Jersey

Latitude 49˚12'26"N Longitude 02˚11'43"W


ACQUISITION	Requisitioned by the Admiralty March 1940
COMMISSIONED	March 1940 - accounts borne on Books of 'KESTREL'
CLOSED	31 May 1940, Naval personnel evacuated
FUNCTION
ADDRESS	R.N. Air Station, Jersey, St. Peter, Jersey, Channel Islands
LOCALITY	The airport lies 4 miles WNW of St. Helier.
LANDMARKS	The port of St. Helier 4 miles WNW.
ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS


CONTROL	Civilian ATC.
ELEVATION	53' above M.S.L.
LANDING AREA	Grass. Four landing runs - maximum run 980 yds.
TRACKS	None.
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	Not known
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT	M/F & H/F	Not known
	VH/F	Not known

GROUND RADAR	None

ACCOMMODATION

Capacity:

Officers:	Unknown.
Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings:	Unknown.
W.R.N.S. Officers:	None.
W.R.N.S. Chiefs, P.O.s and ratings;	None.

ARMOURIES

None.

COMPASS BASE

None.

DISPERSAL

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

HANGARS

Number /Type	Size	Door Height	Door Width
Not known

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.

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

755

Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron

Moved here from RNAS Worthy Down 11.03.40 Returned to RNAS Worthy Dow 31.05.40

Equipped with Proctor, Osprey and Shark.

763

Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance Pool No.1

Moved here from RNAS Worthy Dow 11.03.40 Moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent 31.05.40

Equipped with 6 x Swordfish and 6 x Albacore.

816

Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance Squadron.

Moved here for one weeks operations 04-11.06.40 from RNAS Ford.

Equipped with 9 x Swordfish.

826

Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance Squadron

Moved here for one weeks operations from R.A.F. Bircham Newton 21-29.05.40

Equipped with 12 x Albacore.

Opened as a civilian airport with grass landing area in March 1937, Jersey airport was taken over by the Admiralty early in March 1940 for use as a Naval Air Station, the accounts for naval personnel were borne on the books of 'KESTREL' at RNAS Worthy Down.

RN use of the airfield

Two training squadrons arrived on March 11th from RNAS Worthy Down to take up residence, No.s 755 Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron with a collection of Proctor, Osprey and Shark aircraft, and 763 squadron which was Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance Pool No.1 with Albacores and Swordfish.

826 Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance Squadron flew in from R.A.F. Bircham Newton on May21st for one weeks operations with their 12 Albacores, they returned to Bircham Newton on the 29th.

By this time German advances into France resulted in the British government deciding that the Channel Islands were not defendable and the new Fleet Air Arm facilities were to be withdrawn back to the mainland. 755 squadron departed for RNAS Worthy Down and 763 squadron for RNAS Lee-on-Solent on May31st, the R N Air Station was paid off on the same day.

One further Fleet Air Arm squadron was to briefly operate out of Jersey airport; the 9 Swordfish of 816 Torpedo, Bomber, Reconnaissance Squadron flew in from RNAS Ford on June 4th for one weeks operations, staying until the 11th.

On July 1st 1940 German forces landed on Jersey and occupied the Island

Click here for a list of Primary sources

Additional sources:

Admiralty Fleet Orders:

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders: