Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range

Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range is a Ministry of Defence air weapons range located near Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The site was acquired in 1937 and the airfield, then known as RAF Pembrey, officially opened on 6 May 1940. Initially, it was allocated to No. 25 Group RAF of RAF Training Command, with No. 2 Air Armament School RAF being the first unit stationed there from September 1939 to June 1940 for training armourers and air mechanics. On 20 June 1940, the airfield transferred to No. 10 Group RAF of RAF Fighter Command, providing air defence for South Wales and protecting convoys during the Battle of Britain. Notable units included No. 92 Squadron RAF, No. 256 Squadron, and No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron. From 1941 to 1945, it hosted No. 1 Air Gunners School, conducting experimental courses with Bristol Blenheim, Vickers Wellington, and Spitfire aircraft. In 1952, No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) formed at RAF Pembrey, operating de Havilland Vampire, Tempest, Mosquito, Meteor, and Hunter aircraft. The OCU disbanded in September 1957, and the RAF station closed shortly thereafter.

A notable incident occurred in June 1942 when a Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter, piloted by Oberleutnant Armin Faber, mistakenly landed at RAF Pembrey, providing the RAF with an intact example of the advanced German aircraft. The station also saw several crashes, including a de Havilland Vampire in 1953 and a Hawker Hunter in 1957, resulting in pilot fatalities.

Today, the military facility operates as Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range, an air-to-ground bombing and strafing practice area. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence and operated by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. A unique feature of the range is its ability to provide a beach environment for establishing Temporary Landing Zones, allowing crews to practice natural surface operations. Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft regularly use the airstrip, and the first test sand landing of an Airbus A400M Atlas was completed here. The range includes four targets: three for bombing (low-level attacks and dive-bombing) and one strafe target. It supports training for Forward Air Control and Close Air Defence units and can also facilitate Dry Training. A control tower and beach guard boxes are staffed to manage public access, which is permitted unless warning flags or lights are displayed.