ACQUISITION

Purpose built for the Admiralty on 600 acres of land acquired in June 1942.

COMMISSIONED

15.5.1943

CLOSED

Closed to flying from February 1946.

PAID OFF

2.7.1946 to C & M under 'BLACKCAP'

Became R.N. Radio station 1.9.1958 and commissioned as 'INSKIP' 21.3.1966

C.O./O.I.C.

FUNCTION

Night and Day A/S N.O.T.U

No. 2 Avenger Serving UNit.

Torpedo workshop facilities.

ADDRESS

RN. Air Station,

Inskip,
Preston,

Lancashire.

LOCALITY

The airfield lies inland 7½ miles E. of Blackpool and ½ mile S.W. of the village of Inskip.
Preston lies 6 miles S.E. by E. Southport lies 13 miles S,StW.

LANDMARKS

The entrance of the River Ribble with Blackpool and Southport at its N. and S. entrance points, respectively.
The River Wyre, passing 2 miles N., and the Lancaster canal, 1 miles S.E. effect a junction 3 miles N.E. of the airfield.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Secondary road communication with Blackpool and Preston. Access by road to Barton and Broughton station, on L.M.S. line to Preston, 3½ miles E.; and to Kirkham and Wesham station, on t.m.s. line to Blackpool, 3 miles S.W. Bus service between Preston Markets Place and Great
Eccleston passes Inskip Camp.

CONTROL

Control building inside the perimeter track, on the E. _ side of the landing area.

Ground signals area adjacent W. of the Control building.

ELEVATION

 46' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Four, tarmac

00/18 QDM. 005° -185° .... 1,000 x 30 yds. 

05/23 QDM. 048° -228° .... 1,000 x 30 yds.

09/27 QDM. 094° -274° .... 1,200 x 30 yds.

1432 QDM. 142° -322° .... 1,030 x 30 yds. 

TRACKS

40-ft. perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Blackpool Tower, 550 ft., distant 7 miles 265° from the airfield.

Circuit

Approach

None.

APPROACH

No special approach recommended.

WIND INDICATOR

Windsocks on the S.E. side and towards the centre of the airfield.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

M/F. and H/F.

VH/F. to be installed.

Beacons

251 MS and mobile 257 S. Type YJ beacon being installed. YG beacon to be installed

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Airfield Lighting (Naval) installed.

APPROACH - RADIO

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F. and H/F.

VH/F. to be installed.

CALL SIGNS

R/T

W/T

Identity letters

GROUND RADAR

Intermediate G.C.I. to be installed.

ACCOMMODATION

Officers and ratings quarters distant 1 and 1½ miles respectively from the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

To accommodate 4 squadrons.

COMPASS BASE

One, concrete. Diameter 70 ft.

DISPERSAL

One large and two single A/c standings off perimeter track on E. side. of landing area. Visitors parking area close S.E. of control building.

HANGARS

Dispersed around the perimeter track.

MEDICAL

Sick, Bay on the E. side of airfield. Sick Quarters, in two camps, at Thistleton Lodge, 4½ miles W. (by road).

METEOROLOGICAL

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

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

A/C Radar test base available.

TEST BUTT

Test butt and 25-yd. range available.

WORKSHOPS

VISITORS

One A.R.S. hangar (185' x 110' x' 25' x 110') and one Reserve Servicing hangar (185' x 100' x 25' x 100'),
Workshops to 4-6 squadron scale.

EXPLOSIVES

Explosives area on the N. side of airfield. Practice stocks to provision 4 T.B.R. and 2 F,F. squadrons:

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to air

One.

Practice bombing

Two: One submarine silhouette in brick and one submarine silhouette on 32-ft. moored target.

Bombing

One. 16-ft. moored target

Torpedo

One.

R. p. Range

One.

Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45