Campbeltown WW2
CAMPBELTOWN: Military aerodrome (HMS Landrail)
Note: Without too much doubt, this airfield was on the site of the 1930s regional airport known both as DALIVADDY and STRATH FARM - for which there are two seperate entries.
Note: Both these pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
The second picture shows the proximity of RN CAMPBELTOWN to RN MACHRIHANISH.
Perhaps, and I am guessing, the only distinct sign remaining today is the access road leading N off the B843?
Military user: Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm]
Note: According to information available on the inter-web it appears that a large number of Fleet Air Arm squadrons served here, and these are listed below.
WARNING: Needless to say I can only accept this information at face value and certainly cannot guarantee that it is correct. However, over the last seventeen years or so, (written in 2016), I have found that by and large cross-checks usually confirm that the info on the web, is usually in agreement with other sources - or as I call them - books.
Plus, as repeated so often elsewhere, this project is only a 'Guide'. It is not intended to be an authoritative historical account, and really only serves to give information which might be useful in gaining a general picture of the nature of each site listed. Needless to say I have no idea whatsoever regarding which aircraft types were actually flown from CAMPBELTOWN during their tenure here. Also, these types listed are only the types which I think might have been flown here during the period this airfield was operational. It is not a list of all the types operated.
766 NAS [Naval Air Squadron] No info to date
772 NAS Note: This seems quite incredible - if correct?. If so I do not believe I have come across another British military Squadron with a record of operating so many varied types. Or at least, certainly not in such a relatively short time frame - 1939 to 1948. Obviously I have no idea which of these might have been flown by 772 whilst based here - but perhaps somebody does? I would much welcome confirmation that 772 did operate all these types.
(Avro Anson, Blackburn Roc, Blackburn Skua, Boulton Paul Defiant, Bristol Blenheim, Bristol Beaufighter, Corsair, DH Mosquito, Douglas Boston and Douglas Havoc. Pause for breath. Fairey Firefly, Fairey Fulmar, Fairey Swordfish, Grumman Wildcat, Hawker Hurricane and Miles Master. Pause for another deeper breath - Percival Proctor, Stinson Reliant, Supermarine Sea Otter, Supermarine Walrus, Vickers-Supermarine Seafire and last but not least, the Vought Chesapeake and Vought Corsair)
Another note: This list is doubly interesting in that it includes types that I have never before come across as being operated by the Fleet Air Arm. However, the more I research aviation history, the more my flabber is ghasted.
804 NAS (Fairey Barracuda, Gloster Sea Gladiator, Grumman Hellcats, Hawker Sea Hurricanes and Miles Martlets)
810 NAS (Fairey Barracuda and Fairey Swordfish)
812 NAS (Fairey Swordfish and Vought Corsair)
815 NAS (Fairey Albacore, Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Fulmar, Fairey Swordfish, Grumman Avenger and Grumman Wildcat)
816 NAS (Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Swordfish, Grumman Wildcat and Vickers-Supermarine Seafire)
818 NAS (Fairey Albacore and Fairey Swordfish)
820 NAS (Blackburn Shark, Fairey Albacores, Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Seal, Fairey Swordfish and Grumman Avenger)
825 NAS (Fairey Barracuda, Fairey Firefly, Fairey Swordfish, Grumman Wildcat and Hawker Sea Hurricane)
826 NAS (Fairey Albacore, Fairey Barracuda and Fairey Swordfish)
828 NAS (Fairey Albacore, Fairey Barracuda and Grumman Avenger)
829 NAS (Fairey Albacore, Fairey Barracuda and Fairey Swordfish)
Note: It appears that 832 and 837 Naval Air Squadrons also had a presence here. But no info to date.
1944: Aircraft Storage
Location: Just SW of Bleachfield village, N of the B843, roughly 2nm W of Campbeltown town centre
Period of operation: 1934 to 1945
Runways; NNW/SSE 704 grass ENE/WSW 777 grass
NOTES: It might be a good idea to explain that this airfield is entirely different from the nearby airport now known as CAMPBELTOWN AIRPORT. In WW2 that was known as MACHRIHANISH.
Bridget Cassey
This comment was written on: 2018-02-19 14:10:31Hi My Uncle was stationed here is WW2. Commander Ashton Christopher Miles do you have any information about him and what he did? Or can you let me know where I might find some information. Thank you Bridget
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Bridget, Thank you for the enquiry. I have no information personally but there are other sources you can try. I know for example that at least one service advertises a tracing and tracking service, but I imagine they charge. Three other possibilities, all in London I'm afraid, are the Imperial War Museum, the RAF Museum at Hendon and the Public Records Office at Kew. They might well have an on-line 'Contact' facility. Hope this helps and best regards, Dick
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