It was operational from 1 February 1937 to 21 October 1946 for armament training, air observer, bombing and gunnery schools.

[2] In 1936 a decision was taken to establish an RAF bombing school at Penyberth, a farm of about 250 acres (101 ha) for RAF Penrhos which was purchased by the Air Ministry,[3] including the area of the low plateau in the bend of the river where the Afon Penrhos joins the Afon Geirch.

Opposition was strongly felt, particularly as it was perceived that the sixteenth century house, Penyberth was, in Saunders Lewis’ words, 'one of the essential homes of Welsh culture, idiom and literature'.

[4] As work proceeded, an arson attack was carried out on 8 September 1936[3] after which the arsonists gave themselves up at Pwllheli Police Station.

During the course of the operation of the station, the following units were at sometime based at RAF Penrhos: During the late 1980s privately owned aircraft used to land here during the summer on a 400-yard tarmac strip.