RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest)

Royal Naval Air Station Dale or more simply as RNAS Dale is a former Fleet Air Arm base located 6.5 miles (10.5 km) west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest) RAF Dale
Near Dale, Pembrokeshire in Wales
RNAS Dale Shown within Pembrokeshire
Coordinates	51°42′55″N 005°11′30″W
Type	Royal Naval Air Station
Site information
Owner	Admiralty
Operator	Royal Navy
Controlled by	Fleet Air Arm
Site history
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1942-1948 (1948)
Battles/wars	Second World War
Airfield information
Elevation	59 metres (194 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete 00/00  Concrete

History

RAF Dale

Construction of the airfield began between the villages of Dale and Marloes in 1941. It became operational in June 1942. Initially it was to be named RAF Marloes, planned as a satellite to nearby RAF Talbenny, but the name was changed to RAF Dale instead. The only RAF unit to use RAF Dale was No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron between 30 December 1942 and 2 April 1943 using the Vickers Wellington IC.[1]

RNAS Dale

Following cessation of activities in the Second World War, RAF Dale was decommissioned, and the site became occupied by the Fleet Air Arm as RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest), a satellite of HMS Goldcrest at RNAS Brawdy.

The following squadrons were posted to RNAS Dale at some point:

• 748 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 762 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 784 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 790 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 794 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 809 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 861 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 897 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• 1770 Naval Air Squadron[2]
• Coastal Command Development Unit RAF[2]

Current use

Now owned privately by a local farmer, in May 2010, an illegal rave was held on the site, attracting 2,500 people. Dyfed-Powys Police were forced eventually to create road blocks to stop further attendees joining, and release an announcement on local media. After the rave ended on Monday 31 May, six men aged between 23 and 52 were charged with offences under Section 136 of the Licensing Act for carrying out unlicensed licensable activity.[3]

See also

• List of air stations of the Royal Navy
• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. Jefford 1988, p. 85.
2. "Dale". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
3. "Six men charged over illegal Pembrokeshire rave". BBC Wales. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.

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.