{{Short description|Former RAF station in County Tyrone}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Cluntoe<br>USAAF Station 238 | ensign = 90px 60px | ensign_size = | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Ardboe, County Tyrone | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = Northern Ireland | image = | alt = | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Satellite Station | coordinates = {{coord|54|37|19|N|006|32|07|W|region:GB_type:airport}} | pushpin_map = Northern Ireland#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Northern Ireland | pushpin_label = RAF Cluntoe | pushpin_label_position = | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force<br>United States Army Air Forces | controlledby = <!-- such as RAF Bomber Command or the Eighth Air Force --> | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US --> | built = {{Start date|1940}}-42 | used = 1942-{{End date|1959}} | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = European theatre of World War II | events = | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|25|m|0}} | r1-number = 00/00 | r1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r1-surface = Concrete | r2-number = 00/00 | r2-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r2-surface = Concrete | r3-number = 00/00 | r3-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | r3-surface = Concrete | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> }} '''Royal Air Force Cluntoe''' or more simply '''RAF Cluntoe''' is a former Royal Air Force satellite airfield located {{Convert|1|mi}} west of Ardboe, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and {{Convert|8.4|mi}} east of Cookstown, County Tyrone.

==History==

Construction of Cluntoe was started during December 1940, however it was not completed until July 1942. Cluntoe was planned for a RAF Operational Training Unit but when it was opened, it was only used as an emergency landing ground. This changed on 30 August 1943, when the airfield was transferred to United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and was called "USAAF Station 238".<ref name="CT">{{cite web|url=http://controltowers.co.uk/C/Cluntoe.htm |title=RAF Cluntoe Airfield |publisher=Control Towers|access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

No. 4 Combat Crew Replacement Center was opened during November 1943 which trained Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crews with Consolidated B-24 Liberators being added during February 1944. During March 1944 it was designated No. 2 CCRC and was closed during November 1944.<ref name="CT"/> Afterwards it was transferred back to the RAF, but was closed during June 1945. Although the airfield was refurbished and reopened during February 1953 to be used by No. 2 Flying Training School RAF, this only stayed until June 1954, whereupon the unit moved to RAF Hullavington. The airfield was finally closed in 1955.<ref name="CT"/>

A soccer team of the same name competed in the Mid Ulster League during the 1953/54 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/|title=Northern Whig|date=8 October 1953|via=The British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>

==Current use==

The site is now called Ardboe Business Park.<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/cluntoe|title=Cluntoe |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cluntoe}} Category:Royal Air Force stations in Northern Ireland Category:World War II sites in Northern Ireland Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom Category:Military airbases established in 1942 Category:Military airbases closed in 1955