RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin)
Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle or more simply RNAS Donibristle is a former Fleet Air Arm base located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east of Rosyth, Fife, and 8.7 miles (14.0 km) northwest of Edinburgh. It was also known as HMS Merlin.
| RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin) RNAY Donibristle RAF Donibristle  | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donibristle, Fife in Scotland | |||||||||
![]() RNAS Donibristle Shown within Fife ![]() RNAS Donibristle RNAS Donibristle (the United Kingdom)  | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 56°02′27″N 003°20′57″W | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Naval Air Station | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry Admiralty  | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Navy Royal Air Force  | ||||||||
| Controlled by | Fleet Air Arm RAF Coastal Command  | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1916 | ||||||||
| In use | 1917-23 October 1959 | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II Cold War  | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 39 metres (128 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
  | |||||||||
From 1918 to 24 May 1939 the station was called RAF Donibristle.
History
    
The following units were posted here at some point:
- Royal Air Force
 
- No. 22 Squadron RAF[1]
 - No. 36 Squadron RAF[2]
 - No. 42 Squadron RAF[3]
 - No. 100 Squadron RAF[4]
 - No. 271 Squadron RAF[5]
 - 'D' Flight of No. 2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF (April 1940 - March 1941)[6]
 - No. 16 Group Practice Flight RAF (August 1937 - June 1938)[7]
 - No. 18 (Reconnaissance) Group RAF (27 September 1938 - 11 October 1938 & 21 October 1938 - 20 May 1939)[8]
 - No. 29 (Fleet) Group RAF (21 June 1921 - 31 March 22)[9]
 - Torpedo Training Flight RAF (January - May 1934) absorbed by No. 22 Sqn[10]
 - No. 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 404 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 404A (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 404B (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 405 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 406 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 407 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[12]
 - No. 408 (Fleet Fighter) Flight RAF[12]
 - No. 420 (Fleet Spotter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 441 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight RAF[11]
 - No. 464 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight RAF[11]
 - Coastal Area Aircraft Depot (September 1919 - March 1922)[13]
 
- Fleet Air Arm
 
- 700 Naval Air Squadron[14]
 - 701 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 739 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 758 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 767 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 769 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 770 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 771 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 780 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 782 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 784 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 800 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 801 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 802 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 803 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 804 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 805 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 806 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 807 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 808 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 810 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 811 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 812 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 813 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 814 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 816 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 817 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 819 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 820 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 821 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 822 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 823 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 824 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 825 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 827 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 828 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 830 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 860 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 881 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 882 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 884 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 886 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 888 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 890 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 891 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 892 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 893 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 1770 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 1820 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 1830 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 'A' Flight of 1830 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 1841 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - 1842 Naval Air Squadron[11]
 - Aircraft Repair Depot[11]
 - Fleet Aircraft Acceptance Depot[11]
 - Fleet Aircraft Repair Depot[11]
 
Current use
    
The site is now a combination of Donibristle Industrial Park and Hillend Industrial Park.[11]
References
    
    Citations
    
- Jefford 1988, p. 32.
 - Jefford 1988, p. 37.
 - Jefford 1988, p. 39.
 - Jefford 1988, p. 54.
 - Jefford 1988, p. 82.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 61.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 161.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 150.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 151.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 273.
 - "Donibristle". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
 - Lake 1999, p. 81.
 - Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 92.
 - Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 15.
 
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, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
 - Lake, Alan (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
 - Sturtivant, Ray; Ballance, Theo (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
 - Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
 
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