No. 5 Bombing & Gunnery School and the No. 5 Air Navigation & Bombing School. In addition RAF Jurby also played host to a variety of operational squadrons.
RAF Jurby was originally a grass airfield but was later equipped with hard runways. Operationally it helped protect Belfast and Liverpool from German air raids. RAF Jurby closed in 1963.
The station badge was designed with a distinct Manx theme, featuring part of the Coat of arms of the Isle of Man, a triskelion known as the Three Legs of Man, and under which was inscribed Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (whichever way you throw, it will stand).
Following the closure of the station in 1963, the airfield was used as a diversion for Ronaldsway Airport. In order to be able to accept Vickers Viscount turboprop airliners the main East/West runway was extended eastwards and bisected by the Sandygate Road (A14). To facilitate the use of the extended runway, barriers were placed across the road and the road was closed whilst the runway was in use.
During the 1950s and 60s the No. 1 Initial Training School (No. 1 ITS) subsequently renamed the RAF Officer Cadet Training Unit was based at RAF Jurby, jokingly referred to by the trainee cadets as the "Camp on Blood Island".
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