RAF St Merryn airfield

2002 (© John Edmunds)

St Merryn airfield

Agriculture, aviation

1. Pre-war civil watch office
2. 1944 four storey Naval type

1. Derelict
2. Not known

Other Buildings:

14/01/37, St Merryn Aerodrome Ltd formed, 10/37 opened as a 52 acre civil airport.
12/39, Surveyed by the Admiralty and rebuilt as a Fleet Air Arm Station.
10/08/40 to /1952, Reopened as HMS Vulture and used by many first and second line Naval Sqns for flying, armament, combat and ground attack training as well as aircraft storage and workshops.
Rebuilt and extended in 1942 to include the School of Air Combat. Extended again in 1944 when a new control tower was built.
Postwar used by the RNVR as well as various training schools.
12/52, Re-commissioned as HMS Curlew, now mainly used for ground training including the FAA Observer School. Flying ceased 12/53 and airfield finally closed 10/01/56, sold off in 1959.

St Merryn airfield

1978 (© Andrew Ayers)

St Merryn Naval Air Station, HMS Vulture - HMS Curlew

Operational Training

1- 185' x 105', 12- 60' x 84', 18- 60' x 70', 2- Pentad, 4- Teeside S, 13- Mains, 15- Mainhill

3 miles SW of Padstow

St Merryn Naval Air Station, HMS Vulture - HMS Curlew

RAF St. Merryn airfield

St Merryn Naval Air Station, HMS Vulture - HMS Curlew
Airfield:	Operational Training
Opened:	10/37
Closed:	10/01/56
ID Code:	Post-war; MGF
USAAF Station:	N/A
Runways:	4x - tarmac
Hangars:	1- 185' x 105', 12- 60' x 84', 18- 60' x 70', 2- Pentad, 4- Teeside S, 13- Mains, 15- Mainhill
County:	Cornwall
Location:	3 miles SW of Padstow
OS Ref:	SW888715
Links:
©:	Photographs copyright © as stated
St Merryn Naval Air Station, HMS Vulture - HMS Curlew

St Merryn airfield
Airfield Today:	Agriculture, aviation
Tower Type:	1. Pre-war civil watch office 2. 1944 four storey Naval type
Tower:	1. Derelict 2. Not known
Other Buildings:	Not known
History:	14/01/37, St Merryn Aerodrome Ltd formed, 10/37 opened as a 52 acre civil airport. 12/39, Surveyed by the Admiralty and rebuilt as a Fleet Air Arm Station. 10/08/40 to /1952, Reopened as HMS Vulture and used by many first and second line Naval Sqns for flying, armament, combat and ground attack training as well as aircraft storage and workshops. Rebuilt and extended in 1942 to include the School of Air Combat. Extended again in 1944 when a new control tower was built. Postwar used by the RNVR as well as various training schools. 12/52, Re-commissioned as HMS Curlew, now mainly used for ground training including the FAA Observer School. Flying ceased 12/53 and airfield finally closed 10/01/56, sold off in 1959.
St Merryn airfield