RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet)

RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet)
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type		Military
Owner		Ministry of Defence
Operator		Royal Air Force as RAF Eglinton Royal Navy as RNAS Eglinton
Location		Eglinton, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Built		1940
In use		1941-1959
Elevation AMSL		6 ft 7 in ft / 2 m
Coordinates		55°02′35″N 007°09′34″W
Map
RNAS Eglinton Location in Northern Ireland
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
00/00	0	0	Asphalt
00/00	0	0	Asphalt
00/00	0	0	Asphalt

Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton or RNAS Eglinton was a Royal Naval Air Station located 1.3 miles (2.1 km) north east of Eglinton, County Londonderry and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) of Londonderry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The air station was operational between 1943 and 1959.

Station history

RAF Eglinton use

The Royal Naval Air Station has its origins in early World War II when in 1941 RAF Eglinton was established as the home to No. 133 Squadron RAF which flew Hawker Hurricane fighters in defence of Derry. In 1942 the base was occupied by No. 41 Squadron RAF when it moved in on 22 September flying the Supermarine Spitfire VB before moving to RAF Llanbedr on 20 September 1942. In 1943 the airfield became a Fleet Air Arm base called RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) and was home to the 1847 Naval Air Squadron which provided convoy air cover as part of the Second Battle of the Atlantic.

RNAS Eglinton use

RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) was the name assigned to RNAS Eglinton, a Fleet Air Arm base in Northern Ireland. A number of ships have borne the name HMS Gannet.

The air station's main function was to work up Fighter Squadrons' pilots before joining the attacks on Japan. HMS Maydown with Fairey Swordfish aircraft next door to Eglinton received Battle Honours for its role in the Battle of the Atlantic from 1943 until 1945. April 1959 saw RNAS Eglington close and the Squadrons moved to RAF Ballyhalbert and RAF Ballykelly.

Based units

• No. 133 Squadron RAF
• No. 41 Squadron RAF
• No. 725 Naval Air Squadron This was the Home Squadron.
• No. 1847 Naval Air Squadron
• 815 Naval Air Squadron flew its 12 Westland Whirlwinds from RNAS Eglinton to RNAS Portland on 14 April 1959.

Current use

The current RNAS Eglinton site is now used by the City of Derry Airport in County Londonderry with HMS Gannet a Fleet Air Arm base established in 1971 at RNAS Prestwick in Ayrshire.

See also

• List of air stations of the Royal Navy
• List of former Royal Air Force stations