01 March 1947 as
H.M.S. Godwit on closure of R.N.A.S. Hinstock.
PAID OFF
By end of 1949
CLOSED
By end of 1949
FUNCTION
Central Naval Instrument Flying Training School
Advanced Single .Engine Conversion & Refresher Flying
Training
Previously satellite to RNAS Hinstock
ADDRESS
R.N. Air Station,
Peplow,
Market Drayton,
Shropshire,
England.
LOCALITY
The airfield lies 5 miles S. by W. of Market Drayton and
¾ miles S. of the
village of Child's Ercall. Stoke on Trent lies 13 miles
N.E. and Shrewsbury 11 miles S.W. Birmingham lies 30
miles S.E.
LANDMARKS
The Shropshire Union canal, running from Birmingham, through Market Drayton to Chester, passes 3½ miles N.E.; the river Tern, flowing S. towards its junction, 10½ miles S.W., with the Severn, passes ½ mile W.
ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS
Secondary road to Hodnet, and to Hinstock amend the main Market Drayton road. Hodnet railway station, 3¼ miles W.N.W., on the G.W.R. line to Market Drayton, where there is a junction with the L.M.S.;
CONTROL
Control building on W, side of landing area, in front tf
the technical buildings.
ELEVATION
230' above M.S.L.
RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA
Three, concrete and wood chippings:
00/18 QDM. 003° /18° .... 1400 X 50 yds.
04/22 QDM. 043° /223° .... 2000 X 50 yds.
12/30 QDM. 120° /300° .... 1400 X 50 yds.
TRACKS
50' perimeter track.
OBSTRUCTIONS
Navigation:
Circuit:
Approach:
Not known
Not known
90 ft. W/T. masts at S.E. extremity of the airfield
APPROACH
Not known
WIND INDICATOR
Not known
HOMING - VISUAL
By day:
By night:
Not known
Not known
HOMING--RADIO
D/F: Beacon:
Not known
Not known
APPROACH - VISUAL
By day:
By night:
Not known
Not known
APPROACH - RADIO
Not known
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
W/T and R/T:
VH/F:
Not known
Not known
GROUND RADAR
Not known
ACCOMMODATION
Capacity:
Based on R.A.F. accommodation figures
Officers:
222
Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:
1.469
W.R.N.S. Officers:
6
W.R.N.S. Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;
344
ARMOURIES
Not known
COMPASS BASE
Not known
DISPERSAL
30 heavy
bomber hardstandings
HANGARS
in three sites, 2 in the main technical site on W. of
landing area, 2 in a site on the E of the landing area,
ad 1 SW. between the '12' & '04' ends of runways 04/22
& 12/30.
Number /Type
Size
Door Height
Door Width
4
x T2
?' x ?'
?'
?'
1 x B1
?' x ?'
?'
?'
Note: some materials reference 5 T2
MEDICAL
Not known
METEOROLOGICAL
Not known.
FUEL AND OIL
Aviation:
Not known.
M/T:
Not known.
Oil :
Not known.
TEST BASE
Not known
TEST BUTT
Not known
WORKSHOPS
Not known
EXPLOSIVES
Explosives area at SE. end of landing area.
BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES
Not known
List of first and second line squadrons, station
flight and other flying units based at this location
734
Engine Handling Unit.
Moved here from RNAS Worthy Down
08.1945 Disbanded here 21.02.1946.
Equipped with Whitley GR.VII
- was to re-equip with Fortresses and Lancasters.
758
Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit.
Moved here from
RNAS Donibristle 15.08.1942.
Disbanded on 14 May 1946, to become 'B' Flight of
780 Squadron.
Equipped
with Anson, Oxford Reliant, Tiger Moth, aWellington
GR.XIs Harvard IIbs, and l Harvard IIIs.
780
Advanced Flying Training Unit.
Reformed at Hinstock on 28.03.1946.
Moved to RNAS Donibristle
27.03.1947
Equipped with
Fireflies, Harvards, Oxfords, Tiger
Moths. and Lancasters (based at Prplow).
798
Advanced Single .Engine Conversion & Refresher
Flying Training Unit.
Moved here from RNAS
Halesworth 28.11.1945.
Disbanded her 18.03.1946.
Equipped with Barracudas, Fireflies, Harvards,
Seafires, and Tiger Moths.
Hello, I served in the war at Godwit as a WREN map drawer. There were four of us on tall stools. I can't remember a lot about it apart from eliciting the odd tot from older chaps who gave it to soothe our stomachs! Iris Taylor nee Dutchman)
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