Latitude 56°16'11"N Longitude 02°36'13"W

   

ACQUISITION

 

 

COMMISSIONED

1.10.1940 as 'JACKDAW'

29.4.1947 as 'BRUCE'

26.10.1949 as 'JACKDAW'

 

CLOSED

 

 

PAID OFF

'JACKDAW' 28.4.1947

'BRUCE' 25.10.49

   

C.O./O.I.C.

 
   

FUNCTION

Torpedo Trading School

T.B.R. Operational Training Unit

770 Fleet Requirements unit.

Mobile Air Torpedo Unit No.1

Accommodation for disembarked front-line squadrons.

 

Loaned as Boys training establishment 1947-49 the Reserve airfield until at least 1960.

 

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station, Crail,
Fifeshire,
Scotland.

 

LOCALITY

The airfield lies on the coast, ¾mile SW. of Fife Ness, the N. entrance point of the Firth of Forth, and ½mile NE. of the coastal village of Crail. St. Andrews lies 72 miles NW. by W.
Edinburgh lies 27 miles SW. on the S. side of the Firth of Forth.
 

LANDMARKS

The Firth of Forth, with the Isle of May lying 5 miles SSE. of the airfield.

 

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

A secondary road from Fife Ness traverses the airfield, and leads SW. to Crail railway station, distant 1½ miles (R) on the S.R.

 

   
   

CONTROL

Control building on the W. side of the landing area, inside the perimeter track.

 

ELEVATION

75 ' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Four, tarmac

                                                     Extensibility

03/21 QDM. 029°-209° .. 1000 x 33 yds.   -
07/25 QDM. o67°-247° .. 120o x 33 yds.   *17oo yds.
12/30 QDM. 117°-297° .. moo x 33 yds.     -
16/34 QDM. 157°-337° .. 1000 x 33 yds.     -

 

*Runway extension not recommended

 

TRACKS

All runways are connected to the main hangar area by 40' track. Complete perimeter track.

 

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

None.

Circuit &

Crail Church, distant goo yds. from runway 07/25 on approach QDM. 067°.
Pittowie Plantation distant 1250 yds. 282, and Balcomie Castle, distant 86o yds. 354, respectively, from the control building.

 

Approach

APPROACH

Recommended sector, mean QDM. :

 

WIND INDICATOR

Mot Known

   
   

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

 

Beacons

 

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

 

APPROACH - RADIO

 

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

 

Not known.

VH/F

   

GROUND RADAR

Not known.

   
   

ACCOMMODATION

Officers and ratings living quarters on W. side of the airfield.

 

Capacity:

Officers:

197

Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:

952

W.R.N.S. Officers:

13

W.R.N.S.  Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;

148

 

ARMOURIES

 

 

COMPASS BASE

Two, diameter 70'.

 

DISPERSAL

Areas to NW. and NE. served by 40' tracks leading off the perimeter track. Three aprons.
 

HANGARS

Main area on NW. side of the airfield, reserve hangars on the E.

 

Number /Type

Size

Door Height

Door Width

7 Bellman

187½' x 105'

25'

105' 

1 A.R.S.

25o' X 110'

25'

1I0'

 

MEDICAL

 

METEOROLOGICAL

 

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation:

Not known.

M/T:

Not known.

Oil :

Not known.

   

TEST BASE

A/c Radar base available.

 

TEST BUTT

M.G. test butt N. of main hangar area.

 

WORKSHOPS

On the W. side of the landing area. Workshops to 4-6 Squadron scale.

 

VISITORS

 

 

EXPLOSIVES

 

 

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

 

 

Air to air

 

Air to ground and R. p. Firing

 

Live and practice bombing

 

Practice bombing

 

Assault training

 
   
   

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

 

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

 

711

 

 

747

 

 

758

 

 

770

 

 

778

 

 

780

 

 

785

 

 

786

 

 

800

 

810

 

811

 

812

 

816

 

817

 

819

 

820

 

822

 

823

 

826

 

827

 

828

 

829

 

831

 

832

 

833

 

834

 

836

 

837

 

846

 

 

 

 

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

 

Click here for a list of Primary sources


Additional sources:

 

 

 

 

 

 


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