ACQUISITION

Transferred from RAF 15.07.1942

COMMISSIONED

01.08.1942 on 'Books of 'Merlin'

11.10.1942 as 'OWL'

CLOSED

PAID OFF

02.07.1946 to C & M status On books of 'Fulmar' at 6 months notice to reopen.

C.O./O.I.C.

FUNCTION

Barracuda Operational Training UnitNo. 2 Torpedo School

No. 1 Avenger Servicing Unit,

No. 1 Barracuda Servicing Unit.

No. 3 Barracuda Servicing Unit.

Accommodation for disembarked squadrons.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station

Fearn,

Ross-Shire,

 Scotland.

LOCALITY

The airfield, situated 1 mile SSE. of the village of Fearn, lies 1 mile from the NW. shore of the Moray Firth and 4 miles NNE. of North Sutor, the N. entrance point to Cromarty Firth.
Invergordon lies 8½ miles SW. Inverness lies 19 miles SSW.

LANDMARKS

Tarbat Ness, 8 miles NE., dividing Dornoch Firth to the NW. from Moray Firth to the SE.
Cromarty Firth stretches W. and then. SW. from North Sutor.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

A main road, skirting the NE. boundary of the airfield runs SW. to Invergordon 14 miles (R), and Dingwall, 27 miles (R), and SE. to Balintore, on the coast, 1 mile (R).
Fearn railway station, on the Invergordon lines, lies 3 miles (R) WNW. of the airfield.

CONTROL

Control Building inside the perimeter track on the NE. side of the landing area

ELEVATION

 25' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

Three, tarmac.

                                                                 Extensibility
00/18 QDM. 356°/176° .... 1,180 X 50  yds.   1400

05/23 QDM. 052°/232° .... 1,475 X 50  yds.    3000

11/39 QDM. 115°/295° .... 1,260 X 50  yds.     3000

TRACKS

40' perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Hill of Nigg, summit 666', distant 2¼miles SSW.

Circuit

Northern slopes of Hill of Nigg, about x mile S.

Approach

None.

APPROACH

Use of Runway 00/18 is subject to the following limitations :-
(a) Approach on circuit over I Iill of Nigg to be made at not less than 1000'.
(b) Height should only be lost when in direct line of runway extended.
(c) Height over funnel should be not less than 500'.

WIND INDICATOR

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

 transmitters,  receivers.

VH/F

  transmitters,   receivers.

CALL SIGNS

R/T

W/T

Identity letters

GROUND RADAR

ACCOMMODATION

Officers and ratings, living quarters in dispersed sites beyond the NE. boundary.

Capacity:

Note: Accommodation figures are those at time of reduction to C. & M. and are on war-time austerity scales.

ARMOURIES

COMPASS BASE

One, tarmac diameter 70'.

DISPERSAL

6 small and 2 large A/c standings and 6 double pens.

HANGARS

Dispersed round the perimeter track

MEDICAL

METEOROLOGICAL

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

A/C radar base on SE. of landing area.

TEST BUTT

Test butt and 25 yd. range available.

WORKSHOPS

Workshops 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