The blow was not unexpected, it had been announced in February 1957 that the RAF Station at Pembroke Dock was to close, but it was still painful for the airmen, many of whom were quite taken with Pembrokeshire’s friendly welcome and beautiful scenery, as well as for the town. The RAF’s Sunderland aircraft had, with the development of the next generation jet engined airplanes, become obsolete and there were no plans to replace them. The last of the RAF’s Sunderland flying boats left Pembroke Dock in March 1959 following the closure of the RAF Station. The Dockyard was returned to the Admiralty’s control.