RNAS Kingsnorth

Last updated

RNAS Kingsnorth
RAF Kingsnorth
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Kingsnorth (Medway), Isle of Grain, Kent in England
Kent UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RNAS Kingsnorth
Shown within Kent
United Kingdom adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RNAS Kingsnorth
RNAS Kingsnorth (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates 51°25′22″N0°36′07″E / 51.42278°N 0.60194°E / 51.42278; 0.60194
Type Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner Admiralty
Operator Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
Site history
Built1913 (1913)/14
In useApril 1914 - August 1921 (1921)
Garrison information
Past
commanders		Commander Neville Usborne RNVR

RNAS Kingsnorth was a First World War Royal Navy air station for airships, initially operating as an experimental and training station, it later moved on to large scale production of airships. It also provided anti-submarine patrols. A number of experimental and prototype blimps were designed and tested there and until 1916, it was the lead airship training establishment in the Royal Naval Air Service. [1]

Contents

It was located at the southeastern coast of the Hoo Peninsula in Kent. [2]

It is not to be confused with RAF Kingsnorth, a separate airfield near Ashford in southern Kent under RAF control before and during World War II.

Beginnings

In 1912 an airship station was procured by the Admiralty to test and evaluate airships with Kingsnorth farm (later RNAS Kingsnorth) chosen as the location in 1913. Miskin, the landowner agreed to surrender his lease on Kingsnorth Farm so that an airship test hangar could be built. A further 81 and a half acres were later purchased from Miskin (Barton Farm) to allow the unrestricted manoeuvring of airships in the test phase. [3]

The air station initially received a German built Parseval PL-18 airship and undertook evaluations, where it received the service designation Naval Airship No. 4 (NA4). [4] Kingsnorth also received an Astra Torres airship. [5] Experiments were carried out including an unsuccessful attempt to launch a fighter aircraft from a non-rigid balloon. [6]

Royal Naval Air Service (1914-1918)

A HMA 3 Astra-Torres airship in its shed at RNAS Kingsnorth. Vereker Hamilton HMA3.jpg
A HMA 3 Astra-Torres airship in its shed at RNAS Kingsnorth.

RNAS Kingsnorth was commissioned in April 1914 under the control of the Admiralty, first through the Naval Airship Branch, then through the Royal Naval Air Service when the Royal Navy reformed its air branch in July 1914. [7] The RNAS took over the base's two huge airship sheds and its development and training functions.

Flying Units

RNAS Kingsnorth initially used the first two airships: Astra Torres No. 3 and Parseval No.4, to escort troopships carrying the British Expeditionary Force to France in the summer of 1914. [5]

RNAS Kingsnorth was involved in the development and flight testing of non-rigid airships, with the SS-class airship (Submarine Scout) being the first type to operate from there, providing anti-submarine defences to the Thames Estuary and southeast coast. [5] The C-Class airship (Coastal Class) type followed, with aircrews trained at the site until the then-named RNAS Cranwell took over this role mid-war. [8]

By the start of 1915, there were less than 100 British airmen who could actually fly an airship. It was then decided that RNAS Kingsnorth would be used as a flying training station. Students who had completed the free ballooning courses and ground instruction at RNAS Wormwood Scrubs, would then be passed on to RNAS Kingsnorth for instruction at an operational airship station.

Intensive training was given to the pupils, and due to the operational requirements for qualified pilots, the initial stage was omitted and student aircrew found themselves on the immediate instruction course on an operational airship. Training was given in both theory and practice, with students completing courses in aeronautics, navigation, metrology, engineering, and practical flying. Instruction was given in Submarine Scout ships which were perfectly suited as they had a two-seater configured fuselage. [5]

Testing of the NS-class airship (North Sea) also took place at RNAS Kingsnorth, with successful flight trials first completed in February 1917. [9]

Aviation Support Units

By 1914, RNAS Kingsnorth was also home to a newly formed Naval Met Service, which provided weather information to airships operating locally over the North Sea. [10]

Royal Air Force (1918-1921)

On 1 April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the RNAS combined to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the station became known as RAF Kingsnorth before decommissioning in 1921. [2]

The site was occupied by Kingsnorth Power Station until it was decommissioned in 2012. A new development, called MedwayOne, is planned to include storage, a data centre, lorry park, and manufacturing space. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm</span> Aviation arm of the Royal Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the F-35 Lightning II carrier-based stealth fighter jointly with the Royal Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Naval Air Service</span> Aerial warfare arm of the British Royal Navy (1914-18)

The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force (RAF), the world's first independent air force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Mona</span> Royal Air Force relief landing ground in Isle of Anglesey, Wales

Royal Air Force Mona, or more simply RAF Mona, is a Royal Air Force station near Bodffordd on the island of Anglesey, Wales. It is primarily used as a relief landing ground for RAF Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Brawdy</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Brawdy, or more simply RAF Brawdy, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids, Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1944 and 1992; it was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy (1946–1971), before the site was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">700 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

700 Naval Air Squadron is a Maritime Unmanned Air System squadron in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. Known as 700X Naval Air Squadron, where the 'X' is used to designate 'experimental', it is currently the Royal Navy's Remotely-piloted air systems (RPAS) or 'drone' expert unit.

RNAS Calshot was a First World War Royal Navy air station for seaplanes and flying boats, mainly operating as an experimental and training station, but also providing anti-submarine and convoy protection patrols.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">750 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

The Royal Navy Observer School grew out of HM Naval Seaplane Training School at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as a result of a series of changes of identity and parent unit. From 1918 until 1939 the Royal Air Force was responsible for naval aviation, including training and provision of aircrew to the Royal Navy. With the return of naval aviation to the Royal Navy on 24 May 1939, the Observer School was established as 750 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm. During World War II the squadron moved to Trinidad to continue training aircrew. It was temporarily disbanded in October 1945. The squadron reformed in 1952 and is currently based at RNAS Culdrose, where it trains approximately 30 Royal Navy observers every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astra-Torres airship</span> Non-rigid airships built by Société Astra in France

The Astra-Torres airships were non-rigid airships built by Société Astra in France between about 1908 and 1922 to a design by the Spaniard Leonardo Torres Quevedo. They had a highly characteristic tri-lobed cross-section rather than the more usual circular cross-section. This was the result of moving most of the blimp's bracing wires inside the envelope in an attempt to minimise drag. Early Astra-Torres airships could be trimmed by moving the entire gondola fore and aft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Kingsnorth (World War II)</span> WWII allied airfield

Royal Air Force Kingsnorth or more simply RAF Kingsnorth is a former Royal Air Force Advanced Landing Ground in Kent, England. It was at Bliby Corner approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Ashford; about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of London. It is not to be confused with RNAS Kingsnorth, later RAF Kingsnorth, which was an airship station in operation during and after the First World War.

RNAS Hatston (HMS <i>Sparrowhawk</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Orkney, Scotland

Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, was a military airfield located one mile to the north west of Kirkwall, on the island of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, built as a Royal Naval Air Station. It was located near the strategically vital naval base of Scapa Flow, which for most of the twentieth century formed the main base of the ships of the Home Fleet. The airbase was designed to provide accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons and accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft and was home to the Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit, 771 Naval Air Squadron.

Royal Air Force Eastchurch or more simply RAF Eastchurch is a former Royal Air Force station near Eastchurch village, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England. The history of aviation at Eastchurch stretches back to the first decade of the 20th century when it was used as an airfield by members of the Royal Aero Club. The area saw the first flight by a British pilot in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Carew Cheriton</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Carew Cheriton, or more simply RAF Carew Cheriton, is a former Royal Air Force station located near Carew, Pembrokeshire. It was situated 4.7 miles (7.6 km) north west of Tenby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SS class airship</span> Type of aircraft

SSclass airships were simple, cheap and easily assembled small non-rigid airships or "blimps" that were developed as a matter of some urgency to counter the German U-boat threat to British shipping during World War I. A secondary purpose was to detect and destroy mines. The class proved to be versatile and effective, with a total of 158 being built in several versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">703 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

703 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy was formed as a long-range catapult squadron on 3 March 1942 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent. During the Cold War, it was reformed as an experimental trials unit, and then as a helicopter training squadron. Since 2003, the squadron has formed the Royal Naval wing of the Defence Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Barkston Heath.

HMS Daedalus II was a British Royal Navy air station and training establishment between 1940 and 1946. The name applied to four different locations with the United Kingdom at various times during the Second World War. The establishment was formed to free up space at RNAS Lee-on-Solent .

RNAS Capel was a First World War airship station near Folkestone, Kent.

Royal Air Force Macmerry or more simply RAF Macmerry is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland and 11.4 miles (18.3 km) east of Edinburgh. It was situated immediately to the north east of Macmerry on the north side of the A1 road. It has also been called RNAS Macmerry and unofficially RAF Tranent and RAF Penston during its life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airship N.S.11 crash</span>

The Airship NS11 crash was an airship accident which occurred on 15 July 1919. The Royal Air Force (RAF) airship exploded off the east coast of England over the North Sea, killing all nine crew on board.

RNAS Hinstock (HMS <i>Godwit</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Shropshire, England

Royal Naval Air Station Hinstock is a former Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm station, located 4 miles (6 km) South West of Market Drayton in Shropshire, England. It was operational between 1941 and 1947, being used by both the Royal Air Force (1941-1942) and the Royal Navy (1942–1947).

References

  1. ↑ "Archaeological and historical analysis by southern power" (PDF).
  2. 1 2 Historic England. "Kingsnorth Airship Station (1458978)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "History and Archaeology by Southern Power on the Kingsnorth site" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Parseval PL 18".
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Airship Sheds United Kingdom - Kingsnorth". Airship Heritage Trust. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Exploring Kent's Past". 25 January 2008.
  7. ↑ "Naval Aviation History & FAA Origins - Fleet Air Arm Archive". fleetairarmarchive.net. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ "Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust - RNAS Kingsnorth".
  9. ↑ "North Sea Class airships".
  10. ↑ "Fly Navy 100" (PDF). Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  11. ↑ Nelson, Katie May (18 November 2022). "Uniper to build MedwayOne on Kingsnorth power station site on Hoo Peninsula creating 2,000 jobs". Kent Online . Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.