RNAS Eastleigh (HMS Raven)

Former Royal Naval Air Station in Hampshire, England

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

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RNAS Eastleigh

RNAS Eastleigh (the United Kingdom)

Show map of the United Kingdom

Coordinates| 50°57′01″N 1°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

[edit]

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

[edit]

The site is now Southampton Airport.[2]

## See also

[edit]

* List of air stations of the Royal Navy

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "Eastleigh". Royal Navy Research Archive. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
2. ^ a b "Eastleigh (Atlantic Park) (Southampton)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 26.
4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 34.
5. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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

[edit]

* 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.

* v
* t
* e

Royal Naval Air Stations

Current|

* RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) (1947–)
* Predannack Airfield (1959–)
* RNAS Merryfield (1956–1958, 1960–1961, 1972–)
* RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) (1940–)

Former UK|

| A|

* Abbotsinch (1943–1963)
* Angle (HMS Goldcrest) (1943)
* Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch) (1944–1958)
* Arbroath (HMS Condor) (1940–1971)
* Ayr (HMS Wagtail) (1944–1946)

|

* Ballyhalbert (HMS Corncrake) (1945)
* Ballykelly (HMS Sealion) (1945–1971)
* Bramcote (1946–1958)
* Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest) (1946–1971)
* Bungay (HMS Europa III) (1945–1946)
* Burscough (HMS Ringtail) (1943–1946)
* Bush Barn (1944)

* Campbeltown (HMS Landrail II) (1940–1945)
* Charlton Horethorne (HMS Heron II) (1943–1945)
* Cowdray Park (1941–1945)
* Crail (HMS Jackdaw) (1940–1947)
* Culham (HMS Hornbill) (1944–1953)

* Dale (HMS Goldcrest) (1943–1948)
* Donibristle (HMS Merlin) (1939–1959)
* Dounreay (HMS Tern II) (1944–1954)
* Drem (HMS Nighthawk) (1945–1946)
* Dundee (HMS Condor II) (1941–1944)
* Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II) (1942–1946)

* East Haven (HMS Peewit) (1943–1946)
* Eastleigh (HMS Raven) (1939–1946)
* Eglinton (HMS Gannet & HMS Sea Eagle) (1943–1963)
* Evanton (1944–1948)

F–G|

* Fearn (HMS Owl) (1942–1946)
* Ford (HMS Peregrine) (1939–1940, 1945–1948, 1950–1958)
* Gosport (HMS Siskin) (1945–1956)
* Grimsetter (HMS Robin) (1943–1945)

* Haldon (HMS Heron II) (1941–1943)
* Halesworth (HMS Sparrowhawk) (1945–1946)
* Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk) (1939–1945)
* Henstridge (HMS Dipper) (1943–1946, 1959–1954)
* Hinstock (HMS Godwit) (1942–1947)

I–K|

* Inskip (HMS Nightjar) (1943–1946)
* Kirkistown (HMS Corncrake II) (1945–1946)

* Lawrenny Ferry (HMS Daedalus II) (1942–1943)
* Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus & HMS Ariel) (1939–1996)
* Limavady (1945–19??)
* Lossiemouth (HMS Fulmar) (1945–1972)
* Ludham (HMS Flycatcher) (1944–1945)
* Lympne (HMS Buzzard & HMS Daedalus II) (1939–1940)

* Machrihanish (HMS Landrail) (1941–1946, 1951–1952)
* Macmerry (1945–1946)
* Maydown (HMS Shrike & HMS Gannet II) (1943–1945)
* Middle Wallop (HMS Flycatcher) (1945–1946)
* Milltown (HMS Fulmar II) (1946–1972)

N–P|

* Nutts Corner (HMS Pintail) (1945–1946)
* Peplow (HMS Godwit II) (1945–1949)
* Portland (HMS Osprey) (1959–1999)
* Prestwick (HMS Gannet) (1971–)

* Crimond/Rattray/Rattray Head (HMS Merganser) (1944–1946)
* Roborough (HMS Drake II) (19??–19??)
* Ronaldsway (HMS Urley) (1944–1946)

* Sandbanks (HMS Daedalus II) (1940–1943)
* St Davids (1947–1961)
* St Merryn (HMS Vulture & HMS Curlew) (1940–1952, 1952–1956)
* Skaebrae (HMS Tern II) (19??–19??)
* Stretton (HMS Blackcap) (1942–1958)
* Sydenham (1943–1973)

T–Z|

* Toome (1947–1954)
* Treligga (HMS Vulture II) (1939–1955)
* Twatt (HMS Tern) (1941–1957)
* Weston Park (HMS Godwit II) (1945)
* Woodvale (HMS Ringtail II) (1945–1946)
* Worthy Down (HMS Kestrel & HMS Ariel II) (1939–1950, 1952–1960)
* Zeals (HMS Hummingbird) (1945–1946)

Former overseas|

* Bermuda

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