History

World War 1

It was in August 1915 that the first steps were taken to establish the Royal Naval Air Station known as Milton and sometimes Pembroke. Two hundred and ninety eight acres were acquired to the south of Sageston and the A477, with the main road to Tenby forming the eastern boundary.

Two corrugated iron hangers were erected to accommodate the airships with the first ascent taking place on April 25th, 1916 at 3.45pm under the control of Midshipman Colson and Commander Fuller. The airships were non-rigid "blimps", with two types operating from the station, the smaller "SS" denoting Submarine Search and the "C" type for Coastal. Operating in the Western Approaches, Irish Sea and Bristol Channel the airships protected shipping and carried out submarine patrols.

In April 1917 the first biplanes arrived in the form of Spowith 1 ½ Strutters and D.H. 6's. Three canvas hangers were erected in front of Hazelbrook Farm for maintainance purposes and the first flight from the station was made by S/L. Allaway on April 25th, at 6.00pm. Sadly S/L. Allaway failed to return from a patrol in the August of that year.

It was not until March 1920 that the last R.A.F. personnel left the station and the following years the buildings were sold by public auction at the Gatehouse Hotel in Tenby.

World War 2

It was in 1938 that construction started on the new airfield situated on the site of the First World War Royal Naval Air Station. The first unit to arrive was 'B' Flight of Number 1 Anti Aircraft Co-operation Unit arriving in April 1939 with its Hawker Henley aircraft. This unit spent the duration of the war at Carew towing targets for the gunnery schools at Manorbier, Aberporth and Towyn.

Under the control of Coastal Command, the first of many squadrons to use the airfield commenced operational sorties in the summer of 1939. The Avro Ansons of 217 squadron carried out patrols over the coastal waters on the day war was declared. Blenheims and Beaufighters of 236, 248, 254 and 500 squadrons over the next two and half years were engaged on patrol flights over the Western Approaches and Irish Sea. Reconnaissance sorties and bombing raids were also carried out on targets along the French coast. During this period two Dutch squadrons 320 and 321 equipped with Ansons and the American Lockheed Hudsons also help with these duties.

This period of frantic activity was to see the Coastal Command Development Unit spent a year based at the airfield testing and perfecting new systems for use in the war against the 'U' boats. One of the scientists and pilot of the unit's Whitley aircraft was Michael Weizmann whose father was the first President of Israel.

Carew Cheriton attracted the attention of the German Luftwaffe with a number of air raids on the airfield between July 1940 and April 1941. On October 1st, 1940 a hanger and a number of buildings were totally destroyed together with two Avro Ansons in an early morning raid. This attack claimed the life of AC2 John Greenhalgh. A more serious raid took place on April 15th, 1941 when the sick bay sustained a direct hit killing twelve airmen.

The airfield transferred to Technical Training Command in October 1942, and the newly formed No. 10 Radio School started its training programme. Hundreds of wireless operators were trained on the unit's Oxford and Anson aircraft. The five-week course prepared wireless operators for postings to operational squadrons. The good safety record of the unit was marred on September 3rd, 1943 when two Oxford aircraft collided on the intersection of the two runways killing six aircrew. The training continued until the unit disbanded in November 1945, and shortly afterwards the airfield closed.

For the historian, a large percentage of the airfield remains and is a wonderful time capsule of this period of history. The control tower is the subject of a community project, and has been totally restored.