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ACQUISITION |
Transferred from RAF.
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OPENED |
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COMMISSIONED |
01 July 1939
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PAID OFF |
21 May 1946 to Care & Maintenance status.
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CLOSED |
26 April 1947 |
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C.O. |
Commander (0) C. L. Howe 1 July 39
Commander (P) E. V.
Major (act) (ret) 4 Oct 39
Commander R. H. Barrett (act) (emgcy) 21 Sept 42
Commander R. H. Barrett, MRCS, LRCP. DPH, DTM & H
(act) (engcy) 21 Sept 42 |
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FUNCTION |
Air Medical School
Safety Equipment School
Observer training Part I, (non-flying)
Fire fighting school
Aircraft Handling School
Naval Fighter School - 759 Squadron |
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ADDRESS |
R.N. Air Station,
Eastleigh,
Southampton Airport,
Southampton.
Hampshire |
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LOCALITY
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NE. outskirts of Southampton.
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LANDMARKS |
Southampton Water with Southampton at its head.
Southampton - Eastleigh road and railway form the W.
boundary of the airfield. The Itchen Navigation Canal
flowing past the E. boundary.
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ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS |
Southern Railway station at Eastleigh, 1½ miles. |
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CONTROL |
Not known.
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ELEVATION |
37' above M.S.L.
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RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA |
Grass
NNE/SSW .... 1270 yds.
WNW/ESE .... 80 yds.
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TRACKS |
None. |
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OBSTRUCTIONS |
Navigation |
W/T mast 240' on a 389' summit 5¾miles
ENE.
Balloon
Barrage in vicinity. |
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Circuit |
Not known. |
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Approach |
Not known. |
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APPROACH |
Not known.
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WIND INDICATOR |
Not known. |
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HOMING—VISUAL |
By day - |
Not known. |
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By night - |
Not known. |
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HOMING--RADIO |
D/F - |
Not known. |
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Beacons - |
Not known. |
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APPROACH—VISUAL |
By day - |
Not known. |
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By night - |
Not known. |
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APPROACH—RADIO |
Not known.
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COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT |
M/F & H/F |
Not known. |
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VH/F |
None. |
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GROUND RADAR |
None.
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ACCOMMODATION |
Living
quarters on site.
Capacity:
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Officers: |
48 |
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Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings: |
681 |
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W.R.N.S. Officers: |
8 |
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W.R.N.S. Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings; |
188 |
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ARMOURIES |
Not known.
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COMPASS BASE |
Not known.
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DISPERSAL |
Not known.
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HANGARS |
On N.E. side of the landing area.
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Number /Type |
Size |
Door Height |
Door Width |
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10 Bessonneau, canvas |
138' x 64' 10'' |
13' 2'' |
64' 10' |
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By the end of the war only
one hangar remained.
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MEDICAL |
Not known.
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METEOROLOGICAL |
Not known.
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FUEL AND OIL |
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Aviation: |
Not known. |
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M/T: |
Not known. |
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Oil : |
Not known. |
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TEST BASE |
Not known.
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TEST BUTT |
Not known.
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WORKSHOPS |
Not known.
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BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES |
Not known. |
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Information taken from CB 4368 A.
Admiralty Handbook of Naval Air Stations Aug. 45 |
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List of first and second line squadrons, station
flight and other flying units based at this location |
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716 |
Reformed here 28.06.44 for development work with the
Safety Equipment School equipped with Sea Otter,
and Wellington aircraft.
Disbanded at Eastleigh
01.09.45
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758 |
Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron, part of
No.2 Air Gunners School
Formed at Eastleigh
01.07.39 (759 re-numbered), Moved to
RNAS Arbroath
14.10.40.
Equipped with Shark, Osprey, Proctor aircraft.
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759 |
Began forming at Eastleigh from 01.05.39 - intended
as TAG Training squadron but renumbered as 758
instead 01.07.39.
Formed at Eastleigh 01.11.39 as
a Fighter School and Pool Squadron, Moved to RNAS
Yeovilton 16.09.40.
Initially equipped with 9 Skuas, 5 Rocs and 4 Sea
Gladiators.
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760 |
Fighter Pool No.1
Formed at Eastleigh 01.04.40.
Moved to RNAS Yeovilton 16.09.40.
Initially equipped with 4 Skuas, 2 Rocs and 1 Sea
Gladiator.
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780 |
Conversion course Unit
Formed at Eastleigh
02.10.39. Moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent 07.10.40.
Equipment included: Hart Trainer, Nimrod,
Osprey, Proctor, Shark, Swordfish, Hornet Moth,
Gypsy Moth, Tiger Moth.
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800 |
Fleet Fighter Squadron
Moved from RAF Gosport
29/02/36 to operate from RAF Eastleigh while
disembarked from the carrier HMS COURAGEOUS.
Operated from here until finally departing for RAF
Evanton 29.03.39
Operated Nimrod & Osprey aircraft.
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801 |
Fleet Fighter Squadron
Operated from RAF
Eastleigh/Southampton when disembarked from the
carrier HMS FURIOUS - various return stays 22.11.35 - 28.01.38
Operated Nimrod & Osprey aircraft.
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802 |
Fleet Fighter Squadron
Disembarked from HMS
FURIOUS 05.05.37, embarked in HMS GLORIOUS 23.06.37
Operated Nimrod & Osprey aircraft.
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810 |
Fleet Torpedo Bomber Unit
Operate from RAF
Southampton while disembarked from the carrier HMS
COURAGEOUS - various return stays 13.07.37 - 11.01.39 when the squadron
embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL.
Disembarked from HMS ARK ROYAL14.03.39,
re-embarked 27/04/39
Operated Shark and Swordfish aircraft.
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811 |
Fleet Torpedo Bomber Unit
Sub flight 811A was
formed at RAF Southampton 15.05.39, but was
renumbered as 811 on 24.05.39 when the parent
squadron was itself renumbered to 767 squadron. 811
officially formed at Eastleigh 01.07.39. Embarked in
HMS COURAGEOUS 12.08.39.
Equipped with Swordfish aircraft.
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814 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Formed at
RAF Southampton 01/12/38. Embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL
11.01.39.
Disembarked from HMS ARK ROYAL 24.03.39.
Moved to RAF Warmwell 02.06.39
Equipped with Swordfish aircraft.
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816 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Moved to
Eastleigh from RAF Thorney Island 04.06.41. Moved to
RNAS Abbotsinch 14.06.41.
Equipped with Swordfish aircraft.
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820 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Operate from RAF Eastleigh/Southampton when
disembarked from the carrier HMS COURAGEOUS -
various return stays between 20.07.36 -
11.01.39 when it embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL.
Disembarked from HMS ARK ROYAL 24.03.39,
re-re-embarked ARK ROYAL 27.04.39
Operated Shark and Swordfish aircraft.
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821 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Operate from RAF Eastleigh/Southampton when
disembarked from the carrier HMS COURAGEOUS -
various return stays between 4.11.36 -
11.01.39 when it embarked in HMS ARK ROYAL.
Disembarked from HMS ARK ROYAL 24.03.39,
re-re-embarked ARK ROYAL 29.04.39
Disembarked from
HMS ARK ROYAL 28.06.39, re-re-embarked
ARK ROYAL 29.07.39
Operated Shark and Swordfish aircraft.
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822 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Operate
from RAF Eastleigh/Southampton when disembarked from
the carrier HMS FURIOUS - various return stays
27.05.36 - 23.01.37.
Sub flight 822A was formed at RAF Southampton
15.05.39, but was renumbered as 822 on 24.05.39 when
the parent squadron was disbanded and absorbed
into the new 767 squadron (See 811 sqdn).
822
officially reformed at Eastleigh 01.07.39.
Moved to
RNAS Donninristle for 03.07.39,
returning to Eastleigh on 12.07.39. Embarked in the
Carrier HMS COURAGEOUS 12.08.39.
Operated Shark and Swordfish aircraft.
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825 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Moved here
from RAF Abingdon 17.01.38, embarked in the carrier
HMS GLORIOUS the same day.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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829 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Disembarked from HMS FORMIDABLE 21.12.41, moved to
RNAS Lee-on-Solent 30.01.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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834 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh 12.11.41 prior to taking
passage to RNAS Palisadoes,
Jamaica where the squadron formed on 10.12.41.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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835 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh 15.01.42 prior to taking
passage to RNAS Palisadoes,
Jamaica where the squadron formed on 15.02.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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836 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh 01.02.42 prior to taking
passage to RNAS Palisadoes,
Jamaica where the squadron formed on 01.03.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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837 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh & RNAS Worthy Down 15.03.42 prior to taking
passage to RNAS Palisadoes,
Jamaica where the squadron formed on 01.05.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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838 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh 10.04.42 prior to taking
passage to RCAF Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where the squadron formed on
15.05.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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840 |
Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron
Personnel
assembled at RNAS Eastleigh 04.05.42 prior to taking
passage to RNAS Palisadoes,
Jamaica where the squadron formed on 01.06.42.
Operated Swordfish aircraft.
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PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Opened October 1st 1935 as RAF
station Eastleigh for accommodation of disembarked Fleet Air
Arm squadrons Renamed RAF Southampton on April 1st 1936. On
May 24th 1939 administrative control of the Fleet Air Arm
was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Board of
Admiralty and a small number shore stations were transferred
to Admiralty control, Eastleigh was one of them. RNAS
Eastleigh commissioned as HMS RAVEN on July 1st 1939.
The site occupied a 10 acre
area in the North East corner of the airfield and comprised
of wooden hutted accommodation and 8 Bessaneaux wooden
framed. canvas covered, hangars of First World War vintage.
The civilian airport buildings and hangars were located on
the far side of the landing area, along the Western boundary
which was formed by the A335 and the railway line from
Southampton to Eastleigh.
Click here for a list of
Primary sources
Additional sources:
Admiralty Fleet Orders:
3622/44 - R.N. Air Station,
Eastleigh— Establishment of Safety Equipment School
4854/44 - Safety Equipment
School, Eastleigh—Establishment of an Air/Sea Rescue
Section
4070/44 - R.N. Air Medical
School—Formation of—Functions, Duration
and Syllabus of Courses, etc.
3855/45. - R.N. Fire Force
5043/45 - Non-Substantive
Ratings—Aircraft Handler—Courses and Drafting
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View Larger Map
Southampton Eastleigh Airport, 25th April 1939 The site
that was to become HMS RAVEN is lower left, the civilian airport
and aircraft factories are on the far side oft he field -
Britain from Above
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