ACQUISITION

Purpose built on requisitioned land. Construction commenced in 1942.

OPENED

June 1943.

COMMISSIONED

07 September 1044.

PAID OFF

28 February 1958; 31 March 1958 to Care & Maintenance status.

CLOSED (to flying)

13 December 1957.

DISPOSAL

No longer required the station was put up for disposal 24 April 1959..

C.O.

Captain B.L. Husskisson, D.S.C. (Ret), 1944

Commander M.O. Ellwood. D.S.O. (Ret) 1945

Rear Admiral L.E. Rebbeck, C.B. 1946

Captain F.G.S. Bowring, 1948

Captain R.P. Targett-Adams, 1949

Captain C.B. Pratt 1949

Rear Admiral A.J. Tyndale-Biscoe, O.B.E.1953

Captain D.P. Mansfield 1956

Commander F.C. Terry, M.B.E.  1957

FUNCTION

Reserve Aircraft Station. All weather airfield. No3. Ferry Flight.

R.N. Receipt and Despatch Unit.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station

Anthorn,

Nr. Kirkbride,

Cumberland

LOCALITY

The airfield lies on the NE. entrance of Moricambe Bay, an inlet on the SE. shore of Solway Firth, and 2 miles WNW. of Kirikbridde.

The small village4 of Anthorn. on the NW. bank of the rover Wampool, adjoins the airfield's E. boundary. Carlisle lies 11 miles E. by S.

LANDMARKS

The Solway Firth and Moricambe Bay.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

A secondary road links the airfield with the main Kirkbride-Carlisle road. Railway station at Kirkbride, 33¾ miles (R), on L.N.E.R. single track line to Carlisle.

CONTROL

Control Building on the E. side of the airfield, 160 yds. inside perimeter track.

Keeps watch 0800 to sunset or 1800, whichever is the earlier, Mondays to Fridays; 0800 - 1200 on Saturdays; as required for night flying; as ordered by A.F.O. (Air) Home for essential commitments.

ELEVATION

30' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Three, Concrete.

                                                               Extensibility
03/21 QDM. 035°-215° .... 1200 x 30 yds.    1400*

09/27 QDM. 094°-274° .... 1400 x -- yds.     2000*

15/33 QDM. 155°-335° .... 1200 x -- yds.     1600*

*Requires heavy works

TRACKS

40' perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

None.

APPROACH

Recommended sector, mean QDM. :

WIND INDICATOR

Wind socks on N. side of the landing area, neat perimeter track, and on SW. side of landing area neat compass base.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

VH/F.

Beacons

YG. and 251 MS.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

Glim lamps and floodlight.

APPROACH - RADIO

None.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

2 transmitters, 5 receivers.

VH/F

4 transmitters, 4 receivers.

Call signs

R/T

ANTHORN.

W/T

MHW

Identity letters

AH

GROUND RADAR

None.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters in two camps, one about ½ mile (R) and the other 1½ miles (R) E., of the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

COMPASS BASE

Two, tarmac, diameter 70'.

DISPERSAL

Five areas with A/C standings. in conjunction with the hangar areas.

HANGARS

In five areas, dispersed around the airfield.

MEDICAL

Sick bay in SE. corner of airfield.

METEOROLOGICAL

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

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

Three A/C Radar test bases available.

TEST BUTT

Two test butts and 25 yd. ranges, on W. side of airfield.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops to special scale.

VISITORS

Visitors parking area.

EXPLOSIVES

Explosives area east of the 21 end of runway 03/21.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to sea

One

Air to air

Air to ground and R. p. Firing

Live and practice bombing

Practice bombing

Assault training

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