RAF Gibraltar

{{main|Military history of Gibraltar during World War II|Force H|Siege of Malta (World War II)|Disputed status of the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain}}

A Royal Naval Air Service seaplane base was opened at Gibraltar during the First World War.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm#Gibraltar|title=Stations-G|website=www.rafweb.org}}

The airport was constructed during World War II when Gibraltar was an important naval base for the British. Originally opened in 1939, it was only an emergency airfield for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. However, the runway was later extended by reclaiming some land from the Bay of Gibraltar using rock blasted from the Rock of Gibraltar while carrying out works on military tunnels. This last major extension of the runway allowed larger aircraft to land at Gibraltar. At this time the airfield completely obliterated the former Gibraltar horse racing track.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/gibraltar-tourist-board/docs/ukgta-dec-online|title=History of Gibraltar Airport|publisher=Gibraltar Tourist Board|date=1 December 2010|access-date=10 May 2020}}

On 25 September 1939, No. 200 (Coastal) Group RAF was formed as a subordinate formation to HQ RAF Mediterranean in control of No. 202 Squadron RAF. The Group's function was the control of Royal Air Force units operating from Gibraltar. In late 1940 the Group was transferred to Coastal Command.{{cite web|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Grp07.htm|title=Air of Authority—A History of RAF Organisation|publisher=Royal Air Force Organisation|access-date=2007-07-04|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415222402/http://www.rafweb.org/Grp07.htm|archive-date=15 April 2007|df=dmy-all}} Later a joint RN/RAF Area Combined Headquarters was formed which commenced operations in early 1942.{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafgibraltar/aboutus/hist.cfm|title=The History of RAF Gibraltar|publisher=Royal Air Force—Gibraltar|access-date=2007-07-05}}

RAF North Front opened in 1942 and RAF New Camp opened around the same time. RAF New Camp was built on reclaimed land in the harbour next to Montagu Bastion{{cite web|url=https://thegibraltarmagazine.com/government-motion-to-confer-freedom-of-the-city-on-raf-gibraltar/|title=Government motion to confer freedom of the city on RAF Gibraltar|date=2 April 2018|publisher=The Gibraltar Magazine|access-date=10 May 2020}} and was the site for a slipway and hangar for flying boats and RAF motor launches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209149|title=Royal Air Force operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1940-1945|website=Imperial War Museums}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205209148|title=Royal Air Force operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1940-1945|website=Imperial War Museums}}

The airfield played a major part in Operation Torch, the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa (French colonial possessions in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco) in November 1942.

Following the major reorganization of the Allied air forces at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, RAF Gibraltar became a major sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command under Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder in February 1943.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-RAF-II/UK-RAF-II-XII.html|title=Order of Battle, Mediterranean Air Command, 10th July, 1943|publisher=History of the Second World War|access-date=10 May 2020}}

Anti-submarine warfare was a major priority of RAF Gibraltar during the later years of the Second World War and some of their aircraft were equipped with special detectors to locate German U-boats in the relatively shallow waters around Gibraltar. United States Navy Fleet Air Wing 15 based at Port Lyautey{{Cite web|url=http://www.warwingsart.com/LTA/portlyautey.html|title=Blimp Squadron 14: Craw Field, Port Lyautey, French Morocco}} coordinated its antisubmarine warfare operations with RAF Gibraltar and assigned a ZP-14 Squadron blimp pilot/liaison officer to Gibraltar.{{Cite web|url=http://www.warwingsart.com/LTA/zp-14.html|title=Blimp Squadron 14: First transatlantic crossing by non-rigid airships}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/wwii-submarine-hunting-blimps?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=That time the Goodyear blimb hunted Nazi subs|publisher=Mighty History|date=3 August 2018|access-date=10 May 2020}}

On 29 May 1945 the Area Combined Headquarters was shut down and most of the personnel sent home.Lee, 1989, 197. Weather flights from Gibraltar were maintained at the end of the war by No. 520 Squadron RAF flying Halifaxes. This was superseded by a detachment of No. 518 Squadron RAF from Aldergrove, and then by the arrival of No. 224 Squadron RAF. Initially the squadron dispatched a detachment in May 1948, but the whole squadron moved to Gibraltar in August 1951.Lee, Wings in the Sun, 1989, 197, 198. It was re-equipped with Avro Shackletons. The station officially became "RAF Gibraltar" in 1966.{{cite web|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/history-of-aviation-timeline/interactive-aviation-timeline/british-military-aviation/1966.aspx|title=British Military Aviation in 1966|publisher=RAF Museum|access-date=10 May 2020}}

The RAF camp, now known as Devil's Tower Camp, which was increasingly used by the British Army in the 1960s and 1970s, became the home of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.gi/localnews/headlines.php?action=view_article&article=10972&offset=0|title=Trip down Rock memory lane for Royal Green Jackets|publisher=Panorama|date=22 October 2013|access-date=27 September 2015}}

By the 1980s RAF Gibraltar was increasingly being used as a Forward Operating Base for middle east operations.

File:Gibraltar Airport Main Highway.jpg

On 4 February 2011, the new RAF headquarters in Gibraltar was officially opened by The Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9PZNr92Pq8|title=Official opening of the new RAF headquarters Gibraltar|date=4 February 2011|publisher=Forces.tv|access-date=10 May 2020}}

In 2016 a major runway resurfacing project was completed ensuring both military and civilian flights could continue.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/future-of-flights-at-raf-gibraltar-secured-following-8-million-runway-resurfacing|title=Future of flights at RAF Gibraltar secured following £8 million runway resurfacing|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=22 February 2016|access-date=10 May 2020}}

• Air Vice-Marshal Sturley Simpson – AOC, AHQ Gibraltar, December 1941 to Feb 1944
• Air Vice Marshal William Elliot – AOC, RAF Gibraltar, Feb 1944 to June 1944
• Air Vice Marshal Alick Stevens – AOC, RAF Gibraltar, June 1944 to August 1945

• No. 224 Squadron RAF (Disbanded)

File:RAF_Gibraltar_control_tower.jpg|The modern day control tower of RAF Gibraltar/Gibraltar Airport

File:Gib Airport Runway.jpg|The runway of RAF Gibraltar/Gibraltar Airport looking from East to West

File:Lockheed Hudson of No 233 Squadron RAF (August 1942).png|A Lockheed Hudson of No. 233 Squadron RAF leaves its dispersal at Gibraltar for a reconnaissance sortie, in August 1942.

File:USN ZP-14 Blimp at RAF Gibraltar 1944.jpg|Goodyear ZNP-K ships of United States Navy Blimp Squadron ZP-14 coordinated their anti-submarine warfare operations with RAF Gibraltar in 1944.

{{wide image|Gibraltar Airport panorama.jpg|1024px|Panoramic photograph of RAF Gibraltar/Gibraltar Airport}}

• List of Royal Air Force commands

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last=Fairbairn|first=Tony|date=2002|title=RAF Gibraltar|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-0752423524}}
• {{Cite journal|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-38.pdf|title=Journal 30|website=RAFMuseum.org.uk|publisher=Royal Air Force Historical Society|pages=60-70|date=2007|issn=1361 4231}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/ad/LXGB-Gibraltar-Combined.pdf UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Gibraltar (LXGB)]

{{Royal Air Force stations}}

{{Gibraltar topics}}

{{authority control}}

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Category:British Forces Gibraltar

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Europe

Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in Europe

Category:1942 establishments in Gibraltar