RAF Pembrey

RAF Pembrey
Pembrey, Carmarthenshire in Wales
Airfield defence coordination post
RAF Pembrey Shown within Carmarthenshire
Coordinates	51°42′27″N 004°18′54″W / 51.70750°N 4.31500°W / 51.70750; -4.31500Coordinates: 51°42′27″N 004°18′54″W / 51.70750°N 4.31500°W / 51.70750; -4.31500
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Site history
Built	1939 (1939)
In use	1939-1957 (1957)
Airfield information
Elevation	5 metres (16 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

Royal Air Force Pembrey or RAF Pembrey was a Royal Air Force station located near the village of Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, 3 miles (4.8 km) north west of Burry Port and 10.3 miles (16.6 km) south of Carmarthen, Wales.

Construction of the airfield for RAF Flying Training Command started in 1937 and by September 1939, the RAF's No. 2 Air Armament School was the first unit to be stationed at the airfield. The airfield opened in March 1939

During the Second World War, RAF Pembrey was the airfield for many of period's flying aces including Wing Commander Guy Gibson of Dambusters fame.

By May 1940, the three tarmac runways were completed and the airfield transferred initially to 11 Group RAF Fighter Command and then to the newly formed 10 Group RAF Fighter Command. Supermarine Spitfires of 92 Squadron used Pembrey as their base from 18 June 1940, including Squadron Leader Stanford Tuck, until 12 August. During this period Pembrey gained honours as a Battle of Britain Airfield. Pembrey became a Sector Station within 10 Group, relinquishing this role in October 1941 to RAF Fairwood Common after it had returned to RAF Flying Training Command a few months earlier.

From January to March 1941, 256 Squadron operated from Pembrey. In early 1941, Polish Air Force Squadron 316 was formed at Pembrey, inflicting losses on enemy aircraft, and moved on to RAF Colerne in June.