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RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus)

For other ships with the same name, seeHMS Daedalus.
For other ships with the same name, seeHMS Ariel.

Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent,(RNAS Lee-on-Solent;orHMSDaedalus1939–1959 & 1965–1996 andHMSAriel1959–1965), is a formerRoyal Naval Air Stationlocated nearLee-on-the-SolentinHampshire,approximately 4 miles (6.44 km) west ofPortsmouth,on the coast of theSolent.The airfield is now mostly civilian, however is still used byHM Coastguard;flying theAgustaWestland AW139helicopters.

RNAS Lee-on-Solent
(HMSDaedalus)
(HMSAriel)
Lee-on-the-Solent,Hampshirein England
HMSDaedalusairfield as seen from above the Solent
HMSDaedalus
RNAS Lee-on-Solent is located in Hampshire
RNAS Lee-on-Solent
RNAS Lee-on-Solent
Shown within Hampshire
RNAS Lee-on-Solent is located in the United Kingdom
RNAS Lee-on-Solent
RNAS Lee-on-Solent
RNAS Lee-on-Solent (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates50°48′54″N001°12′16″W/ 50.81500°N 1.20444°W/50.81500; -1.20444
Grid referencegrid referenceSU560019
TypeRoyal Naval Air Station
CodeL
Site information
OwnerAdmiralty
OperatorRoyal Navy
Controlled byFleet Air Arm
Site history
Built1917(1917)
In use1917 - 1996(1996)
Fategeneral aviationairport
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Cold War
Airfield information
Elevation9 metres (30 ft)AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/18 975 yards (892 m)Asphalt
06/24 1,420 yards (1,298 m) Asphalt
11/29 1,100 yards (1,006 m) Asphalt
00/18 2,950 yards (2,697 m) Waterway
06/24 2,800 yards (2,560 m) Waterway
11/29 2,000 yards (1,829 m) Waterway
Source:Royal Navy Research Archive[1]

It was one of the primary shore airfields of theFleet Air Armand was first established as aseaplanebase in 1917 duringthe First World War.The aerodrome being opened in 1934, it commissioned as HMSDaedaluson 24 May 1939,[2]the day administrative control of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred to theAdmiraltyfrom theRoyal Air Forceand one of the four airfields in the UK that were transferred to the Fleet Air Arm.[1]Many first line squadrons were formed here and it facilitated reserve aircraft storage. During theSecond World Warit was home to the office of theAdmiral (Air)and was the main depot for Naval Air Ratings. In October 1959 it recommissioned as HMSArielas a ground training establishment. It again became HMSDaedalusin October 1965, and routine service flying continued until April 1993, including a helicopterSARFlight of772 Naval Air Squadron,theSouthampton University Air Squadronand theHampshire Police Air Support Unit.All RN Air Engineering training was conducted at Lee-on-Solent from September 1970.

As well as the flying and AE training tasks, a number of technical and administration sections were based at Lee-on-Solent, including the Fleet Air Arm Drafting Authority, Naval Aircrew Advisory Board, Naval Air Technical Evaluation Centre, Naval Aircraft Maintenance Development Unit, Naval Air Trials Installation Unit, Mobile Aircraft Repair Transport and Salvage Unit, Safety Equipment School, Photographic School.[2]The airfield closed for military use in 1996 and passed through several owners until 2014 whenFareham Borough Councilbought the airfield and re-branded it asSolent Airport Daedalus.It hosts theSolent Enterprise Zone.

The airfield is situated 4 miles (6.44 km) north west of the entrance toPortsmouth Harbour.Lee-on-the-Solent adjoins along the south east boundary, with the town ofGosport2.5 miles (4.02 km) east and the port city ofSouthampton8 miles (12.87 km) north west.[1]

General

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The airfield caters to private pilots, flight training, recreational flying, and light aircraft operations.

The Daedalus Aviation & Aerospace Park, part of the Solent Enterprise Zone, is a major center for aerospace technology, aviation engineering, and business development.

The airfield is managed byFarehamboroughcounciland is handled and part of Regional and City Airports.

As of 2025 the airfield is home to two licensed flying schools;

Phoenix Aviation founded in 2009 fly theIkarus C42and thePiper PA28.They operate out of the south-east part of the airport at thegeneral aviationramp close to the main building next to the visitors aircraft parking.

Euroflight Training founded in 2014 operate theDiamond DA40 Diamond Starand theDiamond DA42 Twin Star.

In 2021, after being delayed by theCOVID-19 pandemicthe airfield council finished renovating a grass patch with benches which became an outdoor viewing area and a new part of the newly refurbished cafe, fully completed in 2023.

In 2024, the airfield was given permission by theCAAto installPAPIlights on both runways 05 and 23 thresholds.Taxiwaylighting was also recently added.

As of 2025, Martin Francis was the airfield manager.


History

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Royal Naval Air Service (1917–1918)

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Naval aviation began at Lee-on-Solent on 30 July 1917 when theRoyal Naval Air Service(RNAS) opened the Naval Seaplane Training School as an extension to the seaplane training station at nearbyCalshot(under 5 miles acrossSouthampton Waterby seaplane, but over 30 miles by the shortest land route). The school's first commander was Squadron CommanderDouglas Evill.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.[3]

Royal Air Force (1918–1939)

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On 1 April 1918, the RNAS combined with theRoyal Flying Corps(RFC) to form theRoyal 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 wartimeShort Type 184sand, from late 1921, the newFairey IIID.[4]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).[5]

In 1931 the first grass airstrip at Lee was constructed to the west of the town, Lee-on-Solent became HQRAF Coastal Area,and a major rebuilding programme ensued.[6]On 14 July 1936, an expanded RAF Coastal Area becameRAF Coastal Command,with the HQ remaining at Lee-on-Solent.[4]

RAF Lee-on-Solent Station Flight

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The Royal Air Force Station Flight at Lee-on-Solent was equipped with various aircraft over different periods, from 1918 to 1939.[7]

Royal Navy (1939–1996)

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With the expansion of the RAF during the 1930s, however,Parliamentdecided that the Fleet Air Arm should transfer to the Admiralty.[6]Four airfields in the United Kingdom were transferred over to the Fleet Air Arm, these were the air stations atDonibristle,Lee-on-Solent,Ford,andWorthy Down.[8]As a consequence, on 24 May 1939, HQ RAF Coastal Command moved toNorthwoodand Lee-on-Solent wascommissionedasHMSDaedalus.[4]It become, it appears, Headquarters ofRear Admiral, Naval Air Stations,Richard Bell Davies.[9]CaptainT Bulteel was the first Royal Navy station commander of Lee-on-Solent and took up post the following day on 25 May 1939.[1]The first two units to take up residence at HMSDaedalus,on 24 May,765 Naval Air Squadron,[10]as a Basic Seaplane Training and Pool Squadron. It was initially equipped withSupermarine Walrusamphibian aircraftand,Fairey SeafoxandFairey SwordfishSeaplaneaircraft. The squadron trained pilots in operating seaplane aircraft and provided a pilot reserve for Fleet Air Armcatapultsquadrons.[11]The other unit was771 Naval Air Squadron,formed out of a fleet requirements unit, with a northern 'X' flight and southern 'Y' flight, equipped with Fairey Swordfishtorpedo bomberand Supermarine Walrus.[12]

753and754 Naval Air Squadronsalso formed on 24 May 1939, out of the disbanded RAF unit, theSchool of Naval Co-operation RAF,[13]which had itself formed at Lee-on-Solent in 1919.[14]753 NAS operatedBlackburn Sharktorpedo-spotter-reconnaissance biplane andFairey Sealspotter-reconnaissance biplane. 754 NAS used Supermarine Walrus amphibian and Fairey Seafox floatplane along withPercival Vega Gullmilitary trainer aircraft.[13]May 1939 also saw the construction commence of concrete runways begin thus making RNAS Lee-on-Solent one of the early airbases to move away from grass airstrips. The two runways in question: heading 13/31 and 2,250 feet (690 m) in length and heading 24/06 with a length of 3,000 feet (910 m).[15]Later on, in August,710 Naval Air Squadronformed. This was a seaplane squadron with six Supermarine Walrus for theseaplane tenderHMSAlbatross.[16]

Second World War (1939–1945)

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At the outbreak of theSecond World Warmore Fleet Air Arm second line squadrons either formed or deployed at Lee-on-Solent,772 Naval Air Squadronformed out of 'Y' Flight of 771 Naval Air Squadron, as a Fleet Requirements Unit, equipped with four Fairey Swordfish Floatplanes.[12]At the same time a Service Trials Unit was stood up, with778 Naval Air Squadrontasked with testing aircraft and armament, and assessing tactics, it operated withBlackburn RocandSkua,along with Fairey Swordfish and Supermarine Walrus at HMSDaedalusand addingFairey AlbacoreandFulmarsoon afterwards.[17]In November the Deck Landing Training unit770 Naval Air Squadronformed with a variety of aircraft, usingde Havilland Moth,Gloster Sea Gladiator,Blackburn Skua and Fairey Swordfish.[12]

A Communications Squadron was formed in March 1940,781 Naval Air Squadron.It was equipped with a variety of aircraft including de Havilland Hornet Moth, Fairey Fulmar, Fairey Swordfish and Supermarine Walrus.[18]764 Naval Air Squadronwas formed in April 1940 as an Advance Seaplane Training Squadron. It was equipped with Supermarine Walrus amphibian aircraft, and Fairey Seafox and Fairey Swordfish floatplanes.[1]When the trainees had passed the conversion course at Lee-on Solent they boarded the Seaplane carrier,HMSPegasus,for catapult training.[19]The squadron left HMSDaedalusforRAF Pembroke Dockon the 3 July 1940, leaving behind its Seafox floatplanes.[20]

763 Naval Air Squadron,Torpedo, Spotter, Reconnaissance Pool No.1, arrived at HMSDaedalusfromRNAS Jerseyat the end of May 1940. (TheAdmiraltyhad taken over Jersey Airport, to use as aNaval air station.However, due to theGerman occupation of Franceand the proximity to theChannel Islands,theGovernmentconcluded the Islands weren't defendable).[21]The squadron remained at Lee-on-Solent for around one month before moving to RNAS Worthy Down in July.[22]

FourBellman hangarswere initially erected at HMSDaedalus,but on 16 August 1940 theLuftwaffeattacked the airbase and caused considerable damage. In the air raid byJunkers Ju 88multirole combat aircraft andMesserschmitt Bf 110fighter bomber aircraft, a number of people were killed and several buildings were seriously damaged, including destroying two of the Bellman hangars.[15][23]

780 Naval Air Squadronarrived at HMSDaedalusfromRNAS Eastleighin October. This unit provided a conversion course tasked with training experienced civilian pilots in naval flying. It operated a variety of aircraft, including Blackburn Shark,de Havilland Gipsy Moth,de Havilland Hornet Moth,de Havilland Tiger Moth,Fairey Swordfish,Hawker Hart,Hawker Nimrod,Percival Proctor,and Percival Vega Gull.[18]Then at the end of 1940702 Naval Air Squadronreformed at Lee-on-Solent as a Long Range catapult squadron, operating with Fairey Seafox from armed merchant cruisers, with its shore-base being HMSDaedalus.[24]

Improvements to the airbase were ongoing during the next three years. Additional land was acquired and a thirdrunwaywas constructed. The existing shorter runway was re-aligned and extended, and by 1942 the lengths, width and orientation were: 18/00 975 yards (892 m), 24/06 1,420 yards (1,300 m) and 11/29 1,100 yards (1,000 m), all by 50 yards (46 m) wide. Construction of dispersalhangarsalso continued over the same period. There was eventually eight Fromson-Massillion hangars with afootprintmeasuring 70 yards (64 m) x 60 yards (55 m), these were hangars designated F, H, L, M, N, O, P and R. They were augmented with eleven hangars by A&J Main & Co Ltd, their footprint was identical to the fromson type, but had slightly lower doors. These hangars were designated A, B, C, D, E, G, J, K, Q, T and U. The original Watch Office was damaged during the August 1940 attack by theLuftwaffe’and a new Admiralty designedcontrol towerwas constructed to replace it. By the middle of the Second World War the airbase had the capacity for five first line and three second line squadrons, at any one time.[1][15]

809 Naval Air Squadronformed at Lee-on-Solent, on 15 January 1941, as a fleet fighter squadron, equipped with Fairey Fulmar Il aircraft.[25]The squadron worked-up for embarkation on HMSVictorious,but prior to this left HMSDaedalusafter three months and moved toGosportin March.[26]In July811 Naval Air Squadronreformed at Lee-on-Solent. Tasked as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron, it was initially equipped with twoHawker Sea Hurricanefighter aircraft and twoVought SB2U Vindicator,an American carrier-based dive bomber which was known as the Chesapeake in Royal Navy service. Working up for deployment on escort carriers, it soon replaced its initial aircraft with six Fairey Swordfish.[27]

825 Naval Air Squadronreformed on New Year’s Day 1942, at Lee-on-Solent, as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron with nine Fairey Swordfish. Six aircraft were detached to RAF Manston ready for thebreak outof the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. On 12 February 1942, the detachment attacked the battlecruisers in poor weather and failing light. All six aircraft were lost and only five of the eighteen aircrew survived. The CO, Lieutenant CommanderEugene Esmonde,was awarded aposthumousVictoria Cross.The unit regrouped at Lee-on-Solent, on 2 March 1942, again equipped with Fairey Swordfish Il, before later moving to RNAS Machrihanish (HMSLandrail).[28]Later in the same year746 Naval Air Squadronformed as the Naval Night Fighter Interception Unit, during November 1942, at Lee-on-Solent. It initially operated with six Fairey Fulmar reconnaissance / fighter aircraft, three as night fighter aircraft with the other three as the target aircraft. December saw the unit move to RAF Ford to join the RAF Fighter Interception Unit.[29]

The Link trainer in action at the RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Pilots receive their first training in blind flying

739 Naval Air Squadronformed on 15 December 1942 at Lee-On-Solent. It was designated as the Blind Approach Development Unit. Its first commanding officer wasLieutenantG. Smith, RN, and its initial equipment was a single Fairey Swordfish alongside one Fairey Fulmar for trials work. The squadron later acquiredAirspeed Oxford,a twin-engine monoplane training aircraft andAvro Anson,a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. The unit left Lee-on-Solent nine months after forming, moving toRNAS Worthy Down (HMSKestrel)on 1 September 1943.[30]

1944 saw an increase in activity at HMSDaedalusespecially in the build up toOperation Overlordand theNormandy Landings.Both Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force squadrons operated out of Lee-on-Solent, supported by a RAF Hawker Typhoonflightand aUnited States Navyartillery observer aircraft squadron, equipped withSupermarine Spitfire,a British single-seat fighter aircraft. The3rd Naval Fighter Winghad formed in October 1943, consisting threeSupermarine Seafire,anavalisedSpitfire, equipped squadrons: Nos808,886and897 Naval Air Squadrons.The wing arrived at Lee-on-Solent on 25 February 1944 and added885 Naval Air Squadron,which had just reformed again on 15 February, to its formation. Its role altered to that of an air spotting pool supporting theRAF Second Tactical Air Forcefor the Normandy landings.[31]

US Navy pilots are briefed before flying a gunfire spotting mission over the Normandy beach heads

They were joined by United States Navy’sVCS-7artillery observation aircraft squadron, on 28 May 1944. For Operation Neptune seventeen pilots from the United States Navy’s cruiser and battleship observation units were trained to fly Supermarine Spitfire Vb fighter aircraft and Cruiser Scouting Squadron (VCS) 7 was formed.[32]No. 26 Squadronarrived at Lee-on-Solent at the end of April, operating with Supermarine Spitfire Vb[33]and was joined by the Supermarine Spitfire Va aircraft ofNo. 63 Squadronat the end of May[34]and the British single-seatfighter-bomberHawker TyphoonIb equipped,No. 1320 ('Abdullah') Flight.[35]Together withNo. 268 Squadron,equipped withNorth American MustangII an American long-range, single-seat fighter andNo. 414 Squadron RCAFoperating North American Mustang I, this mixture of units formed theAir Spotting Pool,operated byNo. 34 Reconnaissance Wing,of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force.[36]

On 6 June 1944, at 0441 hours, the first allied aircraft to take part in Operation Overlord took off from HMSDaedalus.The Air Spotting Pool operated as pairs with one aircraft covering against an air attack while the other aircraft provided aerial spotting fornaval gunfire support.A large number of aircraft was required for this work because of the need to maintain aircraft over thebeaches used for the invasionbut with aircraft that had a limitedendurance.The number of sorties from HMSDaedalusin support of Operation Neptune was 435 and this was the highest total achieved by any UK airfield on D-Day.[37]

HMSAriel(1959–1965)

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4 SAR Flight Wessex airborne at once for a flypast of the Lee Tower. Westland Wesex HU.5, 781 Squadron, Lee-On-Solent SAR Flight. 1980.

Post-war she continued to play a significant role, being renamed HMSArielon 31 October 1959 to reflect her electrical, radar and ground training emphasis; she took over the work of theRoyal Naval Air Electrical Training Establishment, Worthy Downprior to its closure in 1961.[38]In 1962 the Joint Service Hovercraft Unit was formed with the aim of testing hovercraft in an operational military environment, and soon after the Air Station reverted to the name HMSDaedaluson 5 October 1965.[4]

She was home to the Naval Air Trial Installation Unit (NATIU), formed to install and test new systems in a variety of flying test bed aircraft including aHawker Hunterand ade Havilland Devon.

Search and Rescue Flight

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During the Second World War thesearch and rescue(SAR) duties at Lee-on-Solent were carried out by the Search and Rescue Flight of 781 Naval Air Squadron, which usedSupermarine Sea Otteramphibious aircraft. This operation continued until October 1952 when the Sea Otter aircraft were withdrawn.[39]

See also:History of Royal Navy Helicopter Search and Rescue

The Fleet Air Arm operated a separate helicopterSearch and Rescue(SAR) Flight at RNAS Lee-on-Solent which formed in November 1972.[40]This effectively replaced the disbanded Royal Air Force SAR Flight atRAF Thorney Island,from 12 February 1973. There was a need to provide a civil Search And Rescue service at 15 minutes' notice, from dawn to dusk, covering fromBeachy Headin East Sussex toStart Point, Devon,tasked by theDepartment of Trade and Industry.

Westland Wessex HU5 (WS-58) of the RNAS Lee-on-Solent SAR flight

The flight was not in use from April 1982, but from February 1983, 772 Naval Air Squadron atRNAS Portland (HMSOsprey),operated a detachment at HMSDaedalus:'C' Flight, covering SAR, which became and independent unit from August 1985 until March 1988. (replaced temporarily byNo. 22 Sqndetachment, followed bycivilian coastguard helicopter). It flew a couple of different helicopter types:[41]

RNAS Lee-on-Solent Station Flight

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The Royal Navy Station Flight at Lee-on-Solent was equipped with various aircraft over different periods, from 1944 to 1959.[42]

Previous units and aircraft

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List of past flying units and major non-flying units based at Lee-on-Solent, for both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

BothRAF Coastal AreaandRAF Coastal Commandwere located here at times.

Squadrons

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The following units were here at some point:[43]

Units

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Solent Airport Daedalus (2015–present)

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Main article:Solent Airport Daedalus

Since 2015 the site is nowSolent Airport Daedalus

Modern incidents

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On the 16th November 2024 anIkarus C42from the flying school Phoenix Aviation lost control while taxiing from the end ofrunway05 to thegeneral aviationramp to park. It's estimated speed noted byair traffic controlwas quoted 'upwards of 25knots'. After passing the 05 hold at A1, the aircraft swerved and dislodged ataxiwaylight on the right side (facing the ramp.) Damage to the aircraft included the nose wheel becoming completely detached from the aircraft. The higherstrutstructure on the wheel was also damaged severely. After the nose wheel became detached, the lowerfuselagebecame scraped as well as the propeller becoming chipped. The taxiway was closed momentarily and the airfield services moved the aircraft away from the active area, before moving it again the next day to the Phoenixhangarwhere it awaited repairs. An investigation by the airport manager in partnership with Regional and City Airports was conducted shortly after the incident. There was one occupant onboard; the pilot was not injured.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^abcdef"R.N.A.S. Lee-on-Solent".Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day.Retrieved5 December2023.
  2. ^abBallance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016,p. 395.
  3. ^"Fleet Air Arm".FAA Archive.Archived from the original on 9 May 2008.
  4. ^abcd"HMS DAEDALUS HERITAGE - 1930s".Fleet Air Arm Archive Archive.Archived from the original on 11 May 2008.
  5. ^RAF Museum Milestones of Flight - 1924Archived2 October 2006 at theWayback Machine
  6. ^ab"Report on HMS Daedalus for the Defence Heritage and Tourism Panel, Hampshire County Council - 30 November 1999".Archived fromthe originalon 30 September 2007.
  7. ^Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007,p. 262.
  8. ^"Air Stations - Air Sections - Air Yards - Air Establishments - Lodger Units".Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day.Retrieved7 December2023.
  9. ^Watson, Graham."Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939–1945".naval-history.net.Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015.Retrieved8 June2018.
  10. ^"765 Naval Air Squadron".wings-aviation.ch.Retrieved24 February2023.
  11. ^"A history of 765 Naval Air Squadron".royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.Retrieved8 December2023.
  12. ^abcWragg 2019,p. 131.
  13. ^abWragg 2019,p. 124.
  14. ^Lake 1999,p. 182.
  15. ^abc"Aerodrome History".Daedalus Aviation & Heritage Group.Retrieved8 December2023.
  16. ^Wragg 2019,p. 114.
  17. ^Wragg 2019,p. 133.
  18. ^abWragg 2019,p. 134.
  19. ^"A history of 764 Naval Air Squadron".royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.Retrieved10 December2023.
  20. ^"RAF Pembroke Dock".royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.Retrieved10 December2023.
  21. ^"RNAS Jersey".royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.Retrieved10 December2023.
  22. ^"RNAS Worthy Down".royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk.Retrieved10 December2023.
  23. ^"RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)".Liberation Route Europe.Retrieved9 December2023.
  24. ^Wragg 2019,p. 113.
  25. ^Wragg 2019,p. 147.
  26. ^Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016,p. 130-131.
  27. ^Wragg 2019,p. 149.
  28. ^Wragg 2019,p. 161.
  29. ^Wragg 2019,p. 122.
  30. ^Wragg 2019,p. 121.
  31. ^Wragg 2019,p. 199-200.
  32. ^"A British Connection…Part 2".usni.org.Retrieved13 December2023.
  33. ^Jefford 2001,p. 26.
  34. ^Jefford 2001,p. 48.
  35. ^Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007,p. 118.
  36. ^Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007,p. 56.
  37. ^"HMS Daedalus airfield, Lee on Solent".theddaystory.Retrieved14 December2023.
  38. ^"Copy of government briefing paper"(PDF).
  39. ^"781 Squadron".Heli.Retrieved11 December2023.
  40. ^Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016,p. 323.
  41. ^Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016,p. 324.
  42. ^Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016,p. 321.
  43. ^"Lee-on-Solent".Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust.Retrieved14 April2015.
  44. ^R.A.F. Form 543 T/Cpl Thomas Barker Fitt IIE. Date of Movement 30/08/41 to 'X' Squadron Lee
  45. ^Howard 2011,p. 62.

Bibliography

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  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016).The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm.Air Britain Historians Limited.ISBN978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Howard, L; Burrow, M; Myall, E (2011).Fleet Air Arm helicopters since 1943.UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.ISBN978-0-85130-304-8.
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001).RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912.Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing.ISBN1-84037-141-2.
  • Lake, Alan (1999).Flying Units of the RAF.ShrewsburyUK: Airlife Publishing Ltd.ISBN1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007).Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912.UK: Air-Britain (Historians).ISBN978-0851-3036-59.
  • Wragg, David (2019).The Fleet Air Arm Handbook 1939-1945.Cheltenham,Gloucestershire,UK: The History Press.ISBN978-0-7509-9303-6.

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