WWII Shropshire: RAF/RNAS Hinstock/HMS Godwit - Domestic Site (1)
Introduction
The photograph on this page of WWII Shropshire: RAF/RNAS Hinstock/HMS Godwit - Domestic Site (1) by Mike Searle as part of the Geograph project.
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WWII Shropshire: RAF/RNAS Hinstock/HMS Godwit - Domestic Site (1)
Image: © Mike Searle Taken: 12 Sep 2020
A mixture of Nissen and Handcraft hutting barrack accommodation. History: Opened initially as a grass airfield in 1941 as RAF Ollerton, it was operated as an RAF Maintenance Unit, and also as a satellite landing ground (SLG) for RAF stations Burtonwood and Shawbury. In July 1943 it was rebuilt using heavy steel track for the runways and transferred to the Royal Navy who renamed it RNAS Hinstock, aka HMS Godwit. The standard four-storey control tower was probably added at this time https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6616143. The Navy's Fleet Air Arm at Hinstock specialised in instrument and blind approach flying training, operating a variety of aircraft that included Anson, Oxford, Swordfish, Harvard, Barracuda, Firefly and Whitley. It was Shropshire's only naval air base. The airfield was closed on 28 February 1947. Image
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Image Location
Latitude
52.83772
Longitude
-2.506909