RAF Catfirth

RAF Catfirth
Catfirth, Mainland, Shetland
Near Nesting in Scotland
RAF Catfirth
Shown within the Shetland Islands
Coordinates 60°15′57″N 001°11′27″W / 60.26583°N 1.19083°W / 60.26583; -1.19083Coordinates: 60°15′57″N 001°11′27″W / 60.26583°N 1.19083°W / 60.26583; -1.19083
Type Flying Boat base
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force
Controlled by No. 28 Group RAF
Site history
Built 1917 (1917)
In use 1917-1919 (1919)

RAF Catfirth was a First World War Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), and later Royal Air Force (RAF), seaplane base located on the island of Mainland in the Shetland Islands.[1]

The base was built by the Air Construction Service for the RNAS in November 1917, and was transferred to the RAF when it was formed on 1 April 1918. Its purpose was to house and maintain Felixstowe F3 flying boats, which patrolled seas round Shetland, looking for U-boats. RAF Catfirth was closed on 15 April 1919 and the site was returned to open land, though much of the base can still be seen to this day, 100 years later.[2][3]

RAF Catfirth was also the site of the first ever flight to Shetland. The aeroplane was a Porte Boat, number 9807, and the pilot was Lieutenant Arnold B. Massey AFC. The flight stated from RAF Killingholme in Lincolnshire, called at Dundee and RAF Houton on Orkney before completing the 700 mile flight around the 8th June 1918. Sadly, the aeroplane was wrecked in a severe storm a week after arriving, while secured on the concrete apron at the base.

Units

A Felixstowe F.3 similar to those operated from Catfirth
  • 300 (Flying Boat) Flight RAF was formed at Catfirth on 18 June 1918 operating the Felixstowe F.3 flying boat, it was disbanded around March 1919.[1][3]

It was intended that 301 to 305 Flights would also be formed at Catfirth with the Felixstowe F.3 but the plan was abandoned in September 1918.[3]

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Stutivant/Page 1992, p. 448
  2. ↑ "Catfirth". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Sturtivant 2007, p. 114

Bibliography

  • Ray Sturivant, RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912, Air-Britain (Historians), England, 2007, ISBN 0 85130 365 X
  • Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911–1919 Air-Britain, 1992. ISBN 0 85130 191 6
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