OPENED

01 Aug 1940 as part of HMS MALABAR II

COMMISSIONED

06 Nov 1940 as HMS GOSHAWK

PAID OFF

28 February 1946

CLOSED

28 February 1946

FUNCTION

No. 1 Observer Training School; Link Trainer (2) Free Gun Trainier (1)

Reserve aircraft storage.

The airfield was also used by Pan Am, British West Indies Airlines., and K.L.M. civil airlines.

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station.

Piarco,

Trinidad

British West Indies

LOCALITY

The airfield is situated on a low-lying plain 10½ miles ESE. of Port of Spain, 400 yards from the N. bank of the Caroni River and adjacent N. of the village of Piarco.

The village of Arouca lies 2 miles W. and St. Joseph4¾ miles NW.

LANDMARKS

The Caroni River, flowing in a westerly direction and entering the sea, through the Caroni swamp, 1½ miles SSE. of Port of Spain.

The railway junction at Curepe, ½ mile SE. of St. Joseph, where the railway from Port of Spain forks, one branch running E. to pass within 2 miles of the airfield's N. boundary, the other curving southwards, and passing 2 miles W.

The airfield is marked by a circle and the name "PIARCO" south of the "10" end of runway 10/28.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Access by road to the Churchill-Roosevelt highway, 1½ miles (R) N., and thence to Port of Spain, about 15 miles (R) WNW. Taxis and omnibuses available; good roads to all parts of the island.

Access to the railway station at Arouca, distant 3 miles (R) on the Trinidad Government Railway,  Guanapo - Arim - St. Joseph - Pot of Spain line. Both passengers and freight are conveyed by this railway, although the later is normally handled direct by road from Port of Spain.

CONTROL

Control office in Administration building, S. of runway 10.28.

ELEVATION

37' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS /LANDING AREA

Three, asphalt, all-weather:

05/23 QDM.053°233° ....800X 30 yds.

1028 QDM. 097°/277° .... 1665 X 50  yds.

14/32 QDM. 142°/322° .... 800 X 30  yds.

Note: In order to facilitate a forced landing in the event of engine failure soon after take-off, an extension of 1335 x 50 yds. has been cleared and levelled E. of the "29" end of runway 10.28.

TRACKS

40' taxi-tracks connect the ends of runways and give access to the hangar and workshop area.

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Mountain  range rising sharply from the plain 4 miles N. and attaining elevations of 2197' 6 miles NNW. and 2325' 5½ miles NNE. The greatest elevation of this range is 3085', distant 9 miles NE.

Circuit

None.

Approach

None in fan. Three W/T masts, 60', on the N. side of the airfield, 200 yds. NW. of runway 05/23.

APPROACH

Owing to the prevailing easterly wind, the best approach us on QDM. 110°.

WIND INDICATOR

Two windsocks, N. and S. of runway 10/28, E. of Admin. and R,N, buildings. An illuminated (green) "T" is mounted S. of the "10" end of runway 10/28.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day -

Beacon on control tower, (revolving, white, 6 R.P.M.) operated during QHI.

By night -

Beacon on control tower, (revolving, white, 6 R.P.M.)

HOMING--RADIO

D/F -

M/F manned on request

Beacons -

Carlsen Field Radio Range (DO. 382 kcs) lies 9 miles S.W.

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day -

Steady white light from Control Tower is affirmative to land.

By night -

Illuminated "T"; obstruction lights; contact lights (runway 10/28) Flood-lights at "10" end of runway 10/28.

APPROACH - RADIO

None.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

14 transmitters, 16 receivers.

VH/F

None.

GROUND RADAR

None.

ACCOMMODATION

Living quarters at Golden Grove, close S. of Arouca and 1¾ miles (R) N. of airfield.

Capacity:

ARMOURIES

To accommodate 4 squadrons.

COMPASS BASE

Two. one fixed , one rotatable, diameter 70'.

DISPERSAL

Apron 660 yds. fronts the hangar area N. of the "10" end of runway 10/27.

HANGARS

F.A.A. hangars on NW. side of airfield:

MEDICAL

First Aid on airfield. Hospital (50 beds) at Golden Grove camp.

METEOROLOGICAL

Full service by Naval personnel.

Prevailing wind, easterly, varying ENE. and ESE. in middle and later part of year.

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation -

100, 87 and 73 octane. Storage capacity:

100 octane -, 20,000 gallons; 87 octane, 20,000 gallons.

Other grades supplied by Shell Co. from S. side of airfield.

Note: Fuel supplied by Shell by pipeline or Bowser.

M/T -

2.000 gallons

Oil -

All grades available. No storage tanks. Stowed in drums.

TEST BASE

None.

TEST BUTT

M.G. and cannon test butt and 25 yd. range.

WORKSHOPS

.Four A.R.S. hangars, an en engine repair shop, an electrical workshop and a radio repair shop. General engineering shop and Radar workshop.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air firing and bombing range:

One. Waterloo Range, situated in the Gulf of Paria, off the W. coast of Trinidad. The range is an area bounded by lines drawn between the following coordinates:

Latitude:

10° 32' 05" N.

10° 32' 05" N.

 10° 17' 05" N.

10° 17' 05" N.

Longitude:

61° 34' W.

61° 43' W.

61° 43' W.

61° 34' W.

Information taken from CB 4368 B. 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

749

Observer Training Squadron, part of No.1 Observer School

Formed here on 01.01.41. Disbanded 01.10.45

Equipped with Supermarine Walrus, Grumman Goose, and Avro Anson.

750

Observer Training Squadron, part of No.1 Observer School

Arrived on station 05.11.40 after being relocated from the UK.. Disbanded 10.10.45

Equipped with Blackburn Shark, Fairey Albacore, and Fairey Barracuda.

752

Observer Training Squadron, part of No.1 Observer School

Arrived on station 05.11.40 after being relocated from the UK.. Disbanded 09.10.45

Equipped with Percival Proctor, De Havilland Tiger Moth, and Fairey Albacore,

793

Air Towed Target Unit, part of No.1 Observer School

Arrived on station 18.11.40 after being relocated from the UK.. Disbanded 10.10.45

Equipped with Blackburn Roc, Miles Martinet T.T.1, Fairey Fulmar, and Fairey Albacore.

817

Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance squadron

 'Z' flight (3?) Albacore  arrived here from USNAS Norfolk. Virginia 21-09.43. Aircraft withdrawn and re-issued to 750 squadron. Personnel departed for USNAS Norfolk 27.09.43.