RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw)

Royal Naval Air Station Crail or RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw) is a former Fleet Air Arm base located 4.9 miles (7.9 km) of Anstruther, Fife and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

RNAS Crail (HMS Jackdaw) HMS Bruce
Near Crail, Fife in Scotland
RNAS Crail Shown within Fife
Coordinates	56°16′09″N 002°36′11″W
Type	Royal Naval Air Station
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Navy - Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1918
In use	1918-1961
Airfield information
Elevation	23 metres (75 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

Units

A number of units were here at some point:

• No. 104 Squadron RAF[1]
• 120th Aero Squadron[2]
• 711 Naval Air Squadron[3]
• 747 Naval Air Squadron[4]
• 758 Naval Air Squadron[5]
• 770 Naval Air Squadron[6]
• 778 Naval Air Squadron[7]
• 780 Naval Air Squadron[8]
• 785 Naval Air Squadron[9]
• 786 Naval Air Squadron[10]
• 800 Naval Air Squadron[11]
• 810 Naval Air Squadron[12]
• 811 Naval Air Squadron[13]
• 812 Naval Air Squadron[14]
• 816 Naval Air Squadron[15]
• 817 Naval Air Squadron[16]
• 819 Naval Air Squadron[17]
• 820 Naval Air Squadron[18]
• 822 Naval Air Squadron[19]
• 823 Naval Air Squadron[20]
• 826 Naval Air Squadron[21]
• 827 Naval Air Squadron[22]
• 828 Naval Air Squadron[23]
• 829 Naval Air Squadron[24]
• 831 Naval Air Squadron[25]
• 832 Naval Air Squadron[26]
• 833 Naval Air Squadron[27]
• 834 Naval Air Squadron[28]
• 836 Naval Air Squadron[29]
• 837 Naval Air Squadron[30]
• 837A Flight[30]
• 846 Naval Air Squadron[31]
• Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit RAF[2]
• No. 4 Ferry Flight RAF[2]
• No. 27 Training Depot Station[2]
• No. 50 Training Squadron[2]

Current use

The site is currently used for industrial work farming and car drag racing.[2]

See also

• List of air stations of the Royal Navy

References

Citations

1. Jefford 1988, p. 54.
2. "Crail". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
3. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 33.
4. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 68.
5. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 76.
6. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 88.
7. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 98.
8. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 101.
9. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 107.
10. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 108.
11. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 125.
12. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 162.
13. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 166.
14. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 169.
15. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 187.
16. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 189.
17. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 194.
18. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 199.
19. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 207.
20. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 209.
21. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 223.
22. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 230.
23. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 231.
24. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 233.
25. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 238.
26. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 241.
27. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 242.
28. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 244.
29. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 248.
30. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 252.
31. Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 268.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.