ABOUT US

JHCFS Aldergrove Past, Present and Future

History of JHCFS Aldergrove

In May 1917 – Major Sholto Douglas RFC whilst recuperating in Ireland was chosen to survey sites for airfields.

Three sites were selected:-

• Collinstown (Now Dublin Airport)
• Baldonnel (Now Casement Aerodrome)
• Aldergrove

Aldergrove officially opened in May 1918 when a Handley Page HP V/1500 was assembled at, and took off from, the airfield.

At the end of the First World War Aldergrove became No: 16 Air Acceptance Park.

In May 1925 502 (Ulster) Squadron was formed at Aldergrove as part of the expansion of Special Reserve Squadrons.

At the outbreak of the Second World War 502 Squadron, now flying Avro Anson’s, because part of Coastal Command and carried out its first U-Boat attack off Rathlin Island on 24 September 1939.

Throughout World War Two Aldergrove was, in the main, a Coastal Command Base. During the height of “The Battle of the Atlantic” in 1941-1942, Hudson’s of 206 Squadron sighted 13 Submarines attacking 11 of them.

By the end of the war the Hudson’s of 206 Squadron had been replaced by Liberators of 120 Squadron and Flying Fortresses of 220 Squadron. 120 Squadron sank 14 U-Boats, the highest total by any Coastal Command Squadron.

Post War Aldergrove once again saw a mixture of Civil and Military aircraft utilizing the facilities.

In 1959 it was decided the Civil Airport at Nutt’s corner was unsuitable for the new breed of civil airliners and that all civil traffic would move to Aldergrove.

During the 1960s the civil side expanded whilst the amount of military movements declined.

At the outbreak of “The Troubles” in August 1969 the only military helicopters at JHCFS Aldergrove were six Westland Sioux’s of 4th/7th Royal Dragoons. They were soon joined by Westland Wessex of 72 Squadron.

Between 15-21 August 1969 144 Air support Command missions were flown into JHCFS Aldergrove bringing 2431 troops, 556 vehicles and 78000 lbs of freight.

The rest, as they say, is history!!!

The Present

We currently have 5 Regt AAC, which operate the Gazelle and Islander.

Gazelle

• Daytime Colour Picture and Thermal Day/Night Image.
• Equipped with NITESUN (>1000’agl) and Stabilized Binoculars.

Islander

• High Resolution
• Still Camera
• Wet Film

OP SADDLERY AUG 2005 +

After the announcement of the standing down of the IRA on 28 July 2005 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced the immediate commencement of the deconstruction of the Security Forces Bases in South Armagh – OP SADDLERY.

The Future

OP BANNER (Routine Military Support to the Police) ended on 1 August 2007.

However, this did not mean the end of the military aircraft flying in Northern Irish airspace!!

The Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments (April 2003) state…”army helicopters would be used essentially only for training for operations elsewhere…”

The PSNI have already one helicopter (EC 135) and have put forward a Business Case for a second.

In Nov 2009, No: 230 Sqn relocated to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and shortly afterwards the majority of RAF personnel left for bases in GB.

Nevertheless, Aldergrove will still remain as a Main Operating Base for 5 Regiment AAC.

Units based at Aldergrove will have a deployable role to support operations in the Rest of the World.

At present there are plans to open up Northern Irish airspace to limited Fast Jet or Multi-Engine Low Flying Training aircraft such as you would see in the rest of the UK.

In addition, JHCFS Aldergrove (with the agreement of Belfast International Air Traffic Control) will accept training aircraft for Practice Diversions and Landaways in accordance with SOP’s at Mainland UK Bases.

OUTREACH

As Normalization becomes established it is the Station Commander’s desire to improve our interaction with Local Community.

As part of the Outreach Programme we have in the past few years:

November 2006 – Flew Pudsey Bear to four schools across NI as part of the BBC’s Children-in-Need Appeal.

December 2006 – Flew “Santa’s Little Helper” to eight schools in the Local Area.

January 2007 – Visit by Antrim Borough Council.

January 2007 – Present – Visits to JHCFS Aldergrove by 10 local Primary Schools (Cross Community)

June 2007 – Flypasts at Belfast Castle and Veterans Day Carrickfergus.

July 2007 – Cross Community Football Tournament.

September 2007 – Freedom of Belfast Parade, Service and Reception.

We now endeavour to personally visit any complainants across the Province to discuss their concerns.

Eventually, when the Political Climate is right we plan to visit Community Groups to explain how we go about our business.

The main message is that for 35 years we have, for one reason or another, been distant from those in the local Community. However, we believe that the time is now right for us to interact more fully with those whom we impact on the most and explain how and why we carry out as business as we do...Professional, Committed to lessening the impact we have and Understanding to the needs of all.