Satellite and aerial maps of Long Kesh with nearby locations | |
Toggle Map
Km | Bearing | ||
3.1 | 162 | Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland | |
11.9 | 040 | EGA69 | ![]() |
14.7 | 021 | Divis, Northern Ireland | |
15.1 | 038 | ![]() | |
16.9 | 036 | ![]() | |
18.6 | 043 | ![]() |
|
History of this Location | |
Building work at RAF Long Kesh commenced in Nov 1940 and led to the opening of the airfield by the Royal Engineers in Nov 1941. It was first used for training in low-level close support during army exercises. With RAF Maghaberry as its satellite, it carried on a low-level role into 1942. The RAF airfield finally closed in 1946, being kept under care and maintenance until 1948 when it was then handed to the British Army as a REME vehicle depot.
From 1971 parts of the land became the Long Kesh Detention Centre and from 1976 the notorious H-blocks were built as part of HMP Maze.
The airfield remnant, adjacent to HMP Maze, was used by the AAC between 1972 and 1979.
The first six Sioux helicopters to be based there were moved from their Soltau base in West Germany as the situation in Northern Ireland deteriorated. The 657 Squadron machines were flown from Hannover to Aldergrove in two RAF Belfast transports on 14 and 15 Feb 1972. Within two hours they were re-assembled and ready to fly to the detachments new home.
At first (summer 1972) Long Kesh was used by a mixture of 5 Scout and 5 Sioux helicopters (661 Sq), with 659 and 660 Squadrons in 1973. From 1976 onwards these gave way to a regular rotation of six Scouts and six Gazelles. The last detachment left in 1979, with the formation of the Northern Ireland Regiment.
The Maze prison remained open until 2000.
The Ulster Aviation Society moved its fine museum here from Langford Lodge in 2004/2005, occupying in hangars on the north west of the site.
From 1971 parts of the land became the Long Kesh Detention Centre and from 1976 the notorious H-blocks were built as part of HMP Maze.
The airfield remnant, adjacent to HMP Maze, was used by the AAC between 1972 and 1979.
The first six Sioux helicopters to be based there were moved from their Soltau base in West Germany as the situation in Northern Ireland deteriorated. The 657 Squadron machines were flown from Hannover to Aldergrove in two RAF Belfast transports on 14 and 15 Feb 1972. Within two hours they were re-assembled and ready to fly to the detachments new home.
At first (summer 1972) Long Kesh was used by a mixture of 5 Scout and 5 Sioux helicopters (661 Sq), with 659 and 660 Squadrons in 1973. From 1976 onwards these gave way to a regular rotation of six Scouts and six Gazelles. The last detachment left in 1979, with the formation of the Northern Ireland Regiment.
The Maze prison remained open until 2000.
The Ulster Aviation Society moved its fine museum here from Langford Lodge in 2004/2005, occupying in hangars on the north west of the site.

List of units at Long Kesh | Login to Edit | |
Years | Rotary Wing Aircraft Unit | bold : Current Model normal: Unit no longer at this base |
2016/ | AANI | EC135 2016/ |
1978/79 | 659 Squadron | Scout ??/81 |
1976/78 | 661 Squadron | Lynx 1978/93 SA341B Gazelle AH.1 1977/00 Scout 1969/79 |
1976/77 | 658 Squadron | |
1976 | 654 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache ??/14 SA341B Gazelle AH.1 ??/07 |
1975/76 | 652 Squadron | Scout 1969/81 |
1975 | 659 Squadron | Scout ??/81 |
1974 | 659 Squadron | Scout ??/81 |
1974/75 | 654 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache ??/14 SA341B Gazelle AH.1 ??/07 |
1974/75 | 652 Squadron | Scout 1969/81 |
1973 | 660 Squadron | Scout 1969/77 Sioux 1969/75 |
1973 | 655 Sq | Scout ??/82 |
1973/74 | 669 Squadron | Scout 1971/81 |
1972 | 657 Squadron | Sioux 1969/78 Scout 1969/78 Lynx AH9A ??/18 |
List of aircraft and events at Long Kesh | Login to Edit | |
Dates | Org/Type | Unit | |||
2009-may-27 | Exhibit | Aer Chór na hÉireann | SA316B | 202 | |
2011-jun-11 | Exhibit | RAF | HC.2 | XR517 ![]() | |
2011-jun-11 | Exhibit | Aer Chór na hÉireann | SA316B | 202 ![]() | |
2014-mar-03 | Preserved | AH.1 | XV136 ![]() | ||
2014-jul-29 | Exhibit | RAF | SA330E | XW222 | |
2017-jun | AANI | EC135T1 | G-NHEM | ||
2017-sep-19 | AANI /HELIMED23 | EC135T1 | G-NIHM | ||