RNAS Caldale

RNAS Caldale
RAF Caldale
Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
Site information
TypeMilitary - Airship station
OwnerAir Department 1915-1918
Air Ministry 1918-1920
Controlled by Royal Naval Air Service
 Royal Air Force
Location
Location in Orkney
RNAS Caldale is located in Orkney Islands
RNAS Caldale
RNAS Caldale
Location within Orkney Islands
RNAS Caldale is located in the United Kingdom
RNAS Caldale
RNAS Caldale
Location within the United Kingdom
Coordinates58°58′41″N 3°01′12″W / 58.978°N 3.020°W / 58.978; -3.020
Site history
Built1915 (1915)
In useJuly 1916-1920 (1920).[1]
Battles/warsFirst World War

RNAS Caldale is a former Royal Naval Air Service airship station located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Kirkwall, Orkney and 4 miles (6.4 km) south east of Finstown, Orkney, Scotland. It was constructed in 1915 and was operational from 1916 to 1920.

History

Caldale had two large airship hangars which housed Submarine Scout Pusher airships that operated anti-submarine and mine spotting sweeps near to Orkney.[2]

However, this was fraught was danger as during November 1917 SSP-2 and SSP-4 were both destroyed in high winds with the crew of SSP-4 lost at sea. Not long after these losses and other damage caused to airships due to the wind the Admiralty decided to close the airship station and move the airship further south on mainland Britain.[3]

During January 1918, the airship station became a kite balloon repair station[3] and was home to No. 20 Kite Balloon Base.[1]

Current use

The site is currently open land.[1]

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 "Caldale (also Kite Balloon Base)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Konstam 2009, p. 16.
  3. 1 2 Konstam 2009, p. 17.

Bibliography

  • Konstam, Angus (2009). Scapa Flow : the defences of Britain's great fleet anchorage, 1914-45. Oxford. ISBN 978-1-84603-366-7. OCLC 318673215.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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