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RAF St Eval, near St Columb Major in Cornwall, was one of the most important Coastal Command airfields of the Second World War. Its position on the Atlantic-facing coast put it close to the Western Approaches – the critical sea lanes where the Battle of the Atlantic was fought. From here, long-range aircraft could reach into the Bay of Biscay and the approaches to Irish Sea routes, searching for U-boats, shadowing suspicious shipping, and escorting convoys through dangerous water. In a conflict where Britain’s survival depended on imports, St Eval’s strategic purpose was immediate and continuous.
Operationally, St Eval became a hub for anti-submarine and maritime patrol squadrons. A range of Coastal Command aircraft operated from the station across the war, including Vickers Wellington variants adapted for maritime use, Lockheed Hudsons in earlier phases, and later long-range types such as the Consolidated Liberator and (in some periods) Halifax variants used for maritime reconnaissance. These aircraft were the ‘eyes and teeth’ of the Western Approaches. They flew long, exhausting patrols in grim weather, relying on navigation discipline, radar and visual search to find a small submarine in a vast sea.
Unit rosters at Coastal Command bases could change as technology and priorities shifted, but St Eval is strongly associated with the sustained presence of maritime patrol squadrons and with the evolution of anti-submarine tactics. As the war progressed, radar improved, Leigh Lights enabled night attacks, and coordination with surface escorts became more systematic. Aircrew trained to identify contact patterns, report accurately, and then either attack directly (with depth charges or bombs) or ‘hold’ a contact until escorts arrived. Success often came from persistence rather than drama.
The station’s ground organisation was equally important. Maritime aircraft were heavily instrumented and required rigorous maintenance: engines ran for hours at high power, salt air accelerated corrosion, and radar and radio systems had to be dependable. Armourers handled depth charges and bombs under strict safety regimes. Meteorology mattered; flying control had to make hard decisions about launch and recovery windows. Meanwhile, air-sea rescue planning was a constant companion to operations, because ditchings and emergencies were an everyday risk in Atlantic flying.
- Primary wartime role: Coastal Command maritime patrol and anti-submarine operations over the Western Approaches and Bay of Biscay routes.
- Typical aircraft associated with St Eval operations: Vickers Wellington (maritime variants), Lockheed Hudson (early), Consolidated Liberator (long-range), and other Coastal Command patrol types as roles evolved.
- Operational themes: convoy support, U-boat search/attack, long endurance patrols, and integration with surface escort forces.
RAF St Eval’s WWII significance is therefore immense but often understated: it represents the daily, grinding air war over the sea, where patient patrols and reliable reporting helped turn the tide against the U-boat threat.
St Eval also connects to the broader story of technological change. Coastal Command’s effectiveness improved dramatically as radar sets became more reliable, as homing beacons and approach aids reduced losses, and as procedures for co-operation with surface escorts matured. Stations that could maintain disciplined standards in this fast-moving technical environment gave the Allies a major advantage in a long war of learning.