Calshot Naval Air Station
Encyclopedia
RNAS Calshot was a First World War Royal Navy
air station for seaplane
s and flying boat
s, mainly operating as an experimental and training station, but also providing anti-submarine and convoy protection patrols.
It was located at the end of Calshot Spit
in Southampton Water
, at , with the landing area sheltered by the mainland, to the west, north and east, and the Isle of Wight
a few miles away to the south on the other side of the Solent
.
(RFC), as Calshot Naval Air Station, for the purpose of testing seaplanes for the RFC Naval wing. The first aircraft to arrive was a Sopwith
Bat Boat
, and one of the first buildings constructed - the Sopwith Hangar - is still in use today.
(RNAS), and took over the Calshot base and its development and training functions. After the start of World War I
, the station's role expanded to take on the protection of shipping in the English Channel
, and a variety of flying-boats and seaplanes were introduced, including the Wight Seaplane
and the Short 184. Calshot was also used for training on observer kite balloons
and airships.
In 1917, seaplane training was extended to the new Naval Seaplane Training School at nearby Lee-on-the-Solent. A major rebuild at Calshot then took place when new buildings, offices and workshops were constructed by the Henry Boot Company. The largest hangar – Sunderland Hangar – is now home to the Calshot Activities Centre.
By 1918 there were two flights of Felixstowe
flying boats and a flight of seaplanes, and together they managed to exceed 9,000 hours of patrol flights in a three month period. Out of 42 U-boat
s reported, 3 were sunk.
(RAF) and the station became home to the headquarters of No. 10 Group RAF
. The three flights that were based at Calshot became No. 240 Squadron RAF
.
After the war, the station became home to the RAF School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation and on 5 February 1922 was renamed RAF Base Calshot.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
air station for seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s and flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s, mainly operating as an experimental and training station, but also providing anti-submarine and convoy protection patrols.
It was located at the end of Calshot Spit
Calshot Spit
Calshot Spit is a one-mile long sand and shingle bank, located on the southern bank of the open end of Southampton Water, on the south coast of England....
in Southampton Water
Southampton Water
Southampton Water is a tidal estuary north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight in England. The city of Southampton lies at its most northerly point. Along its salt marsh-fringed western shores lie the New Forest villages of Hythe and "the waterside", Dibden Bay, and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley...
, at , with the landing area sheltered by the mainland, to the west, north and east, and the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
a few miles away to the south on the other side of the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
.
Royal Flying Corps
The station was originally established on 29 March 1913 by the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(RFC), as Calshot Naval Air Station, for the purpose of testing seaplanes for the RFC Naval wing. The first aircraft to arrive was a Sopwith
Sopwith Aviation Company
The Sopwith Aviation Company was a British aircraft company that designed and manufactured aeroplanes mainly for the British Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps and later Royal Air Force in the First World War, most famously the Sopwith Camel...
Bat Boat
Sopwith Bat Boat
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*"". Flight, 12 July 1913, p.762.*"". Flight, 30 August 1913. p.967.*"". Flight, 21 March 1914. pp. 294—312.*"". Flight, 31 July 1914. p.800.*"". Flight 21 August 1914, pp.873—875....
, and one of the first buildings constructed - the Sopwith Hangar - is still in use today.
Royal Naval Air Service
In July 1914 the Royal Navy re-formed its air branch, naming it the Royal Naval Air ServiceRoyal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
(RNAS), and took over the Calshot base and its development and training functions. After the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the station's role expanded to take on the protection of shipping in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, and a variety of flying-boats and seaplanes were introduced, including the Wight Seaplane
Wight Seaplane
-See also:...
and the Short 184. Calshot was also used for training on observer kite balloons
Observation balloon
Observation balloons are balloons that are employed as aerial platforms for intelligence gathering and artillery spotting. Their use began during the French Revolutionary Wars, reaching their zenith during World War I, and they continue in limited use today....
and airships.
In 1917, seaplane training was extended to the new Naval Seaplane Training School at nearby Lee-on-the-Solent. A major rebuild at Calshot then took place when new buildings, offices and workshops were constructed by the Henry Boot Company. The largest hangar – Sunderland Hangar – is now home to the Calshot Activities Centre.
By 1918 there were two flights of Felixstowe
Felixstowe F.2
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bruce, J.M. Flight, 2 December 1955, pp. 842–846.* Bruce, J.M. Flight, 16 December 1955, pp. 895–898.* Bruce, J.M. Flight, 23 December 1955, pp. 929–932....
flying boats and a flight of seaplanes, and together they managed to exceed 9,000 hours of patrol flights in a three month period. Out of 42 U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s reported, 3 were sunk.
Royal Air Force
On 1 April 1918 the RFC and the RNAS combined to form the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) and the station became home to the headquarters of No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group RAF
No. 10 Group of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 in No. 2 Area. On 8 May of the next year it was transferred to South-Western Area. In 1919 it was transferred to Coastal Area where it remained until it was disbanded on 18 January 1932....
. The three flights that were based at Calshot became No. 240 Squadron RAF
No. 240 Squadron RAF
No. 240 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force flying boat and seaplane squadron during World War I, World War II and up to 1959. It was then reformed as a strategic missile squadron, serving thus till 1963.-Formation and World War I:No...
.
After the war, the station became home to the RAF School of Naval Co-operation and Aerial Navigation and on 5 February 1922 was renamed RAF Base Calshot.
- For later history, see RAF CalshotRAF CalshotRAF Calshot was initially a seaplane and flying boat station, and latterly an RAF marine craft maintenance and training unit. It was located at the end of Calshot Spit in Southampton Water, Hampshire, England, at...
.
See also
- RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)
- List of seaplanes and flying boats - United Kingdom
- Seaplane bases in the United KingdomSeaplane bases in the United KingdomThis article lists both active and historic seaplane bases in the United Kingdom, many of which were either used for, or planned to be used for, the defence of the UK....