Latitude 052°43'59"N Longitude  02°32'39"W

   

ACQUISITION

Temporarily loaned by arrangement with Air Ministry from April 1944

 

COMMISSIONED

April 1944

 

CLOSED

February 1945

 

FUNCTION

Relief Landing Ground used as satellite to R.N.A.S. Hinstock for Instrument Flying Training.

 

ADDRESS

R.A.F. Station, Bratton.

Wellington,

Shropshire

 

LOCALITY

The airfield lies 2 miles NE. of Wellington, 6½ miles SSW. of R.N.A.S. Hinstock and 8 miles E. of Shrewsbury.

 

LANDMARKS

The Wrekin, 1335' 4 miles S.

 

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Railway stations at Crudington 5 miles G.W.R. and Wellington 2 miles L.M.S.

   
   

CONTROL

None.

 

ELEVATION

 191' above M.S.L.

 

LANDING AREA

Grass.


NE-SW maximum run 900 yds. 

 

TRACKS

 

 

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

None.

Circuit

None.

Approach

None.

 

APPROACH

No special approach recommended.

 

WIND INDICATOR

Not known

   
   

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

 

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

Not known

Beacons

None.

 

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None.

 

APPROACH - RADIO

None.

 

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

 Not known

VH/F

Not known

 

GROUND RADAR

None

   
   

ACCOMMODATION

Not permanently manned by RN personnel.

 

ARMOURIES

None.

 

COMPASS BASE

None.

 

DISPERSAL

None. A/C parked on edges of the landing area.

 

HANGARS

 

Number /Type

Size

Door Height

Door Width

5 x Blister

65' x 45'

   
       

MEDICAL

Not known

 

METEOROLOGICAL

Not known

 

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation:

Not known.

M/T:

Not known.

Oil :

Not known.

   

TEST BASE

None.

 

TEST BUTT

None.

 

WORKSHOPS

None.

 

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

None.

   
   

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

 

758

Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit.

Moved to RNAS Hinstock from RNAS Donibristle on 15 August 1942 as the Beam Approach School, title later changed to the Blind Approach School, and finally (by April 1943) to the Naval Advanced Instrument Flying School. Initially operating Oxfords with Anson, Reliant, Tiger Moth, and Wellington XIs being added during 1943; the Wellingtons were withdrawn by the end of 1943 and Harvard IIbs, and later Harvard IIIs, were added to the strength.  By 1944 Squadron strength increased to over 100 aircraft, mainly Oxfords, with smaller numbers of other types also in use. From 28 February 1945 the squadron began flying from RNAS Peplow, Hinstock's satellite airfield; on 18 March 1946 the squadron absorbed part of Ifo.798 Squadron, but was itself disbanded on 14 May 1946, to become 'B' Flight of 780 Squadron.


 

 

Opened as a grass Satellite Landing Ground for R.A.F Shawbury in October 1940. It later became the satellite for R.A.F. Tern Hill in January 1944. The small airfield had very basic facilities, 5 Blister hangars and concrete hardstandings. The site had limited accommodation for R.A.F. personnel but was not manned by the RN.

 

The  Admiralty was granted use of the station from April 1944 and it was Used by aircraft form 758 Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Squadron at R.N.A.S. Hinstock. The need for the station as a satellite ended in February 1945 when R.A.F. Peplow was transferred to the Admiralty as a Satellite to RNAS Hinstock.

 

R.A.F. Bratton was  closed by July 1945.

 


 

Click here for a list of Primary sources


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