In the 1940s

Aerial view from 31 August 1943 - The viewing direction is approximately southeast. In the foreground is the village of Monkton and the northern facilities of the airfield. The place is occupied by numerous airplanes. (Source: US DoD)

Enlargement: Southern part - The whole image was classified as "Restricted". (Source: US DoD)

Enlargement: Western part - At the lower left is Monkton, South Ayrshire, Scotland. (Source: US DoD)

Enlargement: Northern part - There is a plane on the runway to the southwest. (Source: US DoD)

Aerial view from 31 August 1943 - The viewing direction is west. To the left on the coast is the city of Prestwick. In the background the Isle of Arran. (Source: US DoD)

Range approach runway 08 (September 1948) - Also shown is the location of the airfields RAF Dundonald, RAF Heathfield and RAF Turnberry (Source: DoD)

Airport chart (September 1948) - There are two runways - 08/26: length 1372 m (4500 feet), 14/32: length 2012 m (6600 feet). The map also shows the nearby RAF Ayr/Heathfield airfield. (Source: DoD)

ILS approach part 2 (September 1948) (Source: DoD)

ILS approach part 1 (September 1948) (Source: DoD)

In the 1950s

Range approach runway 08 (January 1952) (Source: DoD)

Range approach runway 26 (January 1952) (Source: DoD)

Airport (January 1952) (Source: DoD)

ILS approach (July 1954) (Source: DoD)

Aerodrome chart (July 1954) - Now the runways are shown as - 08/26: length 1372 m, width 91 m (4500 feet x 300 feet), 13/31: length 2133 m, width 91 m (6997 feet x 300 feet). (Source: DoD)

In the 1960s

NDB approach runway 21 (October 1960) - Runways - 03/21: length 1829 m, width 61 m (6000 feet x 200 feet), 13/31: length 2987 m, width 46 m (9800 feet x 150 feet). (Source: DoD)

NDB approach runway 13 (October 1960) (Source: DoD)

ILS approach runway 13 (October 1960) (Source: DoD)

Current charts

Index to the objects shown on the maps

Aerodromes:

• RAF Dundonald, RAF Heathfield, Prestwick, Renfrew, RAF Turnberry, Turnhouse

Airspace:

• Luftstraße A1
• Luftstraße B2
• Luftstraße R23
• Luftstraße W9

Radio beacons:

• Beach Marker
• Falkirk NDB "FK"
• Kintyre NDB "KIN"
• Lanark Fan Marker
• Largs Fan Marker
• Lockerbie Fan Marker
• New Galloway NDB "NG"
• Prestwick Range "GJR", Fan Marker, NDB "GJR", "PK", Locator "PN", "PW", VOR "PWK", ILS "PP", Outer Marker, Middle Marker, TACAN "PWZ"
• Renfrew NDB "RE", "RFW"
• Skipness NDB "SKP", VOR "SKZ"
• Talla NDB "TLA", VOR "TLA"
• Turnhouse NDB "OE", "TUR"

Air traffic control / Communications:

• Prestwick Approach Control, Prestwick Homer, Prestwick Tower
• Scottish Airways

Source for all maps, if not marked otherwise: US Department of Defense (US DoD)

Title image: Swissair DC-4 at Prestwick Airport, 1947. Source: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv/Stiftung Luftbild Schweiz / Fotograf: Swissair / LBS_SR04-037765, License: CC BY-SA 4.0