ACQUISITION

Transferred on loan from R.A.F. No.13 Group 06 September 19444.

COMMISSIONED

20 October 1944 as "WAGTAIL" - accounts on 'Books of SANDERLING'.

Independent command 01 November 1944, accounts remained on 'Books of SANDERLING'.

PAID OFF

10 March 1946 to Care & Maintenance Status administered by R.N.A.S. Abbotsinch.

CLOSED

C.O.

Commander (A) H.L. McCullock 06.09.44

FUNCTION

Bombardment Spotting School. No.3 Barracuda Servicing Unit. Flag Officer Carrier Training Squadron. No. 772 Fleet Requirements Unit. Accommodation for disembarked squadrons. Accommodation for two R.A.F. Squadrons.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station

Hathfield.

Ayr,

Scotland

LOCALITY

The airfield lies ¾ mile from the coast on the outskirts of Prestwick (NW,) and Ayr (SW.). Troon lies 4 miles NNW. and Glasgow 24 miles NNE.

LANDMARKS

The town and harbour of Troon; the River Ayr, passing 1 mile S. of the airfield and entering the sea through the town of Ayr at a point 1½ miles SW. Ayr racecourse lies 1 mile SSW. and the large R.A.F. airfield of Prestwick 1¾ miles N.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Main toad to Ayr. about 2 miles (by road). Auchincriive station, ½ mile to E, (By road), and Ayr railway station. about 2½ miles SW. (By road). Connections to Kilmarnock and Mauchline for the main Glasgow - London line.

CONTROL

Control Building SE. of intersection of runways 00/18 and 06/24, with full Type 1 flying control.

SIGNALS

Ground signals area NW. of Control building.

ELEVATION

50' above M.S.L

RUNWAYS

Three, Tarmac and asphalt.

06/24 QDM. 065˚-245˚ .... 1,600 x 50 yds. 

00/19 QDM. 004˚-184˚ .... 1,380 x50 yds. 

13/31 QDM. 131˚-311˚ .... 1,200 x 50 yds.

TRACKS

A 50 ft. tarmac perimeter track connects all runways. Grades and radii are poor in places. Taxi tracks and dispersal tracks to hard standings, hangars. etc., are 35 ft. wide.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

None. R.A.F. Prestwick retains flying control over all aircraft at Ayr.

Circuit

Chimneys, 200 frt., 1 mile S.

Approach

All clear, with exception of slight rising gradient at NW., end of runway 13/31.

APPROACH

No special approach recommended.

WIND INDICATOR

Windsock on E. side of landing area.

NIGHT FLYING

Drem Mark II airfield lighting; outer circle light shared with Prestwick.

HOMING—VISUAL

By day -

None.

By night -

Sandra lights.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F -

Yes, details not known.

Beacons -

Yes, details not known.

APPROACH—VISUAL

By day -

None.

By night -

Drem Mark II airfield lighting; outer circle light shared with Prestwick.

APPROACH—RADIO

R.A.F. beam approach installation.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

H/F provided on temporary basis.

VH/F

Three channels

GROUND RADAR

None.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters in 'Lang' and 'Nissen' construction on 10 dispersed sites, 1,000/2,000 yds S. of the airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

Not known.

COMPASS BASE

One, diameter 60'.

DISPERSAL

16 double pens; 6 hard standings.

HANGARS

Three hangars in workshop are. 1 R.A.F. Bellman in dispersed site NE of airfield. 17 Over blisters in squadron areas.
 

MEDICAL

Two dispersed sick quarters approximately 1.500 yards S. of airfield.

METEOROLOGICAL

Full service available by Naval personnel.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

Not known.

TEST BUTT

M.G. and Cannon.

WORKSHOPS

Not known.

VISITORS

Not known.

EXPLOSIVES

Not known.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Not known.

Air to ground:

One.

Air to air:

One.

R.P. Range:

At Machrihanish.

Information taken from CB 4368 B. Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45