Latitude 55°02'35"N Longitude 07°09'34"W

   

ACQUISITION

Transferred on loan from R.A.F. 1.5.1943

 

OPENED

 

 

COMMISSIONED

15 May 1943 

 

PAID OFF

31 June 1959 to C & M. Airfield maintained but curtailed.

 

CLOSED

26 April 1947

 

PARENT STATION TO:

RNAS Maydown 15.5.1943 to 1.1.1944, again from 31.9.1945

 

   

C.O.

 
   

FUNCTION

Accommodation for disembarked Front-line squadrons.

Squadron Forming Unit.

No.2  Seafire Servicing Unit.

No. 3 Naval Fighter School.

Joint Anti-Submarine School.

Sono-bouy Training

Nucleus of Air Radar School.

All weather airfield.

 

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station Eglinton,

Londonderry,

Northern Ireland.

 

LOCALITY

The airfield lies on the S. shore of Lough Foyle, between the coastal railway and road, 2½ miles E. of the mouth of the River Foyle, and 1 mile NE. of the village of Eglinton. Londonderry lies 6½ miles WSW.

 

LANDMARKS

Lough Foyle and the River Foyle, with Londonderry on its W. bank. The coastal railway and road, skirting the airfield's N. and S. boundaries respectively.

 

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Main road communication with Londonderry, distant 8 miles (R). Access. by secondary road to Eglinton station, 2 miles (R) WNW. on the Londonderry-Belfast line.
Extensive port facilities at Londonderry with depth up to 24' alongside the quays and cranes with capacities up to 35 tons.

 

   

CONTROL

Control Building on the S. side of the landing area, inside the perimeter track.
Keeps watch o800—sunset or 1800, whichever is the earlier, Mondays to Fridays ; o800— 200 on Saturdays ; as required for night flying ; as ordered by Flag Officer (Air) for essential commitments.

 

ELEVATION

20' above M.S.L.

 

RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA

Three, tarmac.

                                                                Extensibility
03/21 QDM. 030°/218° .... 1100 X 50  yds.   Nil

09/27 QDM. 088°/268° .... 1600 X 50  yds.    Nil

15/33 QDM. 153°/333° .... 1083 X 50  yds.    Nil

 

TRACKS

50' perimeter track.

   

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Mountain, 1298', 4 miles SE.
Considerable mountain ranges lie to the NW., but beyond a 5 miles radius from the airfield.

Circuit

Land rising to 600' distant noo yds. SSE.

Approach

Land rises steadily to 25o' at a distance of 170o yds. from the 33 end of runway 15/33.

   

APPROACH

Recommended sector, mean QDM. :.

 

WIND INDICATOR

Windsock 15o yds. NW. of Control building.

   
   

HOMING—VISUAL

By day -

None

By night -

Airfield lighting, Mark II.

   

HOMING--RADIO

D/F -

M/F, H/F and VH/F.

Beacons -

YG, AN/CPN6 and 251MS.

   

APPROACH—VISUAL

By day -

Not known.

By night -

Not known.

   

APPROACH—RADIO

No

ne

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

17 transmitters, 7 receivers.

VH/F

9 transmitters, 1o receivers.

   

CALL SIGNS

R/T

EGLINTON

W/T

MAQ

Identity letters

JR (later GN)

   

GROUND RADAR

Aircraft direction using low cover Radar set with Interrogator.

   

 

   

ACCOMMODATION

In dispersed camps lying from half to z mile (R) SSW. of the airfield.

 

Capacity:

Officers:

212

Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:

1,415

W.R.N.S. Officers:

21

W.R.N.S.  Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;

234

Married accommodation at Maydown.

 

ARMOURIES

4-6 squadron scale.

 

COMPASS BASE

Two. One on W. side, the other on E. side of airfield, diameter 6o' and 7o' respectively.

 

DISPERSAL

10 A/c standings and 12 pens dispersed around the perimeter track. Two aprons, 340' x 120' and 600' x 8o', off the perimeter track close E. and W. of the Control building respectively.

 

HANGARS

On N.E. side of the landing area.

 

Number /Type

Size

Door Height

Door Width

2 Type T.1

175' x 90'

25'

90'

1o Fromson

70'x 92'

17'

55'

12 Blister

65' x 45'

19' 10"

54'

 

MEDICAL

Station sick quarters situated by the cross roads at St. Canices Church, Eglinton, distant z miles (R) SW.

 

METEOROLOGICAL

Office in the Control building. Limited service by Naval personnel.

 

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation:

72,00o gallons (main installation).

M/T:

5,00o gallons.

Oil :

7,00o gallons.

   

TEST BASE

A/C Radar base available.

 

TEST BUTT

M.G. test butt available, 25 yd. range on N. side of airfield.

 

WORKSHOPS

Workshops to 4-6 squadron scale.

 

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Not known.

   
   
   

Information taken from CB 4368 A. 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

 

700W

 

 

706

 

 

718

 

 

719

 

 

725

 

 

737

 

 

737X

 

 

744

 

 

745

 

 

758

 

 

768

 

782

 

 

794

 

 

795

 

 

800

 

802

 

803

 

804

 

805

 

806

 

807

 

808

 

810

 

811

 

812

 

813

 

814

 

815

 

816

 

817

 

819

 

820

 

821

 

824

 

825

 

827

 

833

 

834

 

835

 

837

 

838

 

845

 

847

 

848

 

849

 

849D

 

849D

 

850

 

852

 

853

 

856

 

878

 

881

 

882

 

883

 

886

 

887

 

890

 

891

 

892

 

894

 

896

 

898

 

1830

 

1831

 

1833

 

1835

 

1837

 

1840

 

1841

 

1842

 

1843

 

1844

 

1845

 

1846

 

1847

 

1850

 

1851

 

1852

 

 

 

 

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 

 

 

 

Click here for a list of Primary sources


Additional sources:

 

Admiralty Fleet Orders:

 

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Topic: Eglinton
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Rachel Cass
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Jul 2021
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Rachel Cass (Witham, Essex, UK) says...

Hi I am trying to find information on Mary A C Grey who was a WRNS in July 1954. The MOD are not releasing records at the moment. Is there a history society for this regiment please? Thank you, Rachel Cass Rachel.cass@hotmail.com

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