RAF Ballykelly was a Royal Air Force airbase near Limavady, Northern Ireland. It is now known as Shackleton Barracks. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Limavady is a town in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. ... official_languages = Englishde facto5| Dieu et mon droit (Royal motto) (French for God and my right)3 Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked...

RAF Ballykelly opened in 1941 as a base for RAF Coastal Command. It was closed at the end of World War II, but re-opened in 1947 as the home of the RAF Joint Anti-Submarine School training flight, flying mainly Avro Shackleton aircraft. Coastal Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force tasked with protecting the United Kingdom from naval threats. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Shackleton was a piston-engined military aircraft built by Avro and named after the polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. ...

In 1964 BALLYKELLY was home to three, Shackleton flying, Coastal Command Squadrons including 203 Sqn (Shack Mk3) 204 Sqn (Shack Mk2) and one other ?? 120 ?? in Shack Mk2. These three Squadrons were part of the ASW force and also covered SAR standby duties togetyher with their counterparts at RAF Kinloss and RAF St Mawgan. There was also the ASWDU group with a couple of Shack Mk3, with funny colour shapes all over them !! and 819 Sqn RN Helicopters. We used to enter Loch Foyle at 1000 feet monitored by our own internal RADAR and keeping a close eye on Ben "Twitch" on our left. The east west runway was the main runway but with a strong southerly we had to use RW150 and boy was that a way to arrive home on a dark and stormy night, Ask Fl Lt "willy" Hay and crew!

In 1968 204 Sqn, Emblem "The Birdie on the Biscuit Tin" credited to "AC Ross" of Lawrence of Arabia fame, sufferred the last loss of a Shackleton when Sqn Ldr Clive Haggett and crew(12) were all killed when their aircraft flew into the Mull of Kintyre early one rainy morning.

Ballykelly had an amazing "soul". We were part the "ciderella" Command of the airforce, flying ancient aircraft tryng to fill a role in a world of emerging technology and nuclear powered subs, it all ended when the mighty Nimrod arrived and carried us into the 20th century.

Some Fleet Air Arm units moved onto the base in 1962, who referred to it as HMS Sealion. The runways were extended in 1963 to allow for potential dispersal of the V-bomber force. The base was closed in 1971 and handed over to the British Army, who renamed it Shackleton Barracks. The base is now used for helicopter flying by the Army Air Corps. The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The term V bomber was used for the Royal Air Force aircraft during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the UKs strategic nuclear strike force. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... The Army Air Corps is a vital component of the British Army. ...