Royal Naval Air Station Dundee (RNAS Dundee, also known as HMSCondor II) is a former Royal Navy, Naval Air Station, situated 1 mile (2km) east of Dundee docks and 2.5 miles (4km) north east of the Tay Bridge, Dundee, Scotland. It was a seaplane base from the First World War and was maintained on a care and maintenance basis until it was reactivated at the onset of the Second World War.
It had two slipways: one was a 60 feet (18m) aircraft slipway that extended directly from the hangarapron, while the other was a 40 foot (12m) boat slipway that led directly to the boatshed.[1]
History
Royal Naval Air Station Dundee was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm seaplane base located at the harbour of Dundee. The station was active during both World War I, then known as Stannergate and later during the World War II, when it functioned as a satellite station to Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath, also known as HMS Condor.[2]
First World War operations
Naval aviation activity at Dundee began shortly before the outbreak of the First World War and expanded as the conflict progressed. The base gained greater organisational structure in 1918 when several flights were formed together as components of 249 Squadron and 257 Squadron.[3]
Aircraft operating from Dundee during this period included the Felixstowe F.2Aflying boat and the Short Type 184seaplane. These aircraft conducted maritime patrols over nearby coastal waters. Both units were disbanded during the second half of 1919 as wartime aviation activities were reduced.[4]
Interwar closure and reopening
The air station closed in 1920 but was reactivated in July 1940 during the Second World War. Upon reopening, the base was commissioned as HMS Condor II and operated as a satellite air station for HMS Condor at Arbroath.[2]
Second World War operations
In August 1941, 751 Naval Air Squadron relocated to Dundee from the parent station at Arbroath. The squadron conducted training for observer crews, including catapult-launch procedures using the Supermarine Walrusamphibious aircraft. This training role continued until the squadron was disbanded in May 1944.[5]
The station was 'paid off' and closed in June 1944.[7]
Following the end of military operations, the site gradually disappeared as it was absorbed into Dundee’s expanding harbour area. One of the station’s hangars survived until the mid-1980s before being demolished during redevelopment of the waterfront.[8]
Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
Delve, Ken (2010). The Military Aifields of Britain Scotland and Northern Island. Marlborough, Wiltshire UK: The Crowood Press Ltd. ISBN978-1-84797-027-5.
Jefford, C G (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 - 2nd Edition. Shrewsbury UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
