Jump to content

List of air stations of the Royal Navy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of naval air stations of the Royal Navy. Naval air stations are shore establishments of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA), the branch of the Royal Navy (RN) responsible for the operation of naval aircraft.

Historically, RNAS referred to the Royal Naval Air Service, which was the aviation branch of the Royal Navy. This merged in 1918 with the Royal Flying Corps, of the British Army, to form an independent service, the Royal Air Force (RAF). Currently the abbreviation RNAS stands for "Royal Naval Air Station", and in common with Royal Air Force station naming convention, is always followed by a geographical place in which the air station is located.

Between 1918 and 1939, the Royal Air Force had provided the Fleet Air Arm to the Royal Navy, and Royal Naval Air Stations were consequently operated by Royal Air force personnel.

On 24 May 1939, operation of the Fleet Air Arm was returned to full Admiralty control under the Inskip Award, with Royal Air Force personnel replaced by Royal Naval personnel, or transferring to the Royal Navy.

As Coastal Command remained part of the Royal Air Force, Royal Naval Air Stations, since 1939, have generally operated ship-borne types of aircraft when it has been necessary for them to be operated from land bases.

Current naval air stations

[edit]
RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)
RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)

The current Fleet Air Arm front-line operations are centred on two main operating bases (MOBs), each with a nearby satellite airfield: (Bold denotes Royal Navy shore establishment, italics denotes other controlled airbase with Fleet Air Arm unit)

Other airbases

[edit]

Fleet Air Arm front-line operations are supported by other airbases with activity at:

Similarly, second-line operations are also conducted from both RNAS Culdrose, with 750 Naval Air Squadron providing training for Royal Navy Observers and Royal Air Force Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs),[3] and RNAS Yeovilton home to 727 Naval Air Squadron with flight assessment and training,[4] but operations are also supported by other airbases:

Several former airbases are operated by defence contractor QinetiQ in the test and evaluation role, with these locations owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

  • The former Royal Air Force station at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire is the main facility, and this has a Fleet Air Arm presence.

Map of stations within the UK

[edit]

Map of the United Kingdom showing active naval air stations, including forward operating bases and satellite airfields, Ministry of Defence (MOD) airfields with a Royal Navy presence and Royal Air Force (RAF) stations with a Royal Navy presence.

List of air stations of the Royal Navy is located in the United Kingdom
HMS Gannet
HMS Gannet
HMS Seahawk
HMS Seahawk
HMS Heron
HMS Heron
Predannack Airfield
Predannack Airfield
RNAS Merryfield
RNAS Merryfield
RAF Marham - 809 Naval Air Squadron
RAF Marham - 809 Naval Air Squadron
RAF Barkston Heath - 703 Naval Air Squadron
RAF Barkston Heath - 703 Naval Air Squadron
RAF Shawbury - 705 Naval Air Squadron
RAF Shawbury - 705 Naval Air Squadron
MoD Boscombe Down - 744 Naval Air Squadron
MoD Boscombe Down - 744 Naval Air Squadron
Operational locations for the Fleet Air Arm within the United Kingdom. The colour of the location mark indicates the type of airbase or unit at each location (blue: Naval Air Station, orange: satellite airfield, yellow: Forward Operating Base, red: FAA Unit at RAF airbase, green: FAA Unit at MoD location)

Former naval air stations

[edit]

When control of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred from the Royal Air Force, four of its existing airbases, in the United Kingdom, were also transferred to the Fleet Air Arm, these were: Donibristle, Lee-on-Solent, Ford, and Worthy Down. At that time when operating overseas, the Fleet Air Arm still needed to rely on lodger facilities at Royal Air Force stations abroad.

During the early period of the Second World War the Royal Navy worked to acquire its own airfields, both in the UK and near to strategic bases abroad. Some of these were purpose built and others were transferred over from the Royal Air Force.[10]

These lists covers Fleet Air Arm establishments, located both on the British Isles and overseas. It includes Air Stations, Air Sections, Air Maintenance & Repair Yards, Lodger units at RAF bases, and training establishments. The bases are listed alphabetically, by geographical location.

A loaded Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber taxi-ing at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)

Key to the types of establishments:

  • BCAS - British Commonwealth Air Station
  • MONAB - Mobile Naval Air Base
  • RAF - Royal Air Force
  • RAAF - Royal Australian Air Force
  • RCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force
  • RNAS - Royal Naval Air Station
  • RNAY - Royal Naval Air Yard
  • RNAMY - Royal Naval Aircraft Maintenance Yard
  • RNARY - Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard
  • RNADC - Royal Naval Aircraft Direction Centre
  • RNAE - Royal Naval Air Establishment
  • RNATE - Royal Naval Aircraft Training Establishment
  • RNTE - Royal Naval Training Establishment
  • SAAF - South African Air Force
  • TAMY - Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard
  • USAF - United States Air Force
  • USNAS - United States Naval Air Station
  • USNAF - United States Naval Air Facility

British Isles

[edit]

This list is of former air stations of the Royal Navy within the British Isles, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), and over six thousand smaller islands.[11] The Channel Islands, off the north coast of France, are normally taken to be part of the British Isles.[12] The list includes airbases wholly operated by the Admiralty and those where RN lodger units operated, sometimes under a RN Air Section.

RNAS HMS RAF RN Years active Current county Country Notes
Abbotsinch Sanderling Abbotsinch 1943–1963 Renfrewshire Scotland Lodger facilities 1939–43. Now Glasgow Airport
n/a n/a Aldergrove 1939–40
1977–1982
County Antrim Northern Ireland Naval units as lodgers on an RAF Base. Now Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove
Angle Goldcrest Angle 1943 Pembrokeshire Wales Farmland
Anglesey n/a Mona 1915–1918 Anglesey Wales Airship station
Anthorn Nuthatch Anthorn 1944–58 Cumbria England Now Anthorn Radio Station
Arbroath Condor n/a 1940–1971 Angus Scotland Now RM Condor
Ayr Wagtail Heathfield
Ayr
1944–46 South Ayrshire Scotland
Bacton n/a Bacton 1915–19 Norfolk England
Ballyhalbert Corncrake Ballyhalbert 1945 County Down Northern Ireland
Ballykelly Sealion Ballykelly 1962–1971 County Londonderry Northern Ireland RAF station hosting Joint Ant-Submarine School from 1947, RN having lodger status. Joint RAF-RN station from 1962. Now Shackleton Barracks
Beccles Hornbill II Beccles −1945 Suffolk England Lodger facilities only.
Belfast Gadwall
Gannet III
Sydenham 1943–1973 County Antrim Northern Ireland Lodger facilities at RAF Sydenham, transferred to Admiralty control June 1943.[13] Now George Best Belfast City Airport
n/a n/a Benbecula Western Isles Scotland Lodger facilities only. Now Benbecula Airport and RRH Benbecula.
n/a n/a Benson Oxfordshire England Lodger facilities only. Now RAF Benson
n/a n/a Bircham Newton Norfolk England Lodger facilities only.
n/a n/a Boscombe Down Wiltshire England Now MoD Boscombe Down
Bramcote Gamecock Bramcote 1946–58 Warwickshire England Now Gamecock Barracks
n/a n/a Bratton 1943–44 Shropshire England Provided training facilities for RNAS Hinstock during 1943/44
Brawdy Goldcrest
Goldcrest II
Brawdy 1946–1971 Pembrokeshire Wales Now Cawdor Barracks
Bungay Europa II Bungay
Flixton
1945–46 Suffolk England
Burscough Ringtail n/a 1943–46 Lancashire England
Bush Barn n/a Bush Barn
No. 44 SLG
1944–45 Oxfordshire England RN Air Section, on the books of Kestrel.
Calshot n/a Calshot 1913–22 Hampshire England
Campbeltown Landrail
Landrail II
n/a 1940–45 Argyll & Bute Scotland Located 1 mile SE of RAF Machrihanish, grass landing ground north of the B843.
Capel n/a Folkestone 1915–19 Kent England
Cattewater n/a Cattewater
Mount Batten
1917–18 Devon England
Charlton Horethorne Heron II Charlton Horethorne 1943–45 Somerset England
Chingford n/a Chingford 1915–19 Greater London England Now William Girling Reservoir
n/a Raven Christchurch ?-1945 Dorset England Lodger facilities with a Naval Air Section and the Naval Air Radio Installation Unit.
n/a (Station in Reserve) n/a Cluntoe 1947-mid 1950s County Tyrone Northern Ireland Used occasionally.
Covehithe n/a Covehithe 1915–19 Suffolk England
Cowdray Park n/a n/a 1941–45 West Sussex England Private airfield requisitioned for the storage of obsolescent naval aircraft.
Crail Bruce
Jackdaw
Crail 1940–1961 Fife Scotland
RNAS Training Establishment, Cranwell Daedalus
Thunderbolt
Cranwell 1916–1918 Lincolnshire England Now Royal Air Force College
Culham Hornbill n/a 1944–1953 Oxfordshire England Now Culham Science Centre
Culmhead n/a Culmhead
Churchstanton
Somerset England Lodger facilities only. Now Culmhead Business Centre
Dale Goldcrest Dale 1943–48 Pembrokeshire Wales Farmland/caravan sites
n/a n/a Defford Worcestershire England RN Air Section attached to Telecommunications Flying Unit RAF.
n/a n/a Detling 1940–41 Kent England Lodger facilities only.
n/a n/a Docking 1942–44 Norfolk England Lodger facilities only.
Donibristle Merlin Donibristle 1939–1959 Fife Scotland
Dounreay Tern III 1944–54 Highland Scotland Never commissioned.
Drem Nighthawk Drem 1945–46 East Lothian Scotland Lodger facilities until 1945.
Dundee Condor II Dundee 1941–44 Dundee City Scotland Seaplane base / repair depot.
n/a n/a Dundonald 1944 South Ayrshire Scotland Lodger facilities only.
Dunino Jackdaw II Dunino 1942–46 Fife Scotland
n/a n/a Duxford 1941–43 Cambridgeshire England Lodger facilities only.
East Fortune n/a East Fortune 1915–18 East Lothian Scotland National Museum of Flight
East Haven Peewit 1943–46 Angus Scotland
Eastchurch n/a Eastchurch 1910–1918 Kent England Now HM Prison Standford Hill
Eastleigh Raven Eastleigh
Southampton
1917–20, 1935–39, 1939–1947 Hampshire England Now Southampton Airport
Eglinton Gannet Eglinton 1943–1959
1960–63
County Londonderry Northern Ireland Now City of Derry Airport
Evanton Fieldfare Evanton
Novar
1944–48 Highland Scotland
Fairlop n/a Fairlop 1916-18 Essex England Playing fields, to north of WW2 RAF Fairlop
Fearn Owl Fearn 1942–46 Highland Scotland
Felixstowe n/a Felixstowe 1913–19 Suffolk England See Seaplane Experimental Station
Fishguard n/a 1917–19 Pembrokeshire Wales
Ford Peregrine Ford
Ford Junction
1939–1958 West Sussex England Now HM Prison Ford
n/a n/a Fraserburgh Aberdeenshire Scotland Lodger facilities only.
Goldhanger n/a Goldhanger 1915–16 Essex England Farmland
Gosport Siskin Gosport 1940–56 Hampshire England
Grimsetter Robin Grimsetter 1943–45 Orkney Scotland Now Kirkwall Airport
Haldon Heron II Haldon 1941–43 Devon England
Halesworth Sparrowhawk Halesworth 1945–46 Suffolk England Lodger facilities until 1945
Hatston Sparrowhawk
Tern II
1939–1945 Orkney Scotland
Heath Row n/a Heathrow 1944–45 Greater London England Lodger facilities for a flight of 781 Naval Air Squadron only. Now Heathrow airport
Henstridge Dipper n/a 1943–46
1946–1954
Somerset England Henstridge Airfield, One of only 2 RNAS stations with 5 runways (Arbroath being the other), one of which had a dummy deck landing area with arrestor system for carrier training
Hinstock Godwit Ollerton 1943–47 Shropshire England
Hornsea Mere n/a Atwick ?-1918 East Yorkshire England
Inskip Nightjar n/a 1943–46 Lancashire England
Jersey n/a Helier 1940 Jersey Channel Islands Requisitioned by the Admiralty. RN Air Section, on the books of Kestrel. Jersey Airport
Kete Harrier n/a 1945–1961 Pembrokeshire Wales
Kingsnorth n/a Kingsnorth 1914–25 Kent England WW1 airship station on Isle of Grain on south bank of R Thames
Kirkistown Corncrake II Kirkistown 1945–46 County Down Northern Ireland Lodger facilities only during WWII. Satellite airfield from July 1945.
n/a n/a Langham 1942–44 Norfolk England Lodger facilities only.
Lawrenny Ferry Daedalus II n/a 1942–43 Pembrokeshire Wales Riverbank slipway
Lee-on-Solent Ariel
Daedalus
Lee-on-Solent 1939–1995 Hampshire England
n/a n/a Leuchars ?-1938
1972–78
Fife Scotland Lodger facilities only. Now Leuchars Station
Limavady n/a Limavady 1944
1945–?
County Londonderry Northern Ireland Lodger facilities during 1944. Naval charge from 1945.
Long Kesh n/a Long Kesh 1944–45 County Antrim Northern Ireland Lodger facilities only.
Lossiemouth Fulmar Lossiemouth 1946–1972 Moray Scotland Now RAF Lossiemouth. RN lodger status 1972–79.
Luce Bay n/a West Freugh 1940–43 Dumfries and Galloway Scotland Lodger facilities only. Now MoD West Freugh
Ludham Flycatcher Ludham 1944–? Norfolk England Farmland/private airstrip
Lympne Buzzard
Daedalus II
Lympne 1939–1940 Kent England Buzzard - Support of disembarked squadrons, Daedalus II - Technical training of Air Apprentices and Air Fitters
Machrihanish Landrail Machrihanish 1941–46
1951–52
Argyll & Bute Scotland Now MoD Machrihanish & Campbeltown Airport
Macmerry Nighthawk II Macmerry 1945–46 East Lothian Scotland
Manston Manston 1933–35
WW2
1974
Kent England Used by FAA squadron between 1933 and 1935. Lodger facilities during WW2 and used by 845 Naval Air Squadron briefly during early 1974. Now Manston Airport
Maydown Shrike
Gannet II
Maydown 1943–45 County Londonderry Northern Ireland
Middle Wallop Flycatcher Middle Wallop 1945–46 Hampshire England Now AAC Middle Wallop
Milltown Fulmar II Milltown 1946–1972 Moray Scotland
Milton
Pembroke
n/a Carew Cheriton
Pembroke
1914–18 Pembrokeshire Wales
Narborough n/a Narborough Aug 1916-1916 Norfolk England Farmland to NE of RAF Marham
n/a n/a North Coates 1940–41 Lincolnshire England
Nutts Corner Pintail Nutts Corner 1945–46 County Antrim Northern Ireland
n/a n/a Pembroke Dock 1940–41 Pembrokeshire Wales Lodger facilities only.
Peplow Godwit II Peplow 1945–49 Shropshire England
n/a n/a Perranporth 1944 Cornwall England Lodger facilities only.
n/a n/a Peterhead 1942–44 Aberdeenshire Scotland Lodger facilities only.
Portland Osprey Portland 1959–1999 Dorset England Also previously HMS Sarepta
Prestwick Gannet Prestwick 1971–2016 South Ayrshire Scotland Now Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Pulham n/a Pulham 1915-1918 Norfolk England Airship station
Rattray Head
Rattray
Crimond
Merganser Oct 1944–
Sept 1946
Aberdeenshire Scotland
Redcar Redcar 1915–1919 North Yorkshire England
Roborough Drake II Roborough 1939–1942
Postwar
Devon England Now Plymouth City Airport
Ronaldsway Urley Ronaldsway 1944–46 Isle of Man
Sandbanks Daedalus n/a 1940–43 Dorset England
n/a n/a St Davids 1947–1961 Pembrokeshire Wales Used by Airworks Air Direction Training Unit
n/a n/a St Mawgan
Trebelzue
1954–56 Cornwall England Used by 744 Naval Air Squadron
St Merryn Curlew
Vulure
1940–1956 Cornwall England
Skaebrae Tern II Skaebrae 1940–? Orkney Scotland Lodger facilities only initially.
n/a n/a Skitten 1940–41 Highland Scotland Lodger facilities only.
Speke n/a Speke 1942–45 Merseyside England Lodger facilities only initially, housed a RN Air Section. Now Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Stornoway Mentor II Stornoway 1940–41
1943–44
Western Isles Scotland Seaplanes operated from Stornoway harbour 1940–41. Subsequently, lodger facilities available at RAF Stornoway airfield.
Stretton Blackcap n/a 1942–1958 Cheshire England
Sullom Voe n/a Sullom Voe 1940–41 Shetland Scotland Lodger unit on an RAF seaplane base.
n/a n/a Sumburgh 1941–42 Shetland Scotland Lodger facilities only. Now Sumburgh Airport
Tangmere n/a Tangmere 1942–50 West Sussex England Lodger facilities only initially, the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit was present at some point.
Thorney Island n/a Thorney Island 1940–48 West Sussex England Lodger facilities only initially, used by the Naval Air Sea Warfare Development Unit at some point. Now Baker Barracks
Tresco n/a Tresco 1917–19 Isles of Scilly, Cornwall England
n/a n/a Turnhouse 1942–44 City of Edinburgh Scotland Lodger facilities only. Now Edinburgh Airport
Twatt Tern n/a 1941–1957 Orkney Scotland Purpose built by the Admiralty, on books of Sparrowhawk, then independent Command Tern
Walmer n/a Walmer 1917–1918 Kent England Hawkshill Freedown (open land)
Woodvale Ringtail II Woodvale 1942–45
1945–46
Merseyside England Lodger facilities only initially, satellite airfield postwar.
Worthy Down Kestrel
Ariel
Worthy Down 1938–39
1939–1950
1952–1960
Hampshire England Lodger facilities only pre WWII. Now Worthy Down Camp
Zeals Hummingbird Zeals 1945–46 Wiltshire England

Weapons Ranges

[edit]

List of former Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm air weapons ranges (AWR) within the United Kingdom,although FAA aircraft have used other weapons ranges in the UK and abroad, operated by other authorities:[14]

Name Commissioned RAF RN Years active Current county Country Notes
RNAS Banff n/a RAF Banff 1947-72 Aberdeenshire Scotland Used for simulated bombing by RNAS Lossiemouth units. Unmanned satellite to RNAS Lossiemouth.[15] Part of the site is now Boyndie wind farm.[16]
Royal Navy Aircraft Range Lilstock n/a n/a - 2014 Somerset England Coastal range on Bridgwater Bay, controlled by RNAS Yeovilton. From 1995 the site was reclassified as a helicopter gunnery range only.[17]
RNAS Tain n/a RAF Tain 1946–72 Highland Scotland Tain Air Weapons Range. Parented by RNAS Lossiemouth, transferred from RAF at the same time. Air-to-ground weapons range on coast next to Tain airfield.
RNAS Treligga Vulture II n/a 1940-55 Cornwall England Fleet Air Arm live firing range & emergency landing ground under control of RNAS St Merryn, then RNAS Culdrose from 1953.

Overseas

[edit]
Supermarine Walrus at Royal Naval Air Station Bermuda at Boaz Island

This list is of former air stations of the Royal Navy located outside of the British Isles. The list includes airbases wholly operated by the Admiralty and those where lodger facilities from the RAF were granted and operated under a RN Air Section.

RNAS HMS RAF RN Years active Current county Country Notes
Aboukir Nile II Aboukir 1935–42 Egypt Egypt Lodger facilities for a RN Air Section on RAF Station
Addu Atoll Haitian
Maraga
Gan 1942-45 Maldives Maldives Purpose built for the Admiralty. Now Gan International Airport
Andrakaka Ironclad Andrakaka 1942-43 Madagascar Madagascar Captured Vichy French airfield, RN Air Section
Archerfield Nabsford
Nabreekie
n/a 1945–46 Queensland Australia Australia RNAMY Archerfield used for:
TAMY I (Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard No. 1)
MONAB VII
Argentia Avalon III n/a 1943–44 Newfoundland Canada Canada Lodger facilities for RN Air Section at US Naval Air Station Argentia, now Naval Station Argentia
Bankstown Nabberley n/a 1944–46 New South Wales Australia Australia MONAB II. Now Bankstown Airport
Bermuda Malabar n/a 1939-44 Sandys Parish Bermuda Bermuda Operated from North Yard of Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda on Ireland Island until relocating to Boaz Island in 1940. Care-and-maintenance status by 1945. Disposed of with other Admiralty and War Office land in 1950s
Brunswick Saker n/a 1943-45 Maine United States United States U.S. Naval Air Station loaned to the Admiralty
Coimbatore Garuda n/a 1942–46 Cochin British Raj British Indian Empire Aircraft Repair Yard. Parent station to: RN Air Section Cochin, RN Air Station Sulur. Now Coimbatore International Airport
Colombo Racecourse Bherunda Colombo Racecourse 1943–45 Colombo British Ceylon British Ceylon Now Colombo Racecourse
Dartmouth Seaborn n/a 1940–46 Nova Scotia Canada Canada Lodger facilities for an RN air section at an RCAF base only. Now CFB Shearwater
Dekheila Grebe
Nile II
LG-34/LG-235 1940–46 Egypt Egypt
Durban Kongoni n/a 1940-46 Durban South Africa R.N. Air Section Durban at S.A.A.F. Station, Stamford Hill
Fayid Pheonix Fayid 1941-46 Egypt Egypt R.N. Aircraft Repair Yard. RAF station transferred to Admiralty control
Floyd Bennett Field Saker n/a 1942- United States United States Lodger facilities for an RN Air Section and disembarked squadrons from 1942.[18]
Hal Far Falcon Hal Far 1929–50
1952–67
Malta
Hastings Spurwing Hastings 1943–44 British Sierra Leone Lodger facilities until 1943
Hiswa Rapax Hiswa Aden Colony Aden Protectorate Lodger facility for an RN Air Section on RAF station. Transferred to the Admiralty for development as Royal Naval Air Station
Jervis Bay Nabswick n/a 1945–46 New South Wales Australia Australia MONAB V
Kai Tak Nabcatcher
Flycatcher
Kai Tak 1938–40
1945-78
Kowloon Bay British Hong Kong Hong Kong MONAB VIII. Lodger facilities 1948 - 1978
Kaldadarnes Baldur II Kaldadarnes 1943 Iceland Lodger facilities for an RN Air Section
Katukurunda Ukussa Katukurunda 1942-46 Katukurunda British Ceylon British Ceylon.[19] Transferred from the Royal Air Force in 1942 and returned in 1946. Now Katukurunda Airport
Kilindini Kipanga n/a 1942–44 Mombasa East Africa Protectorate Kenya
Komenda Wara Takoradi Oct–Dec 1943 Gold Coast (British colony) Gold Coast Now Takoradi Airport
Lewiston Saker n/a 1943–45 Maine United States United States Now Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Mackinnon Road Tana
Kipanga II
n/a 1942–44 Taita-Taveta East Africa Protectorate Kenya Now Mackinnon Road Airport
Maharagama Monara n/a 1943–46 Maharagama British Ceylon British Ceylon Royal Naval Air Ceylonese Training Establishment in Maharagama which was later taken over by the National Teachers' Training College.[20]
Maryborough Nabstock n/a 1945–46 Queensland Australia Australia MONAB VI
Minnerya n/a Minnerya 1942–46 British Ceylon British Ceylon Lodger facilities only. Now Hingurakgoda Airport
Nairobi Korongo n/a 1942-44 Nairobi East Africa Protectorate Kenya R.N. Aircraft Repair Yard. Reserve aircraft storage
Norfolk Saker n/a United States United States Lodger facilities at a US Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field for FAA squadrons and an Air Section.[21]
Nowra Nabbington
Nabswick
n/a Jan–Nov 1945
1945–1946
New South Wales Australia Australia MONAB I
MONAB V. Now HMAS Albatross (air station)
Palisadoes Malabar III
Buzzard
n/a 1941–43 Kingston Jamaica Jamaica Now Norman Manley International Airport
Piarco Malabar II
Goshawk
n/a 1940–46  Trinidad and Tobago Now Piarco International Airport
Ponam Nabaron n/a Apr–Nov 1945 Admiralty Islands Papua New Guinea MONAB IV. Former United States Navy airstrip transferred to the RN on loan
Port Reitz Kipanga Port Reitz 1942-44 Mombasa East Africa Protectorate Kenya Lodger facilities for an RN Air Section at an RAF station. Now Moi International Airport
Puttalam Rajaliya n/a 1942–45 Puttalam District British Ceylon British Ceylon Now SLAF Palavi (Sri Lanka Air Force Palavi).[22]
Quonset Point Asbury n/a 1942–43 Rhode Island United States United States Now Quonset Point Air National Guard Station
Ras el-Tin Point Nile Apr 1939–
Jun 1946
Alexandria Egypt Egypt
Schofields Nabthorpe
Nabstock
n/a Feb–Nov 1945
Nov 1945–June 1946
New South Wales Australia Australia MONAB III
MONAB VI. Now HMAS Nirimba, up for sale.
Sembawang Simbang
Nabrock
Sembawang 1939-71 Singapore MONAB IX. Now Sembawang Air Base
Sigiriya n/a Sigiriya British Ceylon British Ceylon Lodger facilities only. Now Sigiriya Airport
Squantum Saker n/a 1943-44 Norfolk County, Massachusetts United States United States US Naval Air Station Squantum loaned to the Admiralty.[23]
Sulur Vairi n/a 1944-46 British Raj British Indian Empire Now Sulur Air Force Station
Tafaraouri Cormorant II n/a 1943-44 Algeria Algeria Lodger facility for an RN Air Section on Twelfth Air Force fighter station. Later Lodger rights for one squadron.[24] Now Oran Tafraoui Airport
Takali Goldfinch
St Angelo
Ta Kali 1945–53 Malta 1943 RN Lodger unit, 1944 Transferred to RN on temporary loan in February, 1945 Full control transferred to Admiralty in April
Tambaram Valluru Tambaram 1944–45 Madras British Raj British Indian Empire Now Tambaram Air Force Station
Tanga Kilele n/a 1942–44 Tanganyika Now Tanga Airport
Trincomalee Bambara China Bay 1940-50 Trincomalee British Ceylon British Ceylon Lodger facility for RN Air Section from August 1940. Station transferred to the Admiralty on 15 November 1944 and renamed RNAS Trincomalee. Now China Bay Airport
Vizagapatam n/a Vizagapatam 1944-45 British Raj British Indian Empire Lodger facilities for an RN Fleet Requirements Unit. Now Visakhapatnam Airport
Voi Tana
Kipanga II
n/a 1944 East Africa Protectorate Kenya Never commissioned
Wingfield Malagas n/a 1942–46 Western Cape South Africa Now SAS Wingfield
Yarmouth Canada
Seaborn
n/a 1943-45 Nova Scotia Canada Canada Lodger facilities for an RN air section at an RCAF base only. RCAF Station Yarmouth

Mobile Naval Air Base

[edit]

The Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) were designed to have all the capabilities of an air station or an aircraft carrier, to support the Fleet Air Arm, and that could be deployed anywhere around the world. There were eleven commissioned units, ten MONABs and one Transportable Aircraft Maintenance Yard (TAMY), ten of these saw active service for the British Pacific Fleet:[25]

Unit name Ship's name Commissioned Paid Off Located
MONAB I HMS Nabbington 28 October 1944 15 November 1945 Nowra, Australia
MONAB II HMS Nabberley 18 November 1944 31 March 1946 Bankstown, Australia
MONAB III HMS Nabthorpe 4 December 1944 15 November 1945 Schofields, New South Wales, Australia
MONAB IV HMS Nabaron 1 January 1945 10 November 1945

Ponam, Manus Island, Admiralty Islands

MONAB V HMS Nabswick 1 Feb 1945 18 Mar 1946 Jervis Bay, Australia
MONAB VI HMS Nabstock 1 Apr 1945 9 Jun 1946 Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
MONAB VII HMS Nabreekie 1 Jun 1945 5 Nov 1945 Meeandah, Brisbane, Australia
MONAB VIII HMS Nabcatcher 1 Jul 1945 1 Apr 1947 Kai Tak, Hong Kong
MONAB IX HMS Nabrock 1 Aug 1945 15 Dec 1945 Sembawang, Singapore
MONAB X HMS Nabhurst 1 Sep1945 12 Oct 1945 Middle Wallop, Hampshire, England
TAMY I HMS Nabsford 1 Feb 1945 31 Mar 1946 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Former naval air stations by ship name (HMS xxx)

[edit]

HMS means His Majesty's Ship (or Her Majesty's Ship).

Some smaller and some very early Naval Air Stations in the list above were not commissioned as HM Ship(s). Those below were commissioned and, therefore, have a ship's name. Royal Navy shore bases and naval air stations have traditionally been named in the same manner as seagoing ships.

Officers were appointed to HMS xxx rather than to RNAS xxx and, similarly, ratings' Service Certificates will show only the name of the ship when drafted to a Naval Air Station. Thus, this list may help when researching family history records.[citation needed]

HMS Nearest Town County Country Current use
HMS Ariel South Wonston Hampshire England
HMS Ariel Lee-on-the-Solent Hampshire England Solent Airport Daedalus
HMS Ariel Winchester Hampshire England
HMS Asbury Quonset Point Rhode Island United States Quonset Point Air National Guard Station
HMS Bambara Trincomalee Ceylon China Bay Airport
HMS Berhunda Colombo Ceylon Colombo Racecourse
HMS Blackcap Stretton Cheshire England
HMS Buzzard Lympne Kent England Industrial estate
HMS Buzzard Palisadoes Kingston Jamaica
HMS Condor Arbroath Angus Scotland RM Condor
HMS Corncrake Ballyhalbert County Down Northern Ireland Housing
HMS Corncrake II Portavogie County Down Northern Ireland Kirkistown Circuit
HMS Curlew St Merryn Cornwall England Farmland
HMS Daedalus Lee-on-the-Solent Hampshire England Solent Airport Daedalus
HMS Daedalus II Lympne Kent England Industrial Estate
HMS Daedalus II Sandbanks Dorset England in Poole Harbour
HMS Daedalus II Lawrenny Pembrokeshire Wales Riverbank slipway
HMS Dipper Templecombe Dorset England
HMS Europa II Bungay Suffolk England Farmland
HMS Falcon Ħal Far Malta Industrial Estate
HMS Fieldfare Evanton Ross and Cromarty Scotland Industrial Estate
HMS Flycatcher Ludham Norfolk England Farmland/private airstrip
HMS Flycatcher Middle Wallop Hampshire England AAC Middle Wallop
HMS Flycatcher Kai Tak Kowloon Bay Hong Kong Kai Tak Development
HMS Fulmar Lossiemouth Morayshire Scotland RAF Lossiemouth
HMS Fulmar II Elgin Morayshire Scotland Milltown airfield
HMS Gadwall Sydenham Belfast Northern Ireland Sydenham Airport 1938–1941, RAF Belfast 1941-1943 and 1973–1978, Belfast City Airport (George Best Belfast City Airport) 1978-present
HMS Gamecock Bramcote Warwickshire England Gamecock Barracks
HMS Gannet Eglinton Co. Londonderry Northern Ireland City of Derry Airport
HMS Gannet Prestwick South Ayrshire Scotland Glasgow Prestwick Airport
HMS Gannet II Maydown Co. Londonderry Northern Ireland Industry
HMS Gannet III Sydenham Belfast Northern Ireland George Best Belfast City Airport
HMS Garuda Coimbatore India
HMS Godwit Ollerton Shropshire England
HMS Godwit Peplow Shropshire England
HMS Godwit II Weston-under-Lizard Shropshire England Ground in Weston Park
HMS Goldcrest Angle Pembrokeshire Wales Farmland
HMS Goldcrest Brawdy Pembrokeshire Wales Cawdor Barracks
HMS Goldcrest Dale Pembrokeshire Wales
HMS Goldcrest II Brawdy Pembrokeshire Wales Cawdor Barracks
HMS Goldfinch Ta' Qali Malta Park
HMS Goshawk Piarco Trinidad Piarco International Airport
HMS Grebe Alexandria Egypt
HMS Heron II Charlton Horethorne Somerset England Farmland
HMS Heron II Haldon Hills Devon England
HMS Hornbill Culham, Abingdon Oxfordshire England Fusion research facility
HMS Hornbill II Beccles Suffolk England Various
HMS Hummingbird Zeals Wiltshire England Farmland
HMS Icarus Scapa Flow Orkney Scotland ?
HMS Jackdaw Crail Fife Scotland
HMS Jackdaw II Kingsbarns Fife Scotland
HMS Kalugu Cochin India
HMS Kestrel South Wonston Hampshire England Worthy Down Camp
HMS Kilele Tanga Tanzania
HMS Kipanga Kilindini Mombasa County Kenya
HMS Kipanga II Mackinnon Road Taita-Taveta County Kenya
HMS Kipanga II Moi International Airport Mombasa County Kenya Moi International Airport
HMS Kongoni Durban South Africa
HMS Korongo Nairobi Kenya
HMS Landrail Machrihanish Argyllshire Scotland Campbeltown Airport
HMS Landrail II Campbeltown Argyllshire Scotland
HMS Malabar Boaz Island Sandys Parish Bermuda All shore personnel at Bermuda, including RNAS, belonged to the stone frigate HMS Malabar. Operated from North Yard of Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda on Ireland Island until relocating to Boaz Island in 1940. Care-and-maintenance status by 1945. Disposed of with other Admiralty and War Office land in 1950s. Housing.
HMS Malagas Cape Town Western Cape South Africa Wingfield Aerodrome
HMS Mentor II Stornoway Outer Hebrides Scotland Stornoway Airport
HMS Merganser Rattray Aberdeenshire Scotland Long range radio station
HMS Merlin Donibristle Fife Scotland Dalgety Bay
HMS Nabaron Ponam Island Papua New Guinea
HMS Nabberley Bankstown Australia Bankstown Airport
HMS Nabbington Nowra Australia HMAS Albatross
HMS Nabcatcher Kowloon Bay Kowloon Peninsula Hong Kong
HMS Nabhurst Middle Wallop Hampshire England
HMS Nabreekie Pinkenba Brisbane Australia
HMS Nabrock Sembawang Singapore
HMS Nabsford Brisbane Queensland Australia Archerfield Airport
HMS Nabstock Maryborough Queensland Australia
HMS Nabswick Jervis Bay New South Wales Australia
HMS Nabthorpe Schofields New South Wales Australia RAAF Station Schofields
HMS Nighthawk Drem East Lothian Scotland Farmland/industry/RAF Drem Museum
HMS Nighthawk II Haddington East Lothian Scotland Farmland/industry
HMS Nightjar Inskip Lancashire England Farmland/industry
HMS Nile II Alexandria Egypt Farmland
HMS Nuthatch Anthorn Cumbria England Anthorn Radio Station
HMS Osprey Portland Dorset England Coastguard base
HMS Owl Fearn Ross and Cromarty Scotland
HMS Peewit East Haven Angus Scotland
HMS Peregrine Ford West Sussex England
HMS Pheonix Fayed Ismailia Governorate Egypt
HMS Pintail Crumlin Co. Antrim Northern Ireland
HMS Rajaliya Puttalam North Western Province Ceylon
HMS Rapax Hiswa Aden Protectorate
HMS Raven Eastleigh Hampshire England Southampton International Airport
HMS Ringtail Burscough/Ormskirk Lancashire England
HMS Ringtail II Woodvale Merseyside England
HMS Robin Kirkwall Orkney Scotland Kirkwall Airport
HMS Sanderling Abbotsinch Renfrewshire Scotland Glasgow Airport
HMS Saker II Quonset Point Rhode Island United States Quonset Point Air National Guard Station
HMS Sambur Plaine Magnien Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport
HMS Sarepta Portland Dorset England
HMS Seaborn Halifax Nova Scotia Canada CFB Shearwater
HMS Sealion Ballykelly Co. Londonderry Northern Ireland Shackleton Barracks
HMS Seruwa Ratmalana Western Province Sri Lanka Ratmalana Airport
HMS Shrike Maydown Co. Londonderry Northern Ireland Industry
HMS Simbang Sembawang Singapore Sembawang Air Base
HMS Siskin Gosport Hampshire England HMS Sultan
HMS Sparrowhawk Kirkwall Orkney Scotland Industrial Estate
HMS Sparrowhawk Halesworth Suffolk England agricultural use
HMS Spurwing Hastings Western Area Sierra Leone
HMS Tern Twatt Orkney Scotland
HMS Tern II Kirkwall Orkney Scotland Industrial Estate
HMS Tern III Dounreay Caithness Scotland Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment
HMS Ukussa Kalutara Western Province Ceylon Katukurunda Airport
HMS Urley Ronaldsway Isle of Man Isle of Man Airport
HMS Vairi Coimbatore Tamil Nadu India Sulur Air Force Station
HMS Valluru Madras Madras State India Tambaram Air Force Station
HMS Vulture St Merryn Cornwall England Farmland
HMS Vulture II Treligga Cornwall England Farmland
HMS Wagtail Heathfield South Ayrshire Scotland Housing estate
HMS Wara Sekondi-Takoradi Ghana Takoradi Airport

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ "Flying Tigers practise lifesaving exercises". Royal Navy. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Return of the Immortals sees second F-35 Lightning Squadron join the frontline". Royal Air Force. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  3. ^ "750 Naval Air Squadron train the RAF". royal navy. Royal Navy. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. ^ "727 Naval Air Squadron". royal navy. Royal Navy. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Ascent Flight Training". Ascent. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Perfect Prefect as Lucas makes RN history in new training aircraft". Royal Navy. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. ^ "RAF Shawbury". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Air Test & Evaluation Centre (ATEC) support to CSG-21 Capability". Qinetiq. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  9. ^ "744 Naval Air Squadron". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Air Stations - Air Sections - Air Yards - Air Establishments - Lodger Units". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  11. ^ "British Isles". Britannica Online. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  12. ^ Oxford English Dictionary: "British Isles: a geographical term for the islands comprising Great Britain and Ireland with all their offshore islands including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands."
  13. ^ "Belfast". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  14. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 424.
  15. ^ "Banff". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Banff (Boyndie)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Why is there a giant concrete arrow on…". burnhamandhighbridgenews.co.uk. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Floyd Bennett Field". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  19. ^ Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association, FAAOA
  20. ^ "H.M.S. MONARA". royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Norfolk". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Sri Lanka Air Force Palavi". AirForce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Squantum". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Tafaraouri". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  25. ^ "The MONAB Story". Royal Navy Research Archive - The MONAB Story. Retrieved 12 May 2024.

"FAA Bases home page". Retrieved 21 March 2016.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.