RAF Heathfield
Royal Air Force Heathfield, or more commonly RAF Heathfield, sometimes known as RAF Ayr/Heathfield due to its proximity to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which was also used by military flights, is a former Royal Air Force station. It opened in April 1941 as an airbase for day and night fighter squadrons. In September 1944 it transferred to Fleet Air Arm control and commissioned as HMS Wagtail. The Royal Navy paid off the airbase in March 1946 and it was reduced to care and maintenance. The United States Air Force used it for storage between 1951 and 1957.
Like many other wartime airfields, its runways were of the triangular layout.
History
Royal Air Force use
The following units were posted here at some point:;Units:
Royal Navy
HMS ''Wagtail'' (1944-1946)
The airbase was transferred on loan to the Admiralty, from No. 13 Group RAF, on 6 September 1944. The Royal Navy took over with Commander H.L. McCullock as CO. Known as Royal Naval Air Station Ayr, it was commissioned shortly afterwards, on 20 October, as HMS Wagtail. One runway was redesigned and used by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm to practice aircraft carrier landings.HMS Wagtail was 'paid off' by the Royal Navy on 10 March 1946 and it was reduced to Care & Maintenance Status, administered by RNAS Abbotsinch.
Commanding officers
List of commanding officers of HMS Wagtail with date of appointment:- Commander H.L. McCullock, RN, from 6 September 1944
Units based at HMS ''Wagtail''
; Function
- Support for disembarked fighter squadrons
- Bombardment Spotting School
- No.3 Barracuda Servicing Unit
- Flag Officer Carrier Training Squadron.
- Accommodation for two RAF Squadrons.
Squadrons at HMS ''Wagtail''