Page 50 - William B. Lake

In 1936 a decision was taken to establish an RAF bombing school at Penyberth, including the area
of the low plateau in the bend of the river where the Afon Penrhos joins the Afon Geirch.
Opposition was strongly felt, particularly as it was perceived that the sixteenth century house,
Penyberth was, in Saunders Lewis’ words, ‘one of the essential homes of Welsh culture, idiom and
literature’. As work proceeded, an arson attack was carried out on 8th September 1936 after which
the arsonists gave themselves up at Pwllheli Police Station. Despite this the base came into
operation in February 1937.

In December 1940 a detachment from No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron was moved to protect
Penrhos from German attack. This association led in later years to the Polish Resettlement Corps
using the site to house Polish soldiers, sailors and airmen who chose not to return to communist
Poland. To this day, part of RAF Penrhos is in use as an old people's home for elderly Poles.

RAF Hell's Mouth 5 miles to the south west was commissioned in February 1937 as a Relief
Landing Ground, later an Emergency landing Ground for RAF Penrhos.
During the late 1980s privately owned aircraft used to land here during the summer on a 400 yard
tarmac strip

Part of the site is now Pen-y-berth caravan park.

Present day photograph of the former RAF Penrhos