ACQUISITION

Transferred from R.A.F. 1.12.1942

COMMISSIONED

15.12.1942

Became 'MERLIN II' 1.10.45.

PAID OFF

2.4.1946 to C & M.

C.O./O.I.C.

FUNCTION

Satellite to R.N. Air Station, Crail.

No. 5 Barracuda Servicing Unit.

No. 770 Fleet Requirements Unit.

Reserve Aircraft Storage.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,
Dunino,
St. Andrews,
Fife,

Scotland.

LOCALITY

The airfield lies 3¾ miles W. by N. of Fife Ness; the N, entrance point, of the Firth of Forth, and 1½ miles E. of the scattered buildings of Dunino.
R.N.A.S. Crail lies 3½ miles ESE.

St. Andrews lies 4 miles NW. and the village of Kingsbarns 1½ miles E.

LANDMARKS

The Firth of Forth, with the Isle of May lying 8¾ miles SE. of the airfield. The coastal railway, running from Crail to St. Andrews, passes the eastern end of the airfield.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Stations at St. Andrews and Crail. Trains stop, by special arrangement only, at Kingsbarns station distant ½ mile SE., to which station goods weighing under one ton can be consigned.

CONTROL

Control building 160 yds. inside the landing area on the S. side.

Ground signals area adjacent W. of the Control building,

ELEVATION

250' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

One B.R.C. track and Sommerfeld track.

09/27 QDM. 090° -270° .... 1,284 x 50 yds.

LANDING AREA

Irregular Grass surface.

QDM. 051° -231° .... 1,200 yds.
QDM. 090° -270° .... 1,400 yds. 

QDM. 156° -336° ....... 900 yds. 

TRACKS

A 10-ft. track with 10 passing bays, surrounds the landing area.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

None.

Circuit

Law Drum (317 ft.) adjoining the perimeter on the NW. side of the airfield and the main water tank, 25 ft., on Afeikle Hill (255 ft.) distant 200 yds. NE.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

No special approach recommended.

WIND INDICATOR

Windsocks near the edge of the landing area on the N. and SE. sides. 

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

Use of RNAS Crail's equipment

Beacons

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Glim lights, sector and pillar lights.

APPROACH - RADIO

None.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

 Reception only

VH/F

None.

GROUND RADAR

None.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters in three camp sites adjacent E. of the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

To accommodate 2 squadrons.

COMPASS BASE

One, 70-ft. diameter, at the W, end of the landing area.
 

DISPERSAL

HANGARS

Dispersed around the landing area;

MEDICAL

Sick Bay at corner of access road, 300 yds. NE. of the airfield.

METEOROLOGICAL

Office in the Control building. Full ,meteorological service by Naval personnel available.
 

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

One A/c Rest base.
 

TEST BUTT

WORKSHOPS

One A.R.S. hangar (185' x 119' x 25'' x' 10') and Workshops to 2 -3 squadron scale.

EXPLOSIVES

Explosives area between A.R.S. hangar and main water tak. Practice stocks to provision T.B.R. squadrons.
 

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Practice bombing:

One.

Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 44