Prestwick Airport was established on 17 February 1936 as a base for
Scottish Aviation Limited.
Second World War During the
Second World War, Prestwick was used an eastern terminus for the
North Atlantic air ferry route, one of a series of routes over which military aircraft were ferried from the United States and Canada to Great Britain, to support the war in Europe. A large number of heavy bombers, fighter aircraft and aircraft carrying diplomatic and VIP passengers transited through the airfield.
RAF Ferry Command was formed on 20 July 1941 to take control of North Atlantic ferry flights but became part
RAF Transport Command on 25 March 1943, with the role becoming the responsibility of No. 45 (Atlantic Ferry) Group. Ferry flights were initially controlled by the Overseas Movement Control Centre, operating from a location in
Gloucestershire. As the number of flights increased, Trans-Atlantic Air Control (TAC) was relocated in November 1941 to Redbrae House, a
mock Tudor home located near Prestwick Airport. A large United States military presence was established at Prestwick to support the ferry flights from North America. In late 1944, a Flying Control Centre was established in Redbrae House, providing an area control service for the region. The centre was operated by a combination of British, Canadian and American military personnel until the end of the Second World War in 1945. In November of that year, the unit moved to the new
NATS Prestwick Centre, built adjacent to Atlantic House, which accommodates the NATS civilian controllers providing oceanic and Scottish area control services. The Prestwick Distress & Diversion Cell closed in December 2012 when D&D operations moved to RAF
Swanwick in
Hampshire. == Role and operations ==