R.N.A.S.
Culdrose, later St. Merryn (while on C & M)
C.O./O.I.C.
FUNCTION
Satellite to R.N.A.S. Dale 1946 - 48
In use by Airwork
for flying training by 1949
Post 1952
Working up of front-line squadrons and Armament Training Ranges.
All weather airfield.
ADDRESS
R.N. Air Station,
Brawdy,
Haverfordwest,
Pembrokeshire
LOCALITY
The airfield lies one mile inland from the NE. shores of
St. Bride's Bay, and 7 miles ESE. of St. David's Head.
Haverfordwest lies 7 miles SE., and Fishguard 8½
miles NE. The village of Brawdy is adjacent SE.
LANDMARKS
St. David's peninsula, with the town of St. David's and
Ramsey I. W/T masts 3 miles E. and 4 miles ESE. of the
airfield.
ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS
Access to main road to Haverfordwest 10 miles (R)
Passenger and goods to Haverfordwest, W.R.
Bus service from Haverfordwest to the airfield.
CONTROL
Control Building inside perimeter track on W. side of
airfield S of runway intersection.
ELEVATION
360' above M.S.L.
RUNWAYS
Three, concrete and woos chippings.
Extensibility
03/21
QDM. 128°
-208°
1200 x 50 yds.
2100
08/268
QDM. 082°
-262°
1420 x 50 yds.
-
15/33
QDM. 153°
-333°
1990 x 50 yds.
2010
TRACKS
50' perimeter track.
OBSTRUCTIONS
Navigation
W/T masts (725') 3 miles E. and W/T masts (580') 4 miles
ESE.
Circuit
None.
Approach
None.
APPROACH
Recommended approach. sector. mean QDM. o4o°
.
WIND INDICATOR
Three. First 30 yards N. of Control Building, second on
NW. boundary of airfield and third on SE. boundary of
airfield.
HOMING - VISUAL
By day
None.
By night
None. Post 1952 Identity beacon flashing BY (red).
HOMING--RADIO
D/F
None. Post 1952 Cathode Ray VDF. (F.V.10)/
Beacons
None. Post 1952 YG.
APPROACH - VISUAL
By day
None. Post 1952 High intensity and Calvert type Approach
Lighting on Runway '21. 'T' Approach Lighting on all
runways.
Sodium Flare path on runways 15 and 21.
By night
None. Post 1952 Mark V airfield lighting.
Approach
lighting as by day.
APPROACH - RADIO
None. Post 1952 GCA (AN/CPN4) Precision Approach on
runway '21'. Search approach on all runways.
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
M/F & H/F
Not known.
Post 1952 HF only - 5 transmitters, 5
receivers.
VH/F
Not known.
Post 1952 16 transmitters, 17 receivers, 2
Transceivers.
CALL SIGNS
R/T
BRAWDY
W/T
MJR
Identity letters
BY
GROUND RADAR
None.
Post 1952 Aircraft direction using C.G.I. and
Interrogator and Aircraft direction using low cover
radar ser with Interrogator (provided by H.M.S.
Harrier). AV/CPN4 Controlled approach.
ACCOMMODATION
Living quarters in communal and dispersed sites.
Capacity:
RAFmanning
Post 1952 RN manning
Officers:
80
140
Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:
2116
994
W.R.N.S. Officers:.
1
0
W.R.N.S. Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:
185
0
ARMOURIES
Not known.
COMPASS BASE
One. Diameter 80', power supplied.
DISPERSAL
30 loop type hardstandings.
HANGARS
One main site SW. of runway intersection.
Number /Type
Size
Door Height
Door Width
3 x T.2 (one as A.R.S.)
239' 7" x 113' 6"
25'
113' 6"
2 halves of Pentad (side by side)
220' x 92' 6"
25'
110'
'
3 x Mainhill Type 3
185' x 105'
25'
105'
1 Dope shop
83' 10" x 60' 3"
17' 3"
55'
MEDICAL
Sick bay in dispersed site W. of '08' end of runway
08/28.
METEOROLOGICAL
Office in Control Building. Full service by Naval
personnel.
FUEL AND OIL
Aviation:
Not known.
Post 1952
AVGAS ... 12.000 gallons in one installation.
AVCAT ... 20,000 gallons in two installations.
M/T:
Not known.
Post 1952
MTGAS ... 3,500 gallons
DERV ... 1,ooo gallons.
Oil :
Not known.
Post 1952
AVOUIL ... 750 gallons.
TEST BASE
None.
TEST BUTT
25 yards range for M.G. and Cannon. Post 1952 - None.
WORKSHOPS
None. Post 1952 - Limited squadron support.
VISITORS
Visitors parking area on hard standing to rear of
Control Building.
EXPLOSIVES
Not Known.
BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES
Air to air
West of Smalls.
Air to ground and R. p. Firing
Castlemartin. R/P Firing (Dummy heads), Practice Bombs
and O.R.S.
Talbenny.O.R.S. only
Air to sea
St. Bride's Bay. R/P Firing (Dummy heads), Strafing,
Practice bombing.
Information taken from BR. 1807
Admiralty Handbook of Royal Naval Air Stations Home and
Abroad, Mar. 1949 & Sep. 1955
List of first and second line squadrons, station
flight and other flying units based at this location
727
736
738
751
759
767
773
784
Night Fighter Training Squadron
Moved here from RNAS Drem 15.01.46. Disbanded
10.09.46
Operated Firefly I.NF, Hellcat II.NF. Harvard II.
I was in 849d flight at brawdy mid 60s Had a great time and lived with my wife in the caravan site: just outside main gate great site keep up the good work.S J Beck steward 849d
I was in 849d flight at brawdy mid 60s Had a great time and lived with my wife in the caravan site: just outside main gate great site keep up the good work.S J Beck steward 849d
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