.jpg)
Dates: 1939 -
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) was one of the primary shore airfields of the Fleet Air Arm. First established as a seaplane base in 1917 during the First World War, it later became the main training establishment and administrative centre of the Fleet Air Arm. Situated near Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, approximately four miles west of Portsmouth on the coast of the Solent at grid reference SU560019, the establishment has now been closed down.
Naval aviation began at Lee-on-Solent on 30 July 1917 when the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) opened the Naval Seaplane Training School as an extension to the seaplane training station at nearby Calshot. Initially, aircraft had to be transported from their temporary hangars to the top of the nearby cliff, then lowered by crane onto a trolley which ran on rails into the sea. Permanent hangars, workshops, accommodation and a new double slipway were soon constructed, however.
On 1 April 1918, the RNAS combined with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Lee-on-Solent Naval Seaplane Training School became an RAF station. Naval aviation training continued throughout the 1920s under the RAF with both Calshot and Lee-on-Solent providing training in operating seaplanes - initially using the wartime Short Type 184s and, from late 1921, the new Fairey IIID. On 1 April 1924, the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force was formed, encompassing those RAF units that normally embarked on aircraft carriers and fighting ships (including those at shore bases such as Lee-on-Solent).
In 1931 the first grass airstrip at Lee was constructed to the west of the town, Lee-on-Solent became HQ RAF Coastal Area, and a major rebuilding programme ensued. On 14 July 1936, an expanded RAF Coastal Area became RAF Coastal Command, with the HQ remaining at Lee-on-Solent. With the expansion of the RAF during the 1930s, however, Parliament decided that the Fleet Air Arm should transfer to the Admiralty. As a consequence, on 24 May 1939, HQ RAF Coastal Command moved to Northwood and Lee-on-Solent was commissioned as HMS Daedalus, becoming Headquarters of Flag Officer Air (Home).
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Daedalus
" In 1848, the Captain of the Royal Navy frigate HMS DAEDALUS sent a detailed report of sighting a strange creature at sea: "With head and shoulders kept about four feet constantly above the sea and at the very least sixty feet of the animal a fleur d’eau (just above)… It passed rapidly, but so ..."
Click For More
" Still looking for Eric Pond and Sheila Pratt (no jokes on either please, heard @em all), can anyone help please? Last heard of 1970 at HMS Daedalus, Gosport. Eric was leading writer, Sheila was Stores assistant. Thanks a bunch, "Jim" Hardy ...Anthony to Mum "
Click For More
"I remember as a baby wren at HMS Daedalus that FONA (Sir Jock Slater) was coming to visit. We were asked to form a long line across all of the runways and sweep for any tiny bits of gash that he may see whizzing past in his little jet - hilarious "
Click For More
" Good day all, I could do with a leg up here; ANY assistance at all would be highly regarded. I need to trace further my birth mothers service details. She joined the WRNS in April 1945 but unfortunately is now deceased. I have her full Naval records but would like to see if I can find ..."
Click For More
" Trained RNH Haslar 1965 - 1966
RNB Portsmouth 1967
HMS Vidal 1968 - 1969 MA - LMA
HMS Osprey 1969 - 1970 LMA
HMS Terror 1070 - 1971 LMA
HMS Puncheston 1971 LMA
RNB Portsmouth 1972 - 1974 LMA - POMA
HMS Intrepid 1974 - 1976 POMA
RNH Haslar 1976 - 1978 ..."
Click For More
.jpg)
