ACQUISITION
R.A.F. fighter station transferred to the Admiralty on loan 06.07.1943.
COMMISSIONED
15.08.1943.
CLOSED
PAID OFF
31.07.1945.
C.O./O.I.C.
FUNCTION
Satellite to RNAS Hatston.
Accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons.
ADDRESS
R.N. Air Station, Grimsetter, Mainland, Orkney.
LOCALITY
The airfield lies on the S. bank of the Bay of Berstane, 3½ miles (R) SE of Kirkwall.
LANDMARKS
The town and port of Kirkwall .
Scapa Flow 2½ miles SW.
ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS
Road accedes to Kirkwall 3½ mile NW. and Finstown 9½ miles NW. (R) and to RNAS Hatston 4¾ miles (R) to the NW. Scapa 2½miles SW.
Nearest railway station at Thurso (LMS), mainland Scotland.
Piers and Harbour facilities for small vessels at Stromness and Kirkwall, with steamer communication to Scotland.
CONTROL
Control Building - originally sited at the extreme S. of the airfield outside the perimeter track at the '33' end of runway 15/33'
New Control Building - inside the perimeter track to the S. of the runway intersection.
ELEVATION
30' above M.S.L.
RUNWAYS
Three, Tarmac.
07/25 QDM. 071°/250° .... 1,310 X 50 yds.
10/28 QDM. 101°/281° .... 1,240 X 50 yds.
15/33 QDM. 154°/334° .... 970 X 50 yds.
TRACKS
40' perimeter track.
OBSTRUCTIONS
Navigation
Tower hill(279') with 4 W/T masts (100') 1800yds. HM. and ground rising 220' 1600 yds. SW.
Circuit
None.
Approach
APPROACH
Recommended sector, mean Q.D.M. :
WIND INDICATOR
Not known.
HOMING - VISUAL
By day
By night
HOMING--RADIO
D/F
Beacons
APPROACH - VISUAL
APPROACH - RADIO
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
M/F & H/F
VH/F
GROUND RADAR
ACCOMMODATION
Living quarters in camp in SE corner of the airfield.
Capacity:
Officers:
45
Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:
390
W.R.N.S. Officers:
9
W.R.N.S. Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;
165
ARMOURIES
COMPASS BASE
DISPERSAL
Five double fighter pens and five pan handle standings, dispersed around the perimeter track.
HANGARS
In two sites NE. and NW. of the airfield, connected by the perimeter track.
Number /Type
Size
Door Height
Door Width
6 Mains (Squadron) ..
6o' x 84'
17'
55'
7 Mains (Storage) .. ..
1 Pentad .. .. .. .. .. ..
185' x 105'
25'
105'
See note [1]
MEDICAL
Sick Bay in accommodation site.
METEOROLOGICAL
Not kown.
FUEL AND OIL
Aviation:
M/T:
Oil :
TEST BASE
TEST BUTT
M.G. test butt and 25 yds. range
WORKSHOPS
VISITORS
EXPLOSIVES
BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES
Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45
List of first and second line squadrons, station flight and other flying units based at this location 800 801 807 824 825 826 841 842 846 848 849 880 881 882 884 887 894 899 1770 1834 1840 PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION Click here for a list of Primary sources Additional sources: Admiralty Fleet Orders: Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders:
800
801
807
824
825
826
841
842
846
848
849
880
881
882
884
887
894
899
1770
1834
1840
Click here for a list of Primary sources
Additional sources:
Admiralty Fleet Orders:
Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders:
AUDATCTIER
(BOLDLY)
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