RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven)

RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven) RAF Eastleigh RAF Southampton
Southampton, Hampshire in England
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Controlled by	Fleet Air Arm
Location
RNAS Eastleigh Shown within Hampshire Show map of Hampshire RNAS Eastleigh RNAS Eastleigh (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	50°57′01″N1°21′24″W / 50.95028°N 1.35667°W / 50.95028; -1.35667
Site history
Built	1939 (1939)
In use	1939 - 1947 (1947)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Runways Direction Length and surface NNE/SSW  Grass WNW/ESE  Grass

RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven) is a former Royal Naval Air Station located in Southampton, Hampshire, UK,

The site was previously RAF Eastleigh and RAF Southampton. ^[1]

History

The following units were here at some point: ^[2]

• No. 7 Squadron RAF between 27 October and 19 November 1919 as a cadre before moving to Farnborough Airport ^[3]
• No. 28 Squadron RAF between 20 October 1919 and 20 January 1920 as a cadre before disbanding ^[4]
• No. 42 Squadron RAF as a detachment between March and September 1938 with Vildebeeste's ^[5]
• No. 45 Squadron RAF between 15 October and 31 December 1919 as a cadre before disbanding ^[5]
• No. 101 Squadron RAF between 11 October and 31 December 1919 as a cadre before disbanding ^[6]
• No. 201 Squadron RAF between 2 September and 31 December 1919 as a cadre before disbanding ^[7]
• No. 224 Squadron RAF between 17 January and 26 March 1938 with the Avro Anson I before moving to RAF Thornaby ^[8]
• No. 269 Squadron RAF between 17 January and 24 March 1939 with the Anson I before moving back to RAF Abbotsinch ^[9]
• Rota Experimental Flight between 20 April and 17 June 1939 when the unit moved to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) with the Avro Rota ^[10]
• 716 Naval Air Squadron between 28 June 1944 and 1 September 1945 as the School of Safety Equipment with Sea Otter I's and the Vickers Wellington XI ^[11]
• 758 Naval Air Squadron between 1 July 1939 and 4 October 1940 as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training squadron with Shark II's and Osprey III's ^[12]
• 759 Naval Air Squadron between 26 May and 1 July 1939 as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training squadron ^[12]
• 760 Naval Air Squadron between 1 April and 16 September 1940 as a Fleet Fighter Pool with Blackburn Skua II's, Blackburn Roc I's and a Gloster Sea Gladiator ^[13]
• 780 Naval Air Squadron between 2 October 1939 and 7 October 1940 as a Conversion Course Unit with Hawker Hart trainer's and other aircraft ^[14]
• 800 Naval Air Squadron between 29 February 1936 and 7 June 1938 as a Fleet Fighter squadron with Nimrod I's and Osprey's ^[15]
• 801 Naval Air Squadron between 23 November 1935 and 28 September 1936 as a Fleet Fighter squadron with Nimrod I's and Osprey's ^[16]
• 802 Naval Air Squadron between 5 May and 23 June 1937 as a Fleet Fighter squadron with Nimrod I's and Osprey's ^[17]
• 810 Naval Air Squadron between 29 March 1938 and 27 April 1939 as a Fleet Torpedo Bomber squadron with Fairey Swordfish I's ^[18]
• 811 Naval Air Squadron between 1 July and 12 August 1939 as a Fleet Torpedo Bomber squadron with Swordfish I's ^[19]
• 814 Naval Air Squadron formed here on 1 December 1938 and stayed until 2 June 1939, it was a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron with Swordfish I's ^[20]
• 816 Naval Air Squadron between 4 and 14 June 1941 with Swordfish I's ^[21]
• 820 Naval Air Squadron between 20 July 1936 and 27 April 1939 as a Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance squadron with Swordfish I's ^[22]
• 821 Naval Air Squadron between 27 October 1937 and 29 July 1939 as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron with Swordfish I's ^[23]
• 822 Naval Air Squadron between 21 May 1936 and 23 January 1937 then again between 1 July and 12 August 1939 as a Spotter Reconnaissance squadron ^[24]
• 825 Naval Air Squadron on 17 January 1938 ^[25]
• 829 Naval Air Squadron between 21 December 1941 and 30 January 1942 as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron with Swordfish II's ^[26]

Current use

The site is now Southampton Airport. ^[2]

See also

• List of air stations of the Royal Navy

References

Citations

1. "Eastleigh". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
2. "Eastleigh (Atlantic Park) (Southampton)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 9 February 2024.
3. Jefford 1988, p. 26.
4. Jefford 1988, p. 34.
5. Jefford 1988, p. 39.
6. Jefford 1988, p. 54.
7. Jefford 1988, p. 67.
8. Jefford 1988, p. 73.
9. Jefford 1988, p. 81.
10. Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 224.
11. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 37.
12. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 76.
13. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 78.
14. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 100.
15. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 123.
16. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 129.
17. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 134.
18. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 161.
19. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 165.
20. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 174.
21. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 184.
22. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 197.
23. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 203.
24. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 206.
25. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 217.
26. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 232.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-85310-053-6.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN   0-85130-223-8.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN   978-0851-3036-59.