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One of three sites selected
The
Mackinnon Road site, 41½ miles NW of Mombasa was one of
three locations selected for new naval airfields in Eastern
Africa for the support of the Eastern Fleet operations in
the Indian Ocean; the other two were at Voi, Kenya, 79 miles
NNW from Mombasa, and Tanga, Tanganyika, 72 miles SSW of
Mombasa.
Airstrip built in the African bush
Work began
to develop the site alongside the Mombasa-Nairobi railway at
Mackinnon Road at the start of May 1942. The site was little
more than a small clearing in the bush which was expanded,
and extended to create two landing strips, 200 yards wide by
1950 and 1700 yards in length. The two landing strips formed
a dog- leg pattern with the longer strip running parallel to
the road and rail track, the shorter strip intersecting
South Eastern end. It was to take two months to completely
clear the necessary areas but sufficient space had been
cleared for the first aircraft to arrive at the end of the
month. These were the 9 Albacores of 831 Torpedo, Spotter
and Reconnaissance squadron
which flew ashore from the Fleet Carrier HMS INDOMITABLE on
the 29th.
Work
continued for several months to fully establish the basic
airfield, much of the manpower was provided by the East
African Military Labour Service (E.A.M.L.S. ), 350 of these
native workers were billeted in a camp just North of the
landing area on the far side of the road and railway. Other
workers were recruited from local tribesmen, especially camp
support staff such as cooks, and stewards. The Albacores
remained ashore for the next five weeks before re-embarking
in INDOMITABLE on July 9th.
Supporting the Eastern Fleet
The next
squadrons did not arrive until mid-August when 881 and 882 Fleet
Fighter squadrons flew ashore from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS on the
19th, 881 was equipped with 9 Martlet IIs. On the same
date 882 squadron received 9 Martlet IIs issued from
the storage section at RNARY Nairobi.
Ten days later a further unit arrived on the station when
the Albacores and Swordfish of B Flt of 796 Eastern Fleet
Torpedo, Spotter and Reconnaissance Pool squadron based at
RNAS Tanga arrived for
a month long detachment on August 29th.
The newly
formed 882 squadron was to be short lived, being absorbed
into 881 on September 5th 1942 to increase its equipment to
18 Martlet IIs. The new, larger 881 flew out to re-embark in
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS the following day. Their place was taken by
795 Fleet Fighter Pool Squadron's Fairey Fulmars and Grumman
Martlets which moved here from RNAS Tanga on September 19th.
B Flt of 796 squadron returned to RNAS Tanga on the 30th leaving only
795 squadron flying from the airfield on refresher flying
training duties. Half (?)of the new, larger, 881 returned to
Mackinnon Road on October 20th when B flight was flown
ashore from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. They stayed until December 7th
before rejoining ILLUSTRIOUS; this was the last use by a
disembarked carrier squadron, the station's sole occupant
was now 795 Squadron which continued its training role until
being disbanded here on August 11th 1943.
After only
sixteen months of operations RNAS Mackinnon Road was no
longer needed, no father use of the airfield is recorded. On May
15th 1944 it was reduced to Care & Maintenance status on
the books of
H.M.S. 'Tana' at three months notice to re-open.
Click here for a list of
Primary sources
Additional sources:
Meredith, A. (2011) 'The Pilot and the Commando: The
Interlinked Lives of Two Young Christians in the Second
World War', Milton Keynes, Authorhouse
Pountney, C. (1986) 'Uncle's War in the Fleet Air Arm',
Penzance, United Writers Publications Ltd
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