ACQUISITION

Transferred from R.A.F.  1.5.1943

COMMISSIONED

1.1.1944

31.9.1945 as 'GANNET II' satellite to RNAS Eglinton

CLOSED

PAID OFF

31.9.1945 as SHRIKE

C.O./O.I.C.

FUNCTION

Joint A/U. School.

Formation and working up Of T.B.R. units.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station

Maydown,
Londonderry,
N. Ireland.

LOCALITY

The airfield lies near the E. bank of the River Foyle one mile from its mouth in the S.W. corner of Lough Foyle; the Faughan, a tributary of the Foyle, flows past the E. boundary.
Londonderry lies 3 miles S.W.
R.N.A.S. Eglinton lies 2/ miles E. by N.

LANDMARKS

Lough Foyle, and the rivers Foyle and Faughan.
The city of Londonderry.
Two small loughs, Lough Enagh W. and Lough' Enagh E., lying i½mile S.W. of the airfield.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Main road communication with Londonderry and R.N.A.S. Eglinton.
-Access to Londonderry station, 3 miles S.W. by W., and to Eglinton station, 2 miles N.E. by-E., both on the Londonderry--Belfast line. Passengers for the 1R.N.A.S. should alight at Culmore Station, 1mile. N.N.W. of the airfield.
Extensive port facilities at Londonderry, with depths up to 24 ft, alongside the quays, and cranes with capacities up to 35 tons.

CONTROL

Control building on N..side of landing area, close inside perimeter track.

Ground signals area, 60 yds. S. of Control building.

ELEVATION

 50' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Two, 

00/18 QDM. 002° 182° ....1,250 x 50 yds. 

07/25 QDM. 068° 249° .... 1.600 x 50 yds.

TRACKS

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Mountain range N.W. with summit 1,589 ft. at Scalp Mountain, distant 5 miles..
Land rises steadily to 800 ft. within 5 miles S.E, and S.W., being 500 ft. above the airfield close to the approach path to runway 00/18 at a point 2½, miles S.S.E.

Circuit

Land rising to 25Q ft. above the airfield distant 4;094 yds. S.S.E.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

Recommended Sector, mean QDM. :

WIND INDICATOR

Windsock on N. side near Ground Signals area.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

M/F

Beacons

Type 251M, and 257 being installed.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Glim lamp flare path by previous arrangement only. Runway 07/25 fittedwith "Contact" lighting and approach floodlights.

APPROACH - RADIO

None.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

One line M/F. One F.M. 12. Two lines H/F. One D.F.G. 25.

GROUND RADAR

Use of R.N.A.S. Eglinton facilities.

ACCOMMODATION

In dispersed camps S.E. of the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

To accommodate 4 squadrons.

COMPASS BASE

None. Three hard standings are marked out.

DISPERSAL

31 A/c. standings and six double pent off the perimeter track on the. N._ side and six A/c. standings' on the S. side, The field close N. of the Storage hangar is suitable for picketing up to 16 light types of aircraft.

HANGARS

Squadron hangars dispersed along the N.W. side of the airfield. Workshop
hangars on the S. and S,E. sides.-

MEDICAL

Sick Bay at Campsite cross roads, ½ mile E. of Faughan bridge.

METEOROLOGICAL

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

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

 A/C Radar test base on the S. side of airfield.

TEST BUTT

M.G. and cannon range on E. side of airfield outside the perimeter track (permanently unserviceable).

WORKSHOPS

One A.R.S. hangar (175' x 90' x 19' x 90') and workshops to 2-3 squadron scale.

EXPLOSIVES

Practise stocks (less depth charges) to provision 2 T.B.R. Squadrons kept in'three Nissen huts, dispersed on N. side of landing area

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Use of R.N.A.S. Eglinton facilities.

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

744

758

794

804

807

813

816

819

821

822

824

825

831

832

833

836

838

840

842

845

846

848

849

850

852

853

856

860

1832

1834