Ronaldsway Airport (Purt Aer Vannin) also known as Isle of Man Airport.
The cache is located in a position with a view of the airport please note that this is a busy area and so some stealth will be required. Please bring your own pen.
Ronaldsway Field
In 1928 a large flat field belonging to Ronaldsway Farm, once home to the Manx patriot William Christian (Illiam Dhone), was first used by a commercial aircraft visiting the Island. Passenger services to the UK starting in 1933, operated by Blackpool and West Coast Air Services (later West Coast Air Services). Further services were established by Aer Lingus and Railway Air Services (RAS) from 1934. From 1937 RAS operations from Ronaldsway to the mainland UK were transferred to Isle of Man Air Services. In a 1936 expansion of the Ronaldsway Airport, workers discovered a mass grave believed to hold the remains of soldiers who died during the Battle of Ronaldsway in 1275 between a Scottish army and the Manx. The battle crushed the final attempt by the Manx to re-establish the Norse Sudreyar dynasty. As the battle resulted in the death of the last Norse King of Mann, Guðrøðr Magnússon, and the emigration to Norway of the remaining members of the Manx royal family it also led to the firm establishment of Scottish rule on the Isle of Man.
Ronaldsway in 1936
RAF Ronaldsway
The airfield came under Royal Air Force control at the outbreak of the Second World War. Known as RAF Ronaldsway, it was one of the few airfields that continued operating civilian flights throughout the wartime period.
The airfield was used by No 1 GDGS (Ground Defence and Gunnery School) operating Westland Wallace aircraft, the drogues from these aircraft being fired on from gun emplacements on St Michael's Isle (Fort Island) and Santon Head. An expansion of the airport during the War led to the discovery of the archaeological remains of a Neolithic settlement belonging to what is now called the Ronaldsway culture, in honour of this site.
RAF operations continued until 1943 when the airfield was handed over to the Admiralty for further development as a Fleet Air Arm training station.
HMS Urley
Now a naval air station, RNAS Ronaldsway, the airport was taken out of commission in 1943 for almost twelve months of extensive development which also saw the demolishment of Ronaldsway House (the farm buildings still stand at Derbyhaven, though no longer in use). By the summer of 1944 the airfield had evolved from a grass landing area with a few hangars to a four runway airfield with the infrastructure to house and operate three training squadrons using Barracuda torpedo/bomber/reconnaissance aircraft.
Commissioned as HMS Urley (Manx for Eagle) by the Admiralty on 21 June 1944 flying recommenced on 15 July 1944. The airfield's main role was that of a torpedo working-up station. No. 1 OTU consisted of 710, 713 and 747 Squadrons (Fleet Air Arm) and these operated until the cessation of hostilities in 1945. The base was paid off on 14 January 1946, and transferred to 'Care and Maintenance' under HMS Blackcap. The nominal depot ship from 21 June 1944 was a 32 foot cutter named XXII, which itself was constructed in 1937.
Ronaldsway Airport
The airport reverted to solely civilian flying almost immediately after the war and was one of the first to be equipped with radar, but the airfield remained in Admiralty possession until sold to the Isle of Man Government for £200,000 in 1948, far short of the £1 million that the UK Government had spent on constructing the airport buildings and runways, plus the £105,000 that was paid by the Admiralty in 1943 to purchase the site.
Several Manx-based airlines were formed in the early postwar years to operate scheduled and charter services to the UK mainland.
A project by Ellis Brown Architects began in November 1998 to extend the airport and improve the facilities available to passengers. In March 2000 the new extension was opened, providing a new landside catering outlet, arrivals area, baggage hall and departure lounge. The existing part of the airport was refurbished during this time to provide improved check-in facilities and offices, linked to the extension with a new airport entrance.
Ronaldsway Today
Onsite Museum
The Manx Aviation and Military Museum is situated next to the airport and has exhibits and information about the history of aviation on the island together with the role of the Manx Regiment (the British Army's best anti-aircraft unit of World War II) and is well worth a visit.