Latitude 59°05'15"N Longitude 03°17'6"W

   

ACQUISITION

Built by the Admiralty.

 

COMMISSIONED

01.04.1941 on books of 'Sparrowhawk'

01.01.1942 as independent Command 'Tern'

CLOSED

 

 

PAID OFF

20.10.1945 to Care & Maintenance on books of 'Owl'

   

C.O./O.I.C.

 
   

FUNCTION

Accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons.

Accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft (H.Q. 700 Squadron).

Home Fleet Fleet Requirements UNit (771 squadron)

 

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,
Twatt,
Mainland,
Orkney.

 

LOCALITY

On the SE. side of Loch of Isbister, ½ mile S. of the village of Twatt and 3¼ miles SE. by S. of Brough Head.
Kirkwall lies 12 miles SE. by E. Stromness lies 7½ miles S.

 

LANDMARKS

Brough Head and Loch of Isbister. (See Locality).

 

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Road on E. and S. boundaries to Stromness 9¼ miles (R) and to Kirkwall, 16 miles (R).
Piers and Harbour facilities for small vessels at Stromness and Kirkwall, with steamer communication to Scotland.

   
   

CONTROL

Control Building inside the perimeter track on the SW: of the landing area.

 

ELEVATION

 65' above M.S.L.

 

RUNWAYS

Four, tarmac.

     

    Extensibility

01/19

QDM. 013° -193°

1,000 x 30 yds.

1,235

06/24

QDM. 058° -238°

1,009 x 30 yds. 

 -

11/29

QDM. 113° -293°

1,030 x 30 yds.

1,488

15/33

QDM. 153° -333°

1,200 x 30 yds.

2056

 

TRACKS

40' perimeter track.

 

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

WSW. Vestra Fiold 400', distant 2,500 yds.

Circuit

N. Ravie Hill, 300'-350', distant 2,000 yds.
ENE. Greenay Hill, 450', distant 2,70o yds. SW. Cruaday Hill, 35o', distant 1,700 yds. W. Yonbell Hill, 300'-350', distant 1,400 yds.

Approach

None.

 

APPROACH

Recommended sector, mean QDM.

 

WIND INDICATOR

Two. One in the centre of the landing area, one on the W. side , outside the perimeter track adjacent the N. of the Test Butt.

   
   

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

Not known.

Beacons

Not known.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Mot known.

APPROACH - RADIO

 

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

Not known.

VH/F

 Not known.

   

GROUND RADAR

Not known.

   
   

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters at Skogar Camp and on the W. side of the airfield.  Additional quarters at Linklater and West Quoys.

 

Capacity:

Officers:

173

Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:

965

W.R.N.S. Officers:

7

W.R.N.S.  Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;

357

Note: Accommodation figures are those at time of reduction to C. & M. and are on war-time austerity scales.

 

ARMOURIES

Not known.

 

COMPASS BASE

Two, concrete diameter 70'.

 

DISPERSAL

5 Hardstandings from perimeter track. 1 Apron.

 

HANGARS

Dispersed around the perimeter track.

 

Number /Type

Size

Door Height

Door Width

12 Skeabrae

6o' x 5o'

20′

60′

16 Mains

60' x 70'

17'

55'

1 Bellman

185' x 105'

25'

105'

 

MEDICAL

Sick Bay in the technical site, S.W. corner of the airfield.

 

METEOROLOGICAL

Office in the Control building. Limited service by Naval personnel.

 

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation -

Not known.

M/T -

Not known.

Oil -

Not known.

 

TEST BASE

A/c radar base to NE. of landing area.

 

TEST BUTT

M.G. test butt and 25 yds. range to be adapted for Cannon.

 

WORKSHOPS

Workshops to 2-3 squadron scale.

 

EXPLOSIVES

Explosives are on W. side of the airfield, adjacent to the '11' end of the 11/29 runway and extending south to the Test Butt.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Not known.

   
Information taken from B.R. 1807 Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Dec. 48
 
 

List of first and second line squadrons, station flight and other flying units based at this location

 
700

 

 
771

 

 
802  
804  
807  
809  
812  
8117  
818  
819  
820  
821  
822  
846  
880  
884  

 

 

 

 

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

 

Click here for a list of Primary sources


Additional sources:

 

Admiralty Fleet Orders:

6221/45—R.N. Air Station, Twatt—Reduction to Care and Maintenance

 

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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