Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn, commonly referred to as RNAS St Merryn, (HMS Vulture, later HMS Curlew) is a former military airbase of the Royal Navy located 7.35 miles (11.83km) northeast of Newquay, Cornwall and 11.8 miles (19.0km) northwest of Bodmin, Cornwall, England.
The station served as the home for the School of Naval Air Warfare, providing both training and operational instruction for personnel of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). Its main functions encompassed various specialised aviation support tasks, air firing instruction and fighter combat training. Operating as an all-weather airfield, it was capable of maintaining flying operations under a diverse range of conditions. It also functioned as the parent establishment for HMSVulture II, RNAS Treligga, the FAA's live firing range & emergency landing ground.
History
RNAS St Merryn was constructed during World War 2 with the stone for the runway being quarried from nearby Stepper Point and brought by sea.[2] The airbase was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 10 August 1940 as HMS Vulture. It remained in service under this name until it was 'paid off' on 14 October 1953. The following day, on 15 October 1953, it was recommissioned as HMS Curlew.[1]
There were air raids on St Merryn Airfield and the nearby RAF St Eval on 9 October 1940 resulting in some damage at both locations. Two days later on 11 October there was another air raid on St Merryn. There were no casualties but some damage was caused on the airfield and to nearby houses.[3]
The station hosted the School of Naval Air Warfare, delivering both training and operational instruction for Fleet Air Arm personnel. Its primary roles included fighter combat training, air firing instruction, and a range of specialist aviation support duties. Functioning as an all-weather airfield, it was able to sustain flying operations across a wide variety of conditions. In addition to these core responsibilities, the station also trained Royal Navy (Air) Emergency List Officers, acted as the parent establishment for HMSVulture II, the Treligga Ranges and provided facilities for several specialist units, including No. 1 Planned Inspection Application Team, No. 70 Administrative A.L. Section and No. 12 C.B.A.L. Section. It also supported the work of an Operational Research Unit, further reinforcing its importance within naval aviation operations.[1]
Facilities
Living quarters were located on the northern and western sides of the landing area. Accommodation capacity comprised 156 officers, 1,265 chiefs, petty officers and ratings, 4 Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) officers, and 210 WRNS chiefs, petty officers and ratings. Aircraft dispersal facilities consisted of eight aircraft standings, four of which were suitable for heavy bombers. Four aprons were also provided off the perimeter track and within the hangar areas. Hangar areas were situated on the northern, eastern and southern sides of the airfield. The hangar complement included one Callender-Hamilton hangar 185 ft × 110 ft, two Pentad hangars both 185 ft × 105 ft, four Tee Side ‘S’ hangars each 60 ft × 70 ft, and thirteen Mains hangars constructed during the station’s expansion in 1943, including examples measuring 60 ft × 70 ft and 60 ft × 84 ft.[1]
Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III; an example of the type seen at RNAS St Merryn during the Second World War
1944 saw 719 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Air Arm’s Fighter Air Firing Training Squadron, form at the station on 15 June 1944 and disbanded on 2 January 1945. It operated the Vought Corsair Mk III, Miles Master II, Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib and IIc, Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb, and the Grumman Wildcat Mk IV.[5] This squadron was followed by 715 Naval Air Squadron, responsible for the Fighter Air Combat and Fighter Leaders Course, which was formed at the station on 17 August 1944. It operated the Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III and F Mk.XVII, Vought Corsair Mk II and Mk IV, and the North American Harvard IIb and III, before disbanding on 31 March 1946, when it was absorbed by 736 Naval Air Squadron.[6] In September 709 Naval Air Squadron, a Fighter Ground Attack School squadron, was formed at the station on 15 September. Aircraft operated included the Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III, Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I and II, and the North American Harvard IIb and III. The squadron disbanded there on 26 January 1946.[7]
748 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm Fighter Pool Squadron. It was formed at the station on 12 October 1942, and moved to RNAS Henstridge, Somerset, on 4 February 1944. The squadron later returned from RNAS Dale, Pembrokeshire, on 14 August 1945, before disbanding at the station on 11 February 1946. Aircraft operated included the Vought Corsair Mk II, Mk III and Mk IV, Fairey Firefly I, Grumman Hellcat F. Mk. I, Hawker Hurricane Mk.I, Fairey Fulmar Mk.I and Mk.II, Miles Master I and GT.II, Supermarine Spitfire Mk I, Mk Va and MK Vb, Supermarine Seafire Mk.Ib, Mk.IIc and Mk.III, and the Grumman Wildcat Mk V and Mk VI.[11]
741 Naval Air Squadron served as an Operational Flying Training Unit of the Fleet Air Arm. It was formed at the station on 12 August 1946, and disbanded there on 25 November 1947. Aircraft operated included the Fairey Firefly FR.I, Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III, and the North American Harvard III.[12]
Specialist Training Units
Rocket-armed Fairey Swordfish on a training flight from RNAS St Merryn, 1 August 1944.
The first specialist training unit to arrive at the naval air station during the Second World War was 774 Naval Air Squadron, which transferred from RNAS Evanton, Ross and Cromarty, on 17 September 1940. Operating as an Armament Training Squadron, it employed a wide range of aircraft, including the Fairey Albacore, Blackburn Roc, Blackburn Shark Mk II TT, Blackburn Skua, Fairey Swordfish I and II, Fairey Barracuda Mk II, and the Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.IB.[13] 762 Naval Air Squadron followed on 15 April 1942, having moved from RNAS Yeovilton. As an Advanced Flying Training School unit, it operated the Fairey Fulmar Mk.I and Mk.II, the Grumman Martlet Mk I, and the Miles Master I. Its stay was brief, returning to RNAS Yeovilton on 8 September 1942.[13]
On 24 February 1943, 'Z' Flight of 787 Naval Air Squadron, part of the Fleet Fighter Development Unit, arrived from RNAS Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. The Flight conducted its work partly from the satellite airfield at RNAS Treligga and operated aircraft such as the Fairey Fulmar Mk.I and Mk.II, Hawker Hurricane Mk.IV, Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ia and Mk.IIc, and the Fairey Swordfish I and II. 'Z' Flight was disbanded at the station on 1 July 1944.[14] 774 Squadron, which had been at the station since September 1940, moved to RNAS Rattray, Aberdeenshire, on 24 October 1944.[13]
794 Naval Air Squadron was formed at the station on 2 January 1945 as the School of Air Firing. Its aircraft complement included the Vought Corsair Mk III, Fairey Fulmar Mk.II, North American Harvard IIb and III, Miles Martinet TT.Mk I, Miles Master II, Supermarine Seafire L Mk.III, Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb, and the Grumman Wildcat Mk IV. The squadron relocated to RNAS Eglinton, County Londonderry, on 9 August 1945.[15]
Fairey Barracuda Mk II; an example of the type seen at RNAS St Merryn
Post‑war activity expanded with the formation of 796 Naval Air Squadron on 13 November 1947. Initially an Aircrewman Training School squadron, it was redesignated as Observer School Part II in 1950. The unit operated a variety of aircraft, including the Fairey Barracuda Mk III, Fairey Firefly FR.I, AS.Mk 5, AS.Mk 6, T.Mk 3 and T.Mk 7, and the de Havilland Tiger Moth.[16] A further development in observer training occurred on 17 April 1952 with the formation of 750 Naval Air Squadron, created from elements of 796 Squadron to take responsibility for Observer School Part II. The squadron operated the Fairey Barracuda Mk III.[17]
From January 1953, 738 Naval Air Squadron, part of the School of Naval Air Warfare based at RNAS Culdrose, made use of the station for Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landing training. The squadron employed the Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 for this purpose.[18] 796 Squadron left for RNAS Culdrose on 30 November 1953.[13]
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.
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