ACQUISITION

Transferred from R.A.F. 01.09.1942

COMMISSIONED

15.10.1942.

PAID OFF

27.09.1946 Returned to R.A.F. 01.10.1946.

C.O./O.I.C.

Commander (later Captain)  G. A. Rotherham D.S.C., O,B.E., R.N. 15 Oct 1942

Captain J. S. Crawford, D.S.C. R.N. Dec 1944

FUNCTION

Accommodation for three 24-aircraft and one 21-aircraft squadrons. Limited Reserve Aircraft Storage.
R.N. Air Maintenance Yard.

Fleet Requirements Unit (797 squadron).
Naval Air Radio Maintenance Group (East Indies Station).

No.2 M.A.T.M.U. (mobile Ar Torpedo Maintenance Unit)

British & American Torpedo facilities.

PARENT STATION TO

RNAS Puttalam

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,

Katukurunda
Ceylon.

LOCALITY

The airfield lies within 600 yds. of the SW. coast of Ceylon and adjacent ESE. of Katukurunda, a village on the S. shore of Kalutara lagoon.

Kalutara South lies 2 miles NNW. and 22 miles NNW.

LANDMARKS

The town and harbour of Colombo.
The Kalu Ganga flowing in a SW. airection to enter the sea between Kalutsra North .nd Kalutsra South; the main coastal road and railway to Colombo bridges the river's mouth.
A conspicuous road from Katukurunda passes the NE. end of runway 03/21.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Access to the main Colombo - Calle coastal road.
Railway station at Katukurunda, n the Colombo - Calle -line.

CONTROL

Control Building W. of 03/21 runway, close N. of runway intersection.

ELEVATION

 40' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Two; one steel-plank and one concrete:-

03/21 QDM. 029° -209° .... 1,300 x 50 yds. 

11/29 QDM. 112° -292° .... 1,100 x 50 yds. 

TRACKS

45' tarmac taxying strip run along each side of the runways, connected by 30' taxi tracks to hangars, workshop, and dispersal areas.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Hill (519’) distant 2½ miles ENE.

Circuit

None.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

Under conditions of no-wind, best approach is QDM. 209°.

WIND INDICATOR

Windsock near the centre on W. aide of runway 03/21.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Landmark beacon.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

H/F (reduced to C. & M.) and VH/F.

Beacons

251MS. YG and Y.J.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Airfield lighting (Naval).

APPROACH - RADIO

Mobile 257 beam approach.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

7 transmitters, 8 receivers.

VH/F

3  transmitters, 3 receivers.

GROUND RADAR

Fighter Direction using G.C.I. and Interrogator, and Fighter Direction using low outer Radar set with Interrogator.

ACCOMMODATION

Living accommodation at Camp, 2 miles (R) NE. of the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

COMPASS BASE

Four, 2 of 70' and 2 of 50' diameter respectively.

DISPERSAL

59 single aircraft pens with Kadjan roofs, and 17 with asbestos roofs, in four area situated on either aide 07/21.

Four aprons, two for fuelling situated on either side of runway 03/21, and two for parking near its N. end.

HANGARS

Squadron hangars in dispersal areas on either side of runway 03/21. Storage hangars on NW. aide of airfield.

MEDICAL

Sick Quarters close W. of Camp. Sick Bay in Camp. Sick Bay at airfield on S. aide of runway 03/21.

METEOROLOGICAL

Office in Control Building; full service by naval personnel.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

A/c Radar base and Polar Diagram base available

TEST BUTT

Available.

WORKSHOPS

R.N. Aircraft Maintenance Yard.

VISITORS

Parking space and hangar in No. 1 dispersal area, opposite the Control building.

EXPLOSIVES

On E. side of the airfield adjacent to the W. side of the Maintenance Yard. Taxi tracks connect to the '21' end of runway 3/21 and the centre of 11/29.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to air

Two.

Air to ground

One.

Live and practice bombing

}

}One combined range.

}

Dive bombing

R.P.

Note. Dive and Practice bombing range under construction.

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