RAF Brawdy | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brawdy, Pembrokeshire in Wales | |||||||||
Coordinates | 51°53′01″N 005°07′26″W / 51.88361°N 5.12389°W | ||||||||
Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||
Site information | |||||||||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
Operator | Royal Air Force Royal Navy | ||||||||
Controlled by | RAF Coastal Command * No. 19 Group RAF Fleet Air Arm[1] | ||||||||
Condition | Closed | ||||||||
Site history | |||||||||
Built | 1943 | /44||||||||
In use | |||||||||
Fate | Transferred to British Army in 1995 to become Cawdor Barracks. | ||||||||
Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II Cold War | ||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||
Identifiers | ICAO: EGDA, WMO: 03603 | ||||||||
Elevation | 107 metres (351 ft)[1] AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Note | Airfield no longer in use. |
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 (1944–1946 and 1971–1992) and the Royal Navy (1946–1971), before the site was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks.
The village of Brawdy is adjacent to the south-east of the airfield, which lies one mile inland from the north-east shores of St. Bride's Bay and seven miles east south east of St David's Head. Haverfordwest lies seven miles (11 km) south-east. Notable landmarks are St. David's peninsula, with the city of St. Davids and its cathedral, along with Ramsey Island.[2]
The Pembrokeshire base was officially opened on 2 February 1944, as a satellite station for the nearby RAF St Davids, under No. 19 Group, RAF Coastal Command, with No 517 Meteorological Squadron moving in the day before.[3] The unit operated with the Handley Page Halifax Mk V, before changing to the Mk III, in March 1945. The squadron moved to RAF Chivenor in November 1945.[4] No. 58 and No. 502 Sqns used the airfield to undertake anti-submarine patrols from February 1944, while based at RAF St Davids.[3]
The next squadron to move in was No. 521 Squadron RAF, from December 1944 until May 1945, as a detachment operating the Boeing Fortress I.[5]
Between February and June in 1945, No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was a lodger unit at Brawdy, due to lack of space at RAF Haverfordwest, providing photo reconnaissance training with a detachment of Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito aircraft.[6]
RAF St Davids became the satellite station when its headquarters, sick bay and workshops facilities, moved to RAF Brawdy in November 1945.[7]
Between the 2 February 1944 and the 27 April 1946, No. 595 Squadron RAF aircraft may have had a detachment based here with a variety of aircraft.[8]
On 1 January 1946, the station was transferred over to the Admiralty from the Air Ministry, on loan, and became Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy (RNAS Brawdy, also known as HMS Goldcrest II). It was initially used as a Relief Landing Ground for RNAS Dale. On 31 March 1948, Brawdy was reduced to Care & Maintenance status as War Reserve. Following the closure of RNAS Dale, RNAS Brawdy was then commissioned as HMS Goldcrest on 4 September 1952.[2] The base went into reserve, in 1960, to enable modernisation work, reopening in April 1963,[9] before paying off on the 1 March 1971.
In January 1946, 784 Night Fighter Training Squadron moved to RNAS Dale, but operated out of RNAS Brawdy, providing night fighter instruction for the next nine months from here.[2] 773 Pilotless Aircraft Unit was relocated from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), in March 1946. It was set up as a service trials unit, to develop pilotless drone aircraft. Both squadrons disbanded at RNAS Brawdy in September 1946.[10] 811 Two seat Fighter Squadron, arrived at RNAS Brawdy in December 1946. It was notably the only front line FAA squadron to operate the Sea Mosquito T.R.33.[9] The squadron departed for RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), in March 1947.[11]
The station was next used by Airwork Services Ltd from January 1950, who ran a civilian-operated unit for the Royal Navy, the Airwork Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU). Airwork was contracted by the Fleet Air Arm to exercise the Aircraft Direction School at nearby HMS Harrier. They also undertook a Heavy Twin Conversion Course for FAA pilots. But this unit moved to RAF St Davids in September 1951.[12]
RNAS Brawdy was commissioned as HMS Goldcrest on 4 September 1952,[2] with a ceremony outside the headquarters which featured over 300 officers and ratings. There were significant modifications between 1951 and 1956.[9] These included new lighting and radio for airfield Homing and Approach, new Ground Radar,[2] extra workshops and buildings, refurbished Control Tower, resurfacing of the runways and additional hardstanding. All domestic accommodation was also significantly improved.[9]
On the 2 March 1953, the Hawker Sea Hawk first entered service with the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Brawdy, with 806 Naval Air Squadron, which reformed on that date.[13]
In January 1956, 727 Dartmouth Cadet Air Training Squadron formed, to give non-flying junior officers air experience.[14] 767 Fighter Pilot Pool Squadron arrived from RNAS Ford in August 1956,[15] to provide an armament work-up course,[16] however, departing the following month.[15] The Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU) returned from RAF St Davids in October 1958, but in January 1961 it left for RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)[12]
The main runway was extended in 1960, and three interconnecting hangars were added, along with a new technical block. Accommodation was improved and expanded, including specific quarters for Wrens. From 1963 to 1971, it was home to the Advanced Flying Training Unit and housed the Airborne Early Warning HQ. Fairey Gannet and Hawker Hunter aircraft were based at RNAS Brawdy, with 849 Naval Air Squadron operating Gannet, 759 Naval Air Squadron with two seat Hunter and 738 Naval Air Squadron with single seat Hunter.[9] Gannet were primarily used in Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role and the Hunter for advanced flying training, including low-level navigation, ground attack and air-to-air weapons training.
759 Naval Advanced Flying Training School reformed at RNAS Brawdy in August 1963,[17] providing Part 1 of the Fleet Air Arm's Advance Flying Training course. 738 Advanced Training Squadron relocated to RNAS Brawdy in January 1964, from RNAS Lossiemouth,[18] where it operated as Part 2 of the Advanced Flying Training course.[19]
849 Airbourne Early Warning squadron arrived in December 1964. It operated variants of Gannet aircraft, across four flights, and at different times, embarking on the aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal, HMS Eagle, HMS Hermes and HMS Victorious.[20]
In 1967 RNAS Brawdy was used by 736 NAS and 800 NAS, operating Blackburn Buccaneer, as a base to attack and bomb the oil tanker SS Torrey Canyon from,[21] whch had struck Pollard's Rock on West end of the Seven Stones between the Cornish mainland and the Isles of Scilly on 18 March, in an attempt to release and burn off its residual cargo of oil.[22]
Morton Air Services started to operate weekly Croydon Airport to Brawdy flights in April 1958. Another de Havilland Heron 1B aircraft was added in January 1959, enabling a twice weekly service.[23] Swansea Airport was added as an optional stop to this service, beginning on June 2. The last flight took place on the 29 September 1959, with Croydon closing the following day.[24]
The Royal Navy left in 1971 and the base was controlled by the Department of Environment.[25] The air base was kept in reasonable order and fully maintained by a civilian team, ensuring that all buildings were ready for use and that hot water systems were fully functioning.[26]
The Royal Air Force took back control in January 1974, with an official ceremony on 1 April, which included a Royal Marines band and a Fleet Air Arm fly past, before the air station was confided[clarification needed] to the RAF.[27] In February 1974, 'D' Flight of No. 22 Squadron was the first RAF unit to arrive with their search and rescue Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopters.[28] In September of the same year No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit, later renamed the Tactical Weapons Unit (1 TWU), relocated with the Hawker Hunter T.8 aircraft from RAF Chivenor in Devon.[29][27]
Between 1 September 1976 and July 1978 a detachment of 202 Squadron flying Westland Whirlwind HAR.10s used the airfield.[30] In October 1979, No. 22 sqn was replaced by 'B' Flight of No. 202 Squadron, with Westland Sea King HAR3, for Search and Rescue operations.[31] By the late 1970s the TWU operated BAe Hawk T.1A aircraft (234 and 79 Squadron).[25] with this gradually replacing the Hunter aircraft from 1978.[31]
The station was home to Hawker Hunter aircraft of the TWU, and the gate guardian at the base was initially a Supermarine Spitfire; this was replaced in the early 80s by Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (XE624). This airframe was subsequently sold to Steve Petch, a private collector.[32]
As part of the rationalisation of advanced and tactical weapons training, flying training ceased at Brawdy on 31 August 1992. A small number of RAF personnel remained, including No. 202 Squadron and their Westland Sea Kings, which eventually left in July 1994.[33][34]
51°52′15.3″N 005°08′13.8″W / 51.870917°N 5.137167°W
In 1974 Naval Facility Brawdy was established adjacent to Royal Air Force Station Brawdy as the terminus of new Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) arrays covering the eastern Atlantic. After commissioning on 5 April 1974 NAVFAC Brawdy became the first "super NAVFAC" with some four hundred U.S. and United Kingdom military and civilian personnel assigned. In 1985 a new type of fixed surveillance system, the Fixed Distributed System (FDS), test array was terminated at the facility. The facility was decommissioned 1 October 1995 after its arrays had been "remoted" and its equipment moved to the Joint Maritime Facility, St Mawgan, Cornwall.[35][36]
Main article: Cawdor Barracks |
Brawdy was transferred to the British Army in 1995 and became Cawdor Barracks, the army's main electronic warfare base.[25][37] The name originated from the local Earls of Cawdor (who owned the Stackpole Estate).
On the 4 September 1974 No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF relocated from RAF Chivenor.[27] The unit was renamed No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF (1 TWU). It was tasked with training pilots in air combat, air to ground attack and tactical low flying. The unit was initially made up of Nos. 63, 79 and 234 Squadron RAF.
No. 79 Squadron RAF was equipped with Hawker Hunter FGA.9, FR.10 and T.7, a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft, along with Gloster Meteor T.7 and T.8 aircraft. The Meteor aircraft were used for target towing, while the Hunter FGA.9 and FR.10 were used to train in Air-to-ground weaponry, including bombs, machine guns, autocannons, air-to-surface missiles and rockets, as well as tactical low level flying.[38] The squadron was also equipped with BAC Jet Provost aircraft for pilot refresher training.[39]
No. 63 Squadron RAF and No. 234 Squadron RAF both operated Hawker Hunter F.6 and T.7 aircraft. These were used to train air-to-air gunnery, using other Hunter or Meteor aircraft to simulate air combat.
Pilots would graduate from the Flying School at RAF Valley to the Tactical Weapons Unit at Brawdy and upon graduating from the TWU classes, the pilots would be posted to an operational conversion unit (OCU) for either Blackburn Buccaneer, Hawker Siddeley Harrier, McDonnell Douglas Phantom or Panavia Tornado aircraft.[38]
During 1978 Hawker Siddeley Hawk aircraft started to replace the Hawker Hunter at Brawdy.[31] Starting with No. 234 Sqn,[40] followed by No. 63 Sqn in 1979[41] and No. 79 Sqn completed in 1984.[39] No. 63 Sqn was transferred to No. 2 TWU, based at RAF Chivenor, on 1 the August 1980[41]
No. 517 Squadron RAF, a meteorological squadron, arrived on 2 February 1944, equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk II and Mk V aircraft, modified for meteorological work to Met 3 and Met 5 respectively, from RAF St Davids.[34] The unit undertook meteorological flights over the Western Approaches, obtaining valuable meteorological data, from patrols over the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean, which was used to support military planning, as no weather ships operated in the Atlantic. The squadron also operated Handley Page Hampden, Lockheed Hudson, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Short Stirling Met 4s for meteorological training. It moved to RAF Weston Zoyland in September 1945.[42]
No. 521 Squadron RAF, was a meteorological observation unit, it operated a detachment at RAF Brawdy from December 1944 until May 1945. It was equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, for its meteorlogical flights.[5]
An RAF Radio Meteorological Flight worked out of Brawdy when the airfield was initially taken over by the Admiralty. From January to July in 1946 it operated with six Airspeed Oxford aircraft.[43]
See also: RAF Search and Rescue Force |
'D' Flight of No. 22 Squadron RAF arrived in February 1974, as the Royal Air Force returned to Brawdy, to undertake search and rescue operations. It was equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter.[27]
'B' Flight of No. 202 Squadron RAF took over from No. 22 Sqn from September 1976. It was initially equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter, but from October 1979 these were replaced by Westland Sea King HAR.3 helicopter.[44]
The Flight kept a fifteen-minute readiness during daylight hours and a forty five minute readiness during the hours of darkness. In 1990 the Flight responded to its highest number of calls in a year, 170 in total, both civilian and military, and airlifted 169 people. In its time at Brawdy it had over 2,000 call-outs. The Dyfed Wildlife Trust also asked the Flight to transport equipment and supplies to the islands of Skomer and Skokholm from time to time.[45] ‘B’ Flight of No. 22 Sqn was the last unit to leave RAF Brawdy in 1996.[46]
See also: Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit |
The Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU) operated out of RAF Brawdy, made up of No. 610 Tactical Air Control Party (Forward Air Controller) (TACP(FAC)) and No. 501 Ground Liaison Section,[47] out of the Joint Warfare Establishment's School of Land/Air Warfare that moved from RAF Chivenor.[48]
No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was part of No. 17 Group RAF, RAF Coastal Command. It trained aircrew on a wide range of photo-reconnaissance aircraft, including the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito.
On the 27 February 1945 a detachment of around thirty Spitfire and Mosquito aircraft of No. 8 (C) OTU arrived at Brawdy, due to lack of space at RAF Haverfordwest. The unit became a lodger and remained at Brawdy until June when it relocated to RAF Mount Farm.[6]
No. 595 Squadron RAF, an anti-aircraft co-operation unit based at RAF Aberporth, operated a detachment at Brawdy from the 7 February 1945 for three weeks. Composed of three Miles Martinet and two Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII aircraft, the unit undertook target towing for the anti-aircraft school at RAF Manorbier. An additional detachment of Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb and Mk XII aircraft operated from Brawdy from the end of February until June and took part in trials involving target gliders to provide practice for coastal AA batteries.[49]
Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy's own badge was awarded on the 4 September 1952 when the air station was commissioned as HMS Goldcrest. When the Admiralty took control of Brawdy on the 1 January 1946, it was known as HMS Goldcrest II, therefore, showing it was a satellite of HMS Goldcrest, which was RNAS Dale. With Dale closing, Brawdy was given its own badge, which had a Goldcrest perched on a branch. This related to a resting place for the bird after a flight.[95]
Royal Air Force Station Brawdy had a new badge in 1984. It featured a Sea-Dragon, with one claw touching the Prince of Wales's feathers, and with the other claw holding the sword of RAF Strike Command. The upper body of the dragon was red, symbolising the Welsh Dragon, and the bottom half was azure blue, symbolising Brawdy's previous use by the Fleet Air Arm.
The station's Welsh motto is Amddiffynfa y Gorllewin; The English translation is 'Stronghold in the West'.[96]
Brawdy had many gate guardians of several types of aircraft. Whilst under the control of the Fleet Air Arm, a de Havilland Vampire, a Hawker Sea Hawk, a Fairey Gannet and a Hawker Hunter in 738 NAS markings, were used.
Notable aircraft include: Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6, XE340, which had the 'flying fish' markings of 898 NAS on its port side, and the 806 NAS 'Ace of Diamonds' on its starboard side.[97] Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX, PS915, served as the gate guardian, before joining the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Hawker Hunter FGA.9, XE624, was put on display by the RAF, as a tribute after twenty eight years' service,[98] following on from Hawker Hunter 8565M which had been painted in No. 43 Sqn markings.[99]