Royal Flying Corps airfields facts for kids

The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the United Kingdom's air force during most of World War I. It was formed in 1912 and later became the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1918. The RFC used many airfields, which are like airports for planes, to train pilots, store aircraft, and launch missions.

This article lists some of the important airfields the RFC used. Many of these places are still used today, but for different purposes, like modern airports, army bases, or even housing estates and farmland.

Airfields in the British Isles

During World War I, the Royal Flying Corps had many airfields across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. These were vital for training pilots and for defending the country. Many of these old airfields have changed a lot over time.

How Airfields Changed Over Time

Many of the RFC airfields are no longer used for flying. Some have become:

• Modern Airports: Places like London Biggin Hill Airport and Southampton Airport were once RFC airfields and are still busy airports today. Dublin Airport in Ireland also started as an RFC site.
• Military Bases: Some airfields are now used by the British Army or the Irish Army. For example, RAF Andover is now a British Army Headquarters, and Curragh Camp in Ireland is an Irish Army barracks.
• Farmland or Housing: A lot of the old airfields have been turned into farms or places where people live. This shows how much land was needed for these early flying sites.
• Museums and Heritage Sites: A few airfields have become museums, like the Royal Air Force Museum London at Hendon, or heritage sites, helping us remember their history.

Notable British Isles Airfields

Here are a few examples of RFC airfields and what they are now:

• Andover (Hampshire, England): Used from August 1917, it's now a British Army Headquarters.
• Biggin Hill (Greater London, England): An important airfield from 1916, it's still a busy airport today.
• Calshot Naval Air Station (Isle of Wight, England): Used from 1913, it's now the Calshot Activities Centre, offering sports and outdoor activities.
• Catterick (North Yorkshire, England): Started in 1914, it's now Marne Barracks, an army base.
• Farnborough (Hampshire, England): Used from 1912, it remains an active airport.
• Hendon Aerodrome (Greater London, England): Active from 1916, it's now home to the Royal Air Force Museum London and housing.
• Montrose Air Station (Angus, Scotland): One of the earliest, from 1913, it's now the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.
• Northolt (Greater London, England): Used from 1915, it is still an active RAF base.
• Tangmere (West Sussex, England): From 1917, it's now the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
• Upavon (Wiltshire, England): Used from 1912, it's now Trenchard Lines, a military site.

Airfields in France

During World War I, many RFC airfields were set up in France. These were crucial for supporting the war effort on the Western Front. They served as bases for planes that flew reconnaissance missions, bombed enemy targets, and fought in the air.

• Saint-Omer, France: This was a very important airfield, serving as the headquarters for the RFC in France from 1914 to 1918. Today, it's the Saint-Omer Wizernes Airport and has a memorial to British air services.
• Candas and Rang-du-Fliers: These were sites for Aircraft Depots, where planes were repaired and supplied.
• Fienvillers and St Andre aux Bois/Verton: These were Aeroplane Supply Depots, making sure planes had what they needed.

Airfields in Canada

The Royal Flying Corps also set up training airfields in Canada. This was because it was safer to train pilots far from the war zones in Europe. The RFC Canada was established in 1917 to train aircrew.

• Camp Borden (1917–1918): A major training base.
• Armour Heights Field (1917–1918): Used for pilot training and to teach instructors how to fly.
• Leaside Aerodrome (1917–1918): Here, pilots learned how to work with artillery.
• Long Branch Aerodrome (1917–1918): Another important training site.
• Camp Rathbun, Deseronto (1917–1918): Also used for pilot training.
• Camp Mohawk (now Tyendinaga (Mohawk) Airport) (1917-1918): Located near Belleville, this was another pilot training site.
• Hamilton (1917–1918): This base focused on armament, teaching pilots about weapons.
• Beamsville Camp (1917-1918): This was a School of Aerial Fighting, where pilots learned combat skills. One of the original hangars still exists today.

Other International Locations

The RFC also had airfields in other parts of the world, mainly for training purposes.

• Ismailia, Egypt (training): Now Al Ismailiyah Air Base.
• Aboukir, Egypt (1916–1918, training): An important training hub.
• Abu Sueir, Egypt (1917-1918, training): Now Abu Suwayr Air Base, also used in World War II.
• Camp Taliaferro, North Texas, USA (1917–1918, training): These sites are now mostly residential or industrial areas.