ACQUISITION

Transferred from 21 Group R.A.F.

OPENED

28 February 1945

COMMISSIONED

28 February 1945 As H.M.S. Godwit II

01 March 1947 as H.M.S. Godwit on closure of R.N.A.S. Hinstock.

PAID OFF

 By end of 1949

CLOSED

 By end of 1949

FUNCTION

Central Naval Instrument Flying Training School

Advanced Single .Engine Conversion & Refresher Flying Training

Previously satellite to RNAS Hinstock

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,

Peplow,

Market Drayton,
Shropshire,

England.

LOCALITY

The airfield lies 5 miles S. by W. of Market Drayton and ¾ miles S. of the village of Child's Ercall. Stoke on Trent lies 13 miles N.E. and Shrewsbury 11 miles S.W. Birmingham lies 30 miles S.E.

LANDMARKS

The Shropshire Union canal, running from Birmingham, through Market Drayton to Chester, passes 3½ miles N.E.; the river Tern, flowing S. towards its junction, 10½ miles S.W., with the Severn, passes ½ mile W.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Secondary road to Hodnet, and to Hinstock amend the main Market Drayton road. Hodnet railway station, 3¼ miles W.N.W., on the G.W.R. line to Market Drayton, where there is a junction with the L.M.S.;

CONTROL

Control building on W, side of landing area, in front tf the technical buildings.

ELEVATION

230' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA

Three, concrete and wood chippings:

00/18 QDM. 003° /18° .... 1400 X 50 yds.

04/22 QDM. 043° /223° .... 2000 X 50 yds.

12/30 QDM. 120° /300° .... 1400 X 50 yds.

TRACKS

50' perimeter track.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation:
Circuit:
Approach:

Not known

Not known

90 ft. W/T. masts at S.E. extremity of the airfield

APPROACH

Not known 

WIND INDICATOR

Not known 

HOMING - VISUAL

By day:

By night:

Not known

Not known

HOMING--RADIO

D/F: Beacon:

Not known

Not known

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day:  

By night:  

Not known
Not known

APPROACH - RADIO

Not known

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

W/T and R/T:

VH/F:

Not known

Not known

GROUND RADAR

Not known 

ACCOMMODATION

Capacity: Based on R.A.F. accommodation figures

ARMOURIES

Not known 

COMPASS BASE

Not known 

DISPERSAL

30 heavy bomber hardstandings

HANGARS

in three sites, 2 in the main technical site on W. of landing area, 2 in a site on the E of the landing area, ad 1 SW. between the '12' & '04' ends of runways 04/22  & 12/30.

MEDICAL

Not known

METEOROLOGICAL

Not known.

FUEL AND OIL

TEST BASE

Not known

TEST BUTT

Not known

WORKSHOPS

Not known

EXPLOSIVES

Explosives area at SE. end of landing area.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Not known

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

734

Engine Handling Unit.

Moved here from RNAS Worthy Down 21.08.45 Disbanded here 21.02.1946.

Equipped with Whitley GR.VII - was to re-equip with Fortresses and Lancasters.

758

Naval Advanced Instrument Flying Training Unit.

Moved here from RNAS Donibristle 15.08.1942. Disbanded on 14 May 1946, to become 'B' Flight of 780 Squadron.

Equipped with Anson, Oxford  Reliant, Tiger Moth, aWellington GR.XIs   Harvard IIbs, and l Harvard IIIs.

780

Advanced Flying Training Unit.

Reformed at Hinstock on 28.03.1946. Moved to RNAS Donibristle 27.03.1947

Equipped with Fireflies, Harvards, Oxfords, Tiger Moths. and Lancasters (based at Prplow).

798

Advanced Single .Engine Conversion & Refresher Flying Training Unit.

Moved here from RNAS Halesworth 28.11.1945. Disbanded her 18.03.1946.

Equipped with Barracudas, Fireflies, Harvards, Seafires, and Tiger Moths.