[2] It opened provisionally in May 1941, prior to completion of the works, as a RAF Fighter Command base where the primary weapon was the Supermarine Spitfire, and officially on 28 June of that same year.

[2] The base provided local protection from Luftwaffe raids on Belfast and the rest of the province.

Other aircraft operated from the base were the Hawker Hurricane, Bristol Beaufighter, North American Mustang and Boulton Paul Defiant night fighter.

During its lifetime, Ballyhalbert was home to RAF, Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), British Army, Royal Navy and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) personnel.

[20] As HMS Corncrake the airfield was used by the Fleet Air Arm for squadrons working up for carrier duty.