ACQUISITION

 Transferred from Air Ministry to Admiralty 01 January 1946 on loan.

COMMISSIONED

 01 January 1946 as H.M.S. GOLDCREST II, satellite to R.N.A.S. Dale.

04 September 1952 as H.M.S. GOLDCREST.

CLOSED

 31 March 1948 to Care and Maintenance Status as War Reserve. Reopened 1952.

Transferred to R.A.F. control 01 March 1971.

PAID OFF

 31 March 1948 (GOLDCREST II)

01 March 1971 (GOLDCREST)

SATELLITE TO

R.N.A.S. Dale

R.N.A.S. Culdrose, later St. Merryn (while on C & M)

C.O./O.I.C.

FUNCTION

Satellite to R.N.A.S. Dale 1946 - 48

In use by Airwork for flying training by 1949

Post 1952

Working up of front-line squadrons and Armament Training Ranges.

All weather airfield.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,

Brawdy,

Haverfordwest,

 Pembrokeshire

LOCALITY

The airfield lies one mile inland from the NE. shores of St. Bride's Bay, and 7 miles ESE. of St. David's Head.

Haverfordwest lies 7 miles SE., and Fishguard 8½ miles NE. The village of Brawdy is adjacent SE.

LANDMARKS

St. David's peninsula, with the town of St. David's and Ramsey I. W/T masts 3 miles E. and 4 miles ESE. of the airfield.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Access to main road to Haverfordwest 10 miles (R)

Passenger and goods to Haverfordwest, W.R.

Bus service from Haverfordwest to the airfield.

CONTROL

Control Building inside perimeter track on W. side of airfield S of runway intersection.

ELEVATION

 360' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Three, concrete and woos chippings.

TRACKS

50' perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

W/T masts (725') 3 miles E. and W/T masts (580') 4 miles ESE.

Circuit

None.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

Recommended approach. sector. mean QDM. o4o° .

WIND INDICATOR

Three. First 30 yards N. of Control Building, second on NW. boundary of airfield and third on SE. boundary of airfield.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

None. Post 1952 Identity beacon flashing BY (red).

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

None.  Post 1952 Cathode Ray VDF. (F.V.10)/

Beacons

None.  Post 1952 YG.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None. Post 1952 High intensity and Calvert type Approach Lighting on Runway '21. 'T' Approach Lighting on all runways.

Sodium Flare path on runways 15 and 21.

By night

None. Post 1952 Mark V airfield lighting.

Approach lighting as by day.

APPROACH - RADIO

None. Post 1952 GCA (AN/CPN4) Precision Approach on runway '21'. Search approach on all runways.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

Not known.

Post 1952 HF only - 5 transmitters, 5 receivers.

VH/F

Not known.

Post 1952  16 transmitters,  17 receivers, 2 Transceivers.

CALL SIGNS

R/T

BRAWDY

W/T

MJR

Identity letters

BY

GROUND RADAR

None.

Post 1952 Aircraft direction using C.G.I. and Interrogator and Aircraft direction using low cover radar ser with Interrogator (provided by H.M.S. Harrier). AV/CPN4 Controlled approach.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters in communal and dispersed sites.

ARMOURIES

Not known.

COMPASS BASE

One. Diameter 80', power supplied.

DISPERSAL

30 loop type hardstandings.

HANGARS

One main site SW. of runway intersection.

MEDICAL

Sick bay in dispersed site W. of '08' end of runway 08/28.

METEOROLOGICAL

Office in Control Building. Full service by Naval personnel.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

None.

TEST BUTT

25 yards range for M.G. and Cannon. Post 1952 - None.

WORKSHOPS

None. Post 1952 - Limited squadron support.

VISITORS

Visitors parking area on hard standing to rear of Control Building.

EXPLOSIVES

Not Known.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to air

West of Smalls.

Air to ground and R. p. Firing

Castlemartin. R/P Firing (Dummy heads), Practice Bombs and O.R.S.

Talbenny.O.R.S. only

Air to sea

St. Bride's Bay. R/P Firing (Dummy heads), Strafing, Practice bombing.

Information taken from BR. 1807 Admiralty Handbook of Royal Naval Air Stations Home and Abroad, Mar. 1949 & Sep. 1955