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Also known as: HMS Tern / RN Air Station, Twatt / RNAS Twatt / Twatt Aerodrome
County: Orkney
Current Status: Open land
Date: 1 April 1941 - 30 September 1946
Current Use: Disused
Used By: FAA
Landing Surface Types: Paved
Aircraft Roles: Naval aviation

This unfortunately named airfield was opened on 1 April 1941 as HMS Tern, otherwise known as RNAS Twatt. The airfield was primarily used for training throughout the Second World War. Large numbers of aircraft visited Twatt for short periods of time after disembarking from airfield carriers in Scapa Flow. No 700 Squadron is an example of a unit that stayed at Twatt for longer. Between June 1942 and disbandment in 1944, the squadron provided final training for catapult aircraft crews before they embarked on their ships. No 771 Squadron similarly came from Hatston at the same time as No 700 Squadron and stayed at Twatt for three years. This unit was a Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) and therefore operated a large number of different aircraft types in a variety of roles, supporting the fleet based at Scapa Flow. Aircraft used included, Bristol Blenheims, Boulton Paul Defiants, Gloster Sea Gladiators and Vought-Sikorsky Hoverfly helicopters.

Frontline squadrons were also based at Twatt during the Second World War using Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bombers and Fairey Fulmar fighters. Twatt was also unfortunately the site of the first helicopter crash in Britain. A Vought-Sikorsky Hoverfly (known in American service as the R-4) from No 771 Squadron was written off when its tail rotor hit a parked Bristol Blenheim on takeoff.

Twatt was paid off in 1946 but was retained by the Royal Navy under the control of Lossiemouth for some time afterwards. In the 1970s it was suggested that the site could be merged with nearby Skeabrae to form a large NATO base but Iceland was chosen as a location instead.

The airfield was one of the earliest purpose built naval airfields in Britain with four hard runways and associated facilities constructed. Its control tower is particularly unusual in that it was built on top of the operations block. The main technical area was to the south-west with other hangars and dispersal areas spread around the airfield. None of the hangars survive although several buildings do still stand around the site. This includes the control tower and operations block, various support buildings and pillboxes.

 

The following organisations are either based at, use and/or have at least potentially significant connections with the airfield (as at 31/07/2017):

  • Birsay Community Council
  • Birsay Heritage Trust

Main unit(s) present:

  • No 700 Sqn

  • No 771 Sqn

  • No 802 Sqn

  • No 804 Sqn

  • No 807 Sqn

  • No 809 Sqn

  • No 812 Sqn

  • No 817 Sqn

  • No 818 Sqn

  • No 819 Sqn

  • No 820 Sqn

  • No 821 Sqn

  • No 822 Sqn

  • No 832 Sqn

  • No 846 Sqn

  • No 880 Sqn

  • No 884 Sqn

Photographs and video from the memorial unveiling at Twatt on 16 September 2017:

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001IWM (A 21444).jpg

Tommy Handley with the "It's that man again" concert party at Twatt, 14 January 1944. © IWM (A 21444)

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A Second World War pillbox at Twatt, 24 May 1995. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Second World War transport buildings at Twatt, 24 May 1996. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Interior of a Second World War air raid shelter at Twatt, 24 May 1996. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Foundations and stage of the Second World War cinema at Twatt, 24 May 1996. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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The Second World War cinema building at Twatt, 24 May 1996. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Aerial view of Twatt from the north, 4 June 1997. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

008geograph-180992-by-Rob-Burke.jpg

A former airfield building, moved from Twatt, 15 May 2006.

009geograph-520728-by-John-Comloquoy.jpg

The Second World War control tower and operations block at Twatt, 9 August, 2007.

010geograph-913299-by-George-Brown.jpg

A reinforced shelter at Twatt, 6 August 2008.

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Aerial view of Twatt from the south-west, 24 September 2008. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Aerial view of Twatt from the north-west, 12 May 2009. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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Aerial view of buildings at Twatt, taken from the west-south-west, 6 August 2009. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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The Second World War control tower and operations block at Twatt. © Crown Copyright: Historic Environment Scotland. Licensor canmore.org.uk

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A former aircraft hangar, moved from Twatt, 17 March 2011.

016geograph-2465075-by-Claire-Pegrum.jpg

A ruined cottage at Twatt, used by the Commanding Officer at the airfield, 10 June 2011.

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A pillbox at Twatt, with the control tower in the background, 10 June 2011. © Claire Pegrum and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

018geograph-5398572-by-James-Allan.jpg

Looking across Twatt airfield, 10 May 2017. © James Allan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

019geograph-6459917-by-Claire-Pegrum.jpg

An air raid shelter at Twatt, 4 September 2019.

020geograph-6459910-by-Claire-Pegrum.jpg

A house at Twatt, used by the Commanding Officer at the airfield, 7 September 2019.

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The cinema at Twatt, 16 September 2017.

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The control tower and operations block at Twatt, 16 September 2017.

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Interior of the control tower at Twatt, 16 September 2017.

Aerial footage of Twatt. Courtesy of Andrew Brown

Aerial footage of the hardened watch office and control tower at Twatt. Courtesy of Colin Anderson

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Plan of Twatt, c. 1940s. © Royal Navy Research Archive. Click here for more information.

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Key
Red = Buildings
Yellow = Roads and Runways

Parent(s)/HQ Airfield(s):

Hatston

Satellite(s):

DounreayHatstonSkeabrae

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Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust is registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Suite 1, 7th Floor 50 Broadway, London, England, SW1H 0BL
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