Did you notice those two stone pillars? They mark more than just an entrance. They guard the memory of H.M.S. Urley. This plaque commemorates a vital piece of the Isle of Man’s wartime history.
H.M.S. Urley. The Manx word for Eagle. This name was given to the Royal Naval Air Station commissioned here by the Admiralty on June 21st, 1944. Ronaldsway Airport and the Janet’s Corner housing estate now occupy its grounds.
Before it was H.M.S. Urley this area was Ronaldsway Airport. It began as a civilian airfield in 1929. By the 1930s it was offering passenger services to the UK.
World War II changed everything. In June 1940 the RAF requisitioned Ronaldsway. It became home to No. 1 Ground Defence Gunners School. Biplanes like Gloster Gauntlets and Westland Wallaces filled the sky. They towed targets for gunnery practice.
In February 1943 the Admiralty took over. The transformation was massive. Grass runways became tarmac. Hangars sprung up across the landscape. The airfield became a torpedo working-up station. Its main role was torpedo bomber reconnaissance and training. HMS Urley was reborn.
Think about the pilots. Young men learning to fly and fight. Squadrons of Fairey Barracudas roared into the sky. These aircraft conducted torpedo training exercises. Squadrons 710, 713, and 747 of the Fleet Air Arm were stationed here. They operated until the end of the war in 1945.
H.M.S. Urley’s naval service was brief. It was vital. Civilian flying continued even during the war. Ronaldsway became the Isle of Man’s main airport in 1948. The airport has steadily grown since the 1950s. Air travel began surpassing ships from Liverpool.
These plaques stand at Janet’s Corner in Castletown. They were unveiled on September 3rd. This marked the 83rd anniversary of the start of World War II. A blue plaque tells the story of the airfield. A red plaque displays the airfield’s crest. The crest was also the Stanley family crest. The Stanleys were once the ruling family on the island.
Ivor Ramsden from the Manx Aviation and Military Museum spoke at the unveiling. So did Pauline Stewart from Castletown Heritage. Commodore Philip Waterhouse also spoke.
The Manx Aviation and Military Museum holds many relics of the Isle of Man’s airfield history. Consider visiting to discover more about H.M.S. Urley.
So, as you pass these pillars remember H.M.S. Urley. Remember the Manx Eagle. Remember the pilots and crews who trained here. Their service helped shape the world we know today.