RNAS Ford

HM Prison Ford (informally known as Ford Open Prison) is a Category D men's prison, located at Ford, in West Sussex, England, near Arundel and Littlehampton. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.

Air Force and Navy use

Beginnings

An site next to Yapton village opened as an airfield for use by the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) and later the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Service (USAAS) training squadrons in March 1918 and known as Ford Junction military aerodrome. In 1920 it closed and it wasn’t until 1933 that it reopened for civil flying. In 1936 the Air Ministry acquired it and in 1937 RAF Ford was reactivated.

HMS ''Peregrine'' (1939-1940)

On 24 May 1939, as part of the Fleet Air Arm moving to the Royal Navy, four airfields were transferred from the Air Ministry to the Admiralty: Donibristle, Lee-on-Solent, Ford, and Worthy Down, the airbase became known as Royal Naval Air Station Ford, (RNAS Ford) and commissioned as HMS ''Peregrine'', with Captain ( A) R. de H. Burton as the initial Royal Navy commanding officer of the airbase. The RN Observer School was formed out of the disbanded School of Naval Cooperation RAF at HMS ''Peregrine'' and its aircraft were allocated across three new Fleet Air Arm Squadrons which were also formed on that day.

The three squadrons were: 750 Naval Air Squadron designated an Observer Training squadron, which was allocated with Hawker Osprey, the navalised carrier-borne version of the Hawker Hart, and Blackburn Shark, a carrier-borne torpedo bomber, 751 Naval Air Squadron, also designated an Observer Training squadron which received some Supermarine Walrus, a single-engine amphibious biplane, and a third Observer Training squadron, 752 Naval Air Squadron, which was provided with Percival Proctor, a radio trainer and communications aircraft, and Fairey Albacore a single-engine biplane torpedo bomber. In July the Fairey Swordfish equipped 820 Naval Air Squadron arrived from RAF Gosport. Two days after arriving, it embarked its biplane torpedo bombers in HMS ''Ark Royal'' and it was the single first-line squadron of the Fleet Air Arm that passed through HMS ''Peregrine'' in 1939. In the following October, the Observer School had two more squadrons stand-up with 782 Naval Air Squadron, tasked as an Armament Training Squadron, and 793 Naval Air Squadron, whose role was an Air Towed Target Unit, and was equipped with Blackburn Roc, a naval turret fighter aircraft, but 782 NAS disbanded after just three weeks and having received no aircraft.

January 1940 saw the formation of 819 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Ford, which was a Torpedo, Spotter, and Reconnaissance Squadron, equipped with Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber aircraft. The Fairey Swordfish equipped 821 Naval Air Squadron arrived from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS ''Daedalus'') in March, then almost immediately embarked in HMS ''Ark Royal''. 819 NAS left HMS ''Peregrine'' and had a brief spell at RAF West Freugh, located in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, before returning during March, then moving onto RNAS Roborough (HMS ''Drake'' II), near Plymouth, Devon, at the end of May. Around the same time 816 Naval Air Squadron arrived with Fairey Swordfish. It moved briefly to RNAS Jersey on 4 June but returned on the 11, although the airbase had already been evacuated and had closed down on 31 May, (the Island fell to the Germans on 1 July). The squadron embarked in HMS ''Furious'' on 14 June.

During the 18 August 1940 the airbase was attacked by the ''Luftwaffe''. It was on this day the Germans attempted to destroy a number of airfields with three air raids taking place during the afternoon comprised 850 sorties and involving 2,200 aircrew. Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, a ''Luftwaffe'' dive bomber wing, supplied a total force of 109 Junkers Ju 87 or “Stuka” dive bombers. It was the largest concentration of Ju 87 to operate over Britain to date and of those twenty-eight aircraft were assigned to attack Ford. The casualties at the airbase included naval, army and civilian personnel with 28 dead and 75 wounded. 17 aircraft were written off and a further 26 were damaged. Two hangars and about a third of the men’s accommodation huts were destroyed. Many buildings were damaged including the ratings' and Petty Officers' canteens.

With the German invasion of France during May and June 1940, the increase in the risk of an attack on HMS ''Peregrine'' due to its proximity was soon acknowledged and therefore 750, 751, and 752 Naval Air Squadrons were despersed at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS ''Heron'') in May. The attack on the airbase caused more extreme action. 751 NAS departed for RNAS Arbroath (HMS ''Condor'') the following day, 750 Naval Air Squadron stood down and the unit prepared to sail overseas for the island of Trinidad. 752 and 793 Naval Air Squadrons moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent and also prepared for a move to Trinidad. All three units were to relocate to RNAS Piarco, where the RN No. 1 Observer School reformed. The Admiralty then determined it was to leave Ford and hand the airbase back to the Air Ministry. HMS ''Peregrine'' was ‘paid off’ on 30 September 1940, and the next day Ford was under the control of No. 11 Group, Fighter Command, with the RN retaining rights for a lodger unit. The RN school of Photography formed from an unnumbered Flight of Blackburn Shark torpedo-spotter-reconnaissance biplane and Fairey Seal spotter-reconnaissance biplane, at RAF Ford in December 1940.

RAF Ford (1940-1945)

The Air Ministry oversaw the development of the station during the war. In 1941, two tarmac runways were constructed, measuring in the southwest/northeast direction and in the northwest/southeast direction. Additionally, extensive new taxiways were established to the west of the original airfield. The construction included blast pens and several Blister hangars strategically placed around the perimeter track to complement the existing Bellman hangars.

Naval aviation made a resurgence at Ford at the close of 1942, marked by the transfer of the 746 Naval Air Squadron, a Night Fighter Interception Unit, from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS ''Daedalus''), on 1 December. This unit collaborated with the RAF Fighter Interception Unit at Ford until its subsequent relocation to RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, on 3 April 1944. The squadron made its return on 1 October, as a component of the newly established Night Fighter Development Wing, which was formed on 16 of that month.

By early 1945, this unit had become the primary operational force at RAF Ford, continuing its activities until the gradual decommissioning that followed the end of World War II in Europe. On 31 July RAF Ford was no longer classified as a No. 11 Group station and was subsequently reassigned to the Admiralty.

Recommissioned as HMS ''Peregrine'' (1945-1948)

RNAS Ford was re-commissioned as HMS ''Peregrine'' in August 1945. At that point, 746 Naval Air Squadron, the Night Fighter Interception Unit, was still stationed here, however, it relocated to RAF West Raynham on the 23 of the same month. Additionally, on 1 August, the long-established RN Photographic Flight was elevated to squadron status, resulting in the formation of the 720 RN Photographic Squadron at this location.

On 1 September 813 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished as a Torpedo Strike Squadron, utilising Blackburn Firebrand TF.IV aircraft. Shortly thereafter, on 6 September, 708 Naval Air Squadron, designated as the Firebrand Tactical Trials Unit, arrived at the station from RNAS Gosport (HMS ''Siskin''), equipped with Blackburn Firebrand TF.III. The commanding officer and several pilots from this unit became the core of 813 Naval Air Squadron, as they possessed the most extensive experience with the Firebrand, having previously addressed numerous issues associated with this aircraft model.

On 15 September, 811 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Ford as a two-seat fighter squadron, utilising de Havilland Mosquito FB.VI fighter-bomber aircraft. A detachment from 771 Naval Air Squadron, a Fleet Requirements Unit, arrived at RNAS Ford on 20 September, having traveled from RNAS Gosport equipped with several de Havilland Mosquito B.23 bomber aircraft. Additionally, 708 Naval Air Squadron made its departure in December, transferring to RNAS Fearn (HMS ''Owl'') on the 5th.

The beginning of 1946 saw the arrival of another second line squadron at RNAS Ford, specifically 778 Naval Air Squadron, which functioned as a Service Trials Unit. This unit arrived on 3 January from RNAS Gosport and was equipped with Fairey Barracuda torpedo and dive bomber Mk II, Mk III, and TR V variants, as well as Supermarine Seafire fighter aircraft variants including the F Mk.XV, F Mk.17, F Mk.46, and F Mk.47 types.

Serviceability issues with its Blackburn Firebrand, prevented 813 Naval Air Squadron from achieving operational status and it was subsequently disbanded at RNAS Ford on 30 September 1946, pending the introduction of the improved TF.5 variant. Following a period of acclimatisation with their new aircraft, 811 Naval Air Squadron relocated to RNAS Brawdy (HMS ''Goldcrest'') on 6 December 1946.

The subsequent arrival at the station was 795 Naval Air Squadron, a Refresher Training Squadron, which disembarked its Fairey Firefly FR.I aircraft from the lead ship of her class, , on 24 March 1947. The squadron was disbanded on the same day. 813 Naval Air Squadron was reestablished at RNAS Ford on 1 May 1947 with TF.5 variant of the Blackburn Firebrand and following a period of preparation was deployed aboard HMS ''Implacable''. Additionally, the Service Trials Unit, 778 Naval Air Squadron, relocated to RAF Tangmere on 18 July 1947.

On 20 December 1947, the 14th Carrier Air Group (CAG), consisting of 804 and 812 Naval Air Squadrons, disembarked from the ''Colossus''-class aircraft carrier, , upon her return from a deployment in the Far East. The Supermarine Seafire FR Mk.47 fighter aircraft of 804 Naval Air Squadron proceeded to RNAS Eglinton (HMS ''Gannet''), Northern Ireland, on the same day, while the Fairey Firefly FR.I of 812 Naval Air Squadron remained stationed. 804 Naval Air Squadron returned from RNAS Eglinton on 11 January 1948, prior to the CAG's transfer to RNAS Donibristle (HMS ''Merlin'') on 6 April.

812 Naval Air Squadron returned to RNAS Ford on 13 April, followed by 804 Naval Air Squadron on 18 April. Subsequently, the CAG departed for RNAS Eglinton on 26 May. The following day, 720 Naval Air Squadron moved to RNAS Gosport, and RNAS Ford ceased flying operations as the station was set to undergo a significant refurbishment program aimed at expediting completion.

On the books of ''Daedalus'' (1948-1950)

HMS ''Peregrine'' was decommissioned on 30 June 1948, at which point its accounts were transferred to the records of HMS ''Daedalus'', while a major refurbishment took place with operations under the supervision of Commander J.F.R. Crewes, , RN. The undertaken projects encompassed the resurfacing of runways and taxiways, the installation of a substantial concrete hard-standing, and the construction of three new hangars. Additionally, the technical and domestic areas underwent a thorough cleanup and partial reconstruction.

The Westland Wyvern went into service first here in the early 1950s with 813 Naval Air Squadron.

Previous units

List of past flying units and major non-flying units permanently based at Ford

The following units were here at some point:

;Naval units:

;Units:

Prison recent history

The prison has been criticised for its lax security – especially after 70 people, including three murderers serving the last three years of their sentences, absconded in 2006 alone.

In March 2009, the prison's own Independent Monitoring Board issued a report stating that an outdated CCTV security system and a staffing shortage were contributing to burglars breaking into the jail to steal equipment from workshops. The report also found that drugs, alcohol and mobile phones were being smuggled into the prison for inmates. Two months later, an inspection report from His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons found that inmates were leaving the prison complex at night to acquire alcohol. The report also stated that the prison was underperforming in preparing inmates for resettlement on release. In October 2009, an investigation was launched after it emerged that a prisoner at Ford had been able to remove documents from a disused office in the prison complex.

In July 2010, managers of Ford Prison had to apologise after Muslim prisoners at the jail were served burgers containing pork. 20 Muslim inmates were served the non-halal food before they noticed that the packaging for the burgers listed pork as an ingredient.

Notable former inmates

* Chris Atkins
* Andy Cunningham
* Khalid Masood
*Gerald Ronson
*George Best
*Kenneth Halliwell

References

Citations

Bibliography

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External links

Ministry of Justice pages on Ford


HMP Ford - HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford (Hm Prison)
Category D prisons in England
Prisons in West Sussex
2011 riots
Arun District
1960 establishments in England
Prison riots in the United Kingdom
Men's prisons