Condition survey, photography, interpretation
Photo: Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust
RAF Wig Bay on the sheltered shores of Loch Ryan was developed as a specialist Flying Boat Base in World War 2 where these enormous machines were maintained by a specialist workforce. During the 1950’s the base serviced and scrapped flying boats from all over the world. It closed in 1957, and now little is visible except for piles of rubble, a few brick sheds and expanses of concrete.
Many people in Kirkcolm and Stranraer have strong connections to and memories of RAF Wig Bay. In this project, local residents surveyed what survives of the base. As well as recording its current condition, this revealed a few surprising survivals of 1940s technology.
Last used in 1957? Volunteers Steve and Matt noticed that this light switch still works, we could hear the contacts inside click when the button was turned.
At a series of local drop-in events, photographs, memories and artefacts, were shared by the community and documented.
With so many great stories about the base still vibrant in local memory, we returned with a group of young people from Apex Stranraer to record them further. The group created 2 short films, that tell the stories of the base from the point of view of two men who were children at the time it was operational.
The young people then turned the cameras on themselves. You can see what they thought about the site, discovering its history, and learning how to make a film in their funny video about their experiences, Young Film Makers behind the scenes of the Wig Bay movies.
- Read about the site and community memories in our RAF Wig Bay blog part 1
- Read about our survey of the base in the RAF Wig Bay blog part 2
- Watch Bill Sandiford recall his childhood at RAF Wig Bay in Bill’s Story, made by the young film makers
- Watch Donnie Nelson share his memories of flying boats at Wig Bay in this video made by the young film makers
- Meet the young people behind the scenes of the RAF Wig Bay films
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