Fleet Air Arm main operating base in Somerset, England, United Kingdom
"HMS Heron (shore establishment)" redirects here. For ships with the same name, see
HMS Heron
.
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
, commonly referred to as
RNAS Yeovilton
, (
IATA
:
YEO
,
ICAO
:
EGDY
) (
HMS
Heron
) is an
airbase
of the
Royal Navy
, sited a few miles north of
Yeovil
, in the
English county
of
Somerset
. It is one of two active
Fleet Air Arm
bases, the other being
RNAS Culdrose
. RNAS Yeovilton is currently home to the Royal Navy
Wildcat HMA2
, along with
Army Air Corps
Wildcat AH1
helicopters, as well as the Royal Navy's
Commando Helicopter Force
Merlin
HCi3/4/4A and
Wildcat AH1
helicopters.
The site consists of 1,000 acres (1.6 square miles; 4.0 square kilometres) of
airfield
sites, plus ranges and minor estates. Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton is a large multi-role air station, with an annual budget of some
£
61 million. The airfield is also home to the
Fleet Air Arm Museum
, and until 2019 the station hosted an annual
Air Day
in July.
History
[
edit
]
In 1938
; 86 years ago
(
1938
)
, the potential of the land at Yeovilton for use as an airfield was spotted by
Westland Aircraft
's chief
test pilot
Harald Penrose
, and an offer was made to buy the land. The owners, however, the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners
of the
Church of England
, refused to sell it. In
1939
, the Admiralty Air Division commandeered 417
acres
(169
hectares
) of the land, and work began on the construction of the site. The
runways
being completed in
1941
, despite problems with poor drainage. A main runway of 3,645
feet
(1,111
metres
) and three subsidiary runways each of 3,000 feet (914 metres) had been constructed.
[2]
750 Naval Air Squadron
was formed at
RNAS Ford
on 24 May 1939
; 85 years ago
(
1939-05-24
)
, from the
Royal Navy Observer School
, but after Ford was bombed early in the war, it moved to RNAS Yeovilton.
[3]
They were joined by
751
and
752
Squadrons, with the
Naval Air Fighter School
soon following. In addition, Westland Aircraft developed a repair facility at the site.
From 1940 on, the site was subjected to
Luftwaffe
bombing on several occasions.
794 Naval Air Squadron
was the first to be formed at the base, and served to train other squadrons to practise aerial gunnery, and part of one of the runways was marked up as a flight deck to practise landing on an aircraft carrier.
827 Naval Air Squadron
was also stationed at Yeovilton operating
Fairey Albacores
and later
Barracudas
starting in May
1943
, becoming the first squadron to receive Barracudas in any substantial number.
[2]
Several units which were preparing for embarkation were also stationed at the site during the
Second World War
. Because of pressure on space at the airfield, satellite sites were set up at
Charlton Horethorne
and
Henstridge
in 1942. A centre for Air Direction Radar was also established at Speckington Manor on the edge of the airfield.
[2]
After the end of the war, Yeovilton became one of the main demobilisation centres for the Royal Navy, with many of the men helping to refurbish the runways while they stayed at the base. In
1952
, Yeovilton became the shore base for the fleets' all-weather fighters. The runways were further extended by
Taylor Woodrow
in 1952 and
1957
to cope with jet aircraft. In May
1953
, it became the headquarters of Flag Officer Flying Training.
[4]
During the 1960s, further development work was undertaken, with the School of Fighter Direction returning to the site, and the
Sea Venoms
being replaced by the
de Havilland Sea Vixens
then in turn, by the
McDonnell-Douglas
Phantom FG1
as a carrier-borne fighter. The 1970s saw the Flag Officer, Naval Air Command (FONAC), transferring from
RNAS Lee-on-Solent
. Royal Navy fixed wing operations were phased out, and the
Phantoms
transferred to the
Royal Air Force
(RAF). The base remained as the home of the Commando Helicopter Squadrons, using the
Wessex
HU5 and later the
Sea King
HC4, and the fixed wing
Fleet Requirements and Aircraft Direction Unit
(FRADU), and became the main shore base for the Navy's fleet of
Sea Harrier
FRS1 (and later, FA2). A ski-jump (now removed) was installed to enable practice of
ski-jump assisted take-offs
.
[4]
In the mid 1980s,
Defence Estates
announced that many of the Royal Navy ratings married quarters at RNAS Yeovilton were surplus to requirements. As a result, The Welbeck Estate Group acquired in the nearby town of
Ilchester
two entire estates of apartments in Hermes Place and Lyster Close that were used by personnel at HMS
Heron
. (Note that while 'HMS' is typically a designation for a ship, the Royal Navy also used it for land-based establishments, known as a '
stone frigate
'.) These were refurbished and sold to local buyers.
[5]
[6]
Since 1993, the
Fleet Air Arm
's Memorial Church has been the
Church of St Bartholomew
in Yeovilton.
[7]
800 Naval Air Squadron
,
801 Naval Air Squadron
, and
899 Naval Air Squadron
(training) which operated the
BAE Sea Harrier FA2 and T8
were disbanded in 2006. The replacement carrier-borne aircraft, the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
, will be operated from
RAF Marham
, and was due to enter service in 2018, when it will equip the
Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers
.
In July 2006,
Sea King
HC4 helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton were deployed to Cyprus on
Operation Highbrow
to assist with the evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon.
[8]
Following the closure of
RNAS Portland
(HMS
Osprey
) in 1999, HMS
Heron
became the main shore base for the
Lynx
fleet.
[4]
In 2013,
NATO's
Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff was established at Yeovilton. The organisation provides NATO with
electronic warfare
policy, advice and support.
[9]
Commando Helicopter Force ? from Sea King to Merlin
[
edit
]
The
Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010
recommended that in order to replace the Navy's ageing
Westland Sea King HC4's
which formed the Commando Helicopter Force at Yeovilton, the RAF's
AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin
fleet should be transferred from the Royal Air Force to the
Royal Navy's
Fleet Air Arm. To gain experience of operating and maintaining the Merlin, Royal Navy aircrew and engineers were integrated into the Merlin Force at
RAF Benson
during 2012.
[10]
The Merlin fleet was officially handed over to the Navy during a ceremony at Benson on 30 September 2014.
[10]
The ceremony marked the disbandment of the RAF's
No. 78 Squadron
, and its replacement at Benson with
846 Naval Air Squadron
. During July 2015,
845 Naval Air Squadron
reformed at Benson and replaced
No. 28 Squadron
of the RAF which also disbanded.
The Merlin arrived at Yeovilton when 846 NAS moved from Benson on 26 March 2015
; 9 years ago
(
2015-03-26
)
. In May of that year,
848 Naval Air Squadron
temporarily stood up with the remaining
Sea King HC4
to cover the last remaining Sea King operations, before the Sea King HC4 was finally retired and the squadron decommissioned on 24 March 2016.
[11]
[12]
The last phase of the transition occurred when 845 NAS departed Benson for Yeovilton on 16 June 2016, bringing nearly 15 years of RAF Merlin operations to a close.
[13]
[14]
Wildcat and Project WINFRA
[
edit
]
The
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA2
began replacing the
Westland Lynx HMA8
when the first production aircraft arrived at Yeovilton in January 2013.
[15]
Prior to that, in May 2009,
700W NAS
was formed at Yeovilton as the Wildcat Fielding Squadron. The squadron disbanded in July 2014 when it was merged with
702 NAS
to form
825 NAS
, the first operational Wildcat unit.
[16]
The final Wildcat HMA2 for the Royal Navy was delivered to 825 NAS in October 2016, bringing the total number of Royal Navy Wildcats to 28.
[17]
The Lynx was retired in March 2017.
[18]
In October 2015, the consolidation of the
Army Air Corps
(AAC) for
Army 2020
resulted in a large regular aviation regiment of
Wildcat AH1
being based at RNAS Yeovilton. As such, all 62 UK military Wildcats on order will operate from Yeovilton.
[19]
1 Regiment AAC
has returned from
Gutersloh
in Germany, and merged with
9 Regiment AAC
from
Dishforth
.
[20]
The current
652 (Wildcat Fielding) Squadron
will become 1 Regiment's Wildcat
Operational Conversion Unit
. 1 Regiment will form part of the Army Air Corps' Aviation Reconnaissance Force along with
5 Regiment AAC
.
In order to allow the Army Air Corps to locate their Wildcat helicopters and 750 personnel at Yeovilton, extensive redevelopment of the station began in 2014. Known as Project WINFRA, the work involves eight separate contracts worth a total of £150 million and was undertaken by
Mott McDonald
and
Carillion
.
[21]
Building 710, a new three-storey squadron building for 846 Naval Air Squadron was completed in March 2015. The refurbishment of technical facilities and the construction of new quarter master's stores, vehicle garages and facilities, ancillary buildings, a cycle path and car parks was completed and handed to the AAC in November 2015.
[22]
Building 661 is the new 1 Regiment headquarters, and provides accommodation for 659 Squadron and 661 Squadron.
In 2016, a new dental centre, a refurbished office building for 825 Naval Air Squadron, and a new build squadron building for 815 Naval Air Squadron were completed.
[23]
By January 2017, a 500 capacity Senior Rates Mess, Physical and Recreational Training Centre including a gym, Multi Use Games Area and 4G sports pitches and the refurbishment of the medical centre had been completed. Three blocks of Single Living Accommodation which can accommodate 400 personnel were finished in March 2017. In total, the project has provided 508 new single living accommodation bed spaces, and 130 service families accommodation bed spaces.
[24]
Royal Navy Historic Flight
[
edit
]
The
Royal Navy Historic Flight
(RNHF) was disbanded in March 2019, previously operating at RNAS Yeovilton since 1972.
[25]
Following its disbandment, the remaining aircraft were donated to the
Fly Navy Heritage Trust
at an approximate value of £1,810,000.
[26]
With the aircraft having now been transferred to the civilian register, displays are now funded from charity events run by the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.
Operations
[
edit
]
Yeovilton is home to the Royal Navy
Wildcat Maritime Force
(MWF), Royal Navy
Commando Helicopter Force
(CHF), the Army's Aviation Reconnaissance Force (ARF), and elements of the Royal Navy
Fixed Wing Force
. The station operates over 100
aircraft
, and is staffed by around 1675 service and 2000 civilian personnel, including
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
employees and permanent contractors. Training of aircrew and engineers of resident aircraft types is also carried out at RNAS Yeovilton. It is also the location for the RN Fighter Controller School, training surface-based aircraft controllers.
Commando Helicopter Force has now returned to prioritising its main amphibious role in support of
Royal Navy
and
Royal Marines
operations, after focusing on more than a decade of service in land campaigns in
Afghanistan
and prior to that in
Iraq
.
During periods of busy flying training, pressure on the RNAS Yeovilton circuit is relieved by the use of nearby
RNAS Merryfield
.
727 Naval Air Squadron
operate the
Grob Tutor T1
in the grading and elementary flying training role.
Air Day
[
edit
]
Until 2019 the station held an annual
air show
, allowing public access to the airfield. It included both a flying and static aircraft display. The air day traditionally ended with the
Commando Helicopter Force
role demonstration, which saw a mixture of aircraft and land forces demonstrate a land assault delivered from the air.
[27]
Based units
[
edit
]
Flying and notable non-flying units based at RNAS Yeovilton.
[9]
[28]
[29]
[30]
Future
[
edit
]
Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP)
[
edit
]
The
Merlin HC3/3A
fleet is currently undergoing an upgrade to HC4 and HC4A, to ensure the aircraft are fully capable of deploying in a maritime / amphibious role.
[32]
The differences between the remaining HC3 and (former Denmark-bound) HC3A will be almost eliminated in the HC4/4A upgrade, known as the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP). This will remove conversion training requirements, as both the HC4 and HC4A variants can be operated under the same training.
[33]
Prior to the upgrade, seven of the airframes have been upgraded to the 'interim HC3' (HC3i), and are serving with 846 NAS. These aircraft are receiving the full upgrade after the remaining aircraft were upgraded to the HC4 and HC4A.
[11]
The upgraded and ship-optimised Merlin HC4 and HC4A aircraft are painted in Royal Navy grey, unlike their green 'Junglie' Sea King HC4 and Merlin HC3 predecessors. Full Operating Capability of the HC4 was delivered in December 2020, with all airframes expected to be delivered by 2023.
[33]
Commanding Officers, Navy
[
edit
]
Included:
[34]
- Captain
Harry S. Murray-Smith: March 1940 ? May 1942
- Captain Mervyn S. Thomas: May 1942 ? August 1943
- Captain E.M. Conolly Abel Smith: August 1943 ? May 1944
- Captain Charles L. Keighley Peach: May 1944 ? August 1945
- Captain John B. Heath: August 1945 ? February 1947
- Captain W. Kaye Edden: February 1947 ? May 1949
- Captain Walter A. Adair: May 1949 ? January 1951
- Captain R.T. Paul: January 1951 ? May 1952
- Captain Eric V. St.G. Morgan: May 1952 ? September 1953
- Captain Alan F. Black: September 1953 ? July 1955
- Captain Henry J.F. Lane: July 1955 ? January 1958
- Captain Desmond B.Law: January 1958 ? January 1960
- Captain William C. Simpson: January 1960 ? January 1962
- Captain Rodney H.P. Carver: January 1962 ? February 1964
- Captain Terence G.V. Percy: February 1964 ? July 1966
- Captain George C. Baldwin: July 1966 ? May 1968
- Captain Cyril J. Cunningham: May 1968 ? May 1970
- Captain Alfred R. Rawbone: May 1970 ? February 1972
- Captain Keith A. Leppard: February 1972 ? February 1974
- Captain Joseph J. Phillips: February 1974 ? November 1975
- Captain Harold J. Abraham: November 1975 ? October 1977
- Captain Brian J. Williams: October 1977 ? August 1980
- Captain Michael J.F. Rawlinson: August 1980 ? February 1982
- Captain Peter J. Williams: February 1982 ? January 1984
- Captain Robert J. Northard: January 1984 ? February 1986
- Captain Rodney P. Warwick: February 1986 ? February 1988
- Captain Colin L. MacGregor: February 1988 ? 1989
- Captain Robin F. Shercliffe: 1989 ? January 1992
- Captain Ian D. MacKenzie: January 1992 ? August 1993
- Captain Iain R. Henderson: August 1993 ? 1996
- Commodore
Scott Lidbetter: 1996 ? November 1998
- Commodore Richard J. Clapp: November 1998 ? May 2001
- Commodore William M. Covington: May 2001 ? July 2003
- Commodore Alan R.C. Bennett: July 2003 ? November 2005
- Commodore Christopher L. Palmer: November 2005 ? July 2009
- Brigadier
Mark Noble
RM
: August 2009 ? June 2011
[35]
- Commodore Paul Chivers: June 2011 ? November 2012
[36]
- Commodore Jock Alexander: December 2012 ? September 2015
- Commodore Jon Pentreath: September 2015 ? April 2017
- Commodore
Nick Tindal
: April 2017 ? July 2020
- Commodore Niall Griffin: July 2020?present
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Citations
[
edit
]
- ^
"Yeovilton ? AD 2 - EGDY - 1 - 1"
(PDF)
.
UK MIL AIP
. No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit. 28 March 2019
. Retrieved
20 September
2020
.
- ^
a
b
c
Berryman, David (2006).
Somerset airfields in the Second World War
. Newbury: Countryside Books. pp. 194?219.
ISBN
1-85306-864-0
.
- ^
"50 years not out for 750 Squadron"
.
Navy News
. Retrieved
6 February
2010
.
- ^
a
b
c
"RNAS Yeovilton"
.
Helis.com
. Retrieved
20 February
2008
.
- ^
"Yeovilton / HMS Heron"
. Airfield Information Exchange
. Retrieved
28 December
2014
.
- ^
"Projects undertaken since 1969..."
Wellbeck Estate Group
. Retrieved
28 December
2014
.
- ^
"St Bartholomew's Church, Yeovilton"
(PDF)
. Cloudobservers
. Retrieved
19 February
2013
.
- ^
"Helicopters go to aid evacuation"
.
BBC News
. 18 July 2006
. Retrieved
20 February
2008
.
- ^
a
b
"NATO Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS)"
.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
.
NATO
. Retrieved
19 June
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"RAF hand over Merlins to the Royal Navy"
.
Forces Network
. 30 September 2014
. Retrieved
14 August
2017
.
- ^
a
b
"The past, present and future of the 'Junglie'
"
.
Forces Network
. Service Sound and Vision Corporation. 5 February 2015. Archived from
the original
on 9 February 2015
. Retrieved
6 November
2017
.
- ^
"It really is goodbye to the 'old girl'
"
.
Royal Navy
. 24 March 2016
. Retrieved
6 November
2017
.
- ^
"846 NAS comes home to Somerset"
.
Royal Navy
. 27 March 2015
. Retrieved
14 August
2017
.
- ^
"CHF family reunited as Merlins complete their move from Oxfordshire to Yeovilton"
.
Navy News
. 17 June 2016
. Retrieved
14 August
2017
.
- ^
"Navy's first Wildcat makes its debut in Somerset skies"
.
Navy News
. 28 January 2013
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
"700 (W) Naval Air Squadron bows out on a high"
.
Royal Navy
. 31 July 2014
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
"Royal Navy take delivery of their final Wildcat helicopter"
.
Royal Navy
. 27 October 2016
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
"Royal Navy Lynx HMA8 fleet bows out of service"
.
Flight Global
. 17 March 2017
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
"DESider, October 2014, Issue 77"
(PDF)
.
GOV.UK
. Defence Equipment & Support
. Retrieved
30 May
2015
.
- ^
"Army 2020 brochure"
(PDF)
.
British Army
. Retrieved
15 May
2015
.
- ^
Fife, Alastair (24 July 2017).
"All set for takeoff at RNAS Yeovilton"
.
Inside DIO Blog
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
Jeffries, Steve (16 November 2015).
"Work on Wildcats' new home continues apace"
.
Inside DIO Blog
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
Thornton, Matt (27 June 2016).
"Wildcat infrastructure work progresses at RNAS Yeovilton"
.
Inside DIO Blog
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
Simmons, Emily (3 January 2017).
"DIO delivering for the Wildcat programme"
.
Inside DIO Blog
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
Jones, Rob (29 March 2019).
"Royal Navy Historic Flight stands down after 50 years"
.
Navy Wings
. Retrieved
16 April
2020
.
- ^
"Gifting of Royal Navy Historic Flight Aircraft: Written statement - HCWS55"
.
UK Parliament
. Retrieved
16 April
2020
.
- ^
"A spectacular Air Show at RNAS Yeovilton"
.
www.RoyalNavy.mod.uk
.
Royal Navy
. 9 July 2018
. Retrieved
15 April
2020
.
- ^
"RNAS Yeovilton"
.
www.RoyalNavy.mod.uk
.
Royal Navy
. Retrieved
6 November
2017
.
- ^
"1 Regiment Army Air Corps"
.
www.Army.mod.uk
.
British Army
. Retrieved
6 November
2017
.
- ^
"7 Aviation Support Battalion"
.
www.Army.mod.uk
.
British Army
. Retrieved
18 November
2017
.
- ^
"Introducing the Royal Navy Wildcat Demo Team"
.
www.Air-Shows.org.uk
. Airshow News. 8 January 2020.
- ^
"DE&S delivers Merlin Mk4"
. Ministry of Defence. 24 May 2018
. Retrieved
20 April
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"Janes Guide - MLSP Merlin"
(PDF)
.
www.Janes.com
.
- ^
Mackie, Colin (December 2017).
"Royal Navy Appointments from 1865"
(PDF)
.
www.Gulabin.com
. Colin Mackie. pp. 124?125.
- ^
"RNAS Yeovilton's Commanding Officer meets with council chairman"
. Yeovil Express. 29 October 2009.
- ^
"RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset gets new commanding officer"
.
BBC
. 8 June 2011.
Bibliography
[
edit
]
- Verier, Mike (1991).
Yeovilton: Defenders of the Fleet
. Osprey Superbase Series no. 22. p. 128.
ISBN
1-85532-138-6
.
External links
[
edit
]
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