Woodhaven flying sites
Note: This map only shows the position of Woodhaven within the UK.
WOODHAVEN: Military Seaplane Station
Military users: WW1 RNAS/RAF
Location: Probably near the pier/harbour, just W of Cow’s Hole, in Newport-on-Tay, on the S bank of the Tay, between the Tay railway and Tay road bridges
Period of operation: 1914 to 1918
NOTE: It is very tempting to imagine this site must surely be the same site as the WW2 WOODHAVEN flying boat station listed below but I don’t think it was as a few clues simply don’t marry up. Another factor is that during WW1 this site was used by seaplanes disembarked from Navy ships and seaplanes can operate from small and confined areas whereas flying boats require much larger sites
WOODHAVEN: Military Flying Boat Station
Military user: RAF Coastal Command
333 (Norwegian) Sqdn (Catalinas) *
Location: On south bank of the Firth of Tay, 2nm WSW of Newport-on-Tay
Period of operation: WW2 only?
Alighting areas: Day landings, (area ‘A’) north to south 1.5nm and east to west 5 to 6 nm in Tay estuary.
Night landings were made only in an emergency in area ‘B’ for which no details are available?
NOTES: Typical of many instructions to aircrew in WW2 some notes have been found which appear nonsensical. These say, and I quote, “Beaching facilities for two Catalinas or Sunderlands in specially built docks. No Sunderland beaching gear available”.
Not to be confused with the Royal Naval Air Station seaplane base DUNDEE almost opposite but on the north bank of the Firth of Tay in ANGUS
* A note found on Wikipedia states 333 Sqdn also operated Mosquitos from WOODHAVEN; but these were based at LEUCHARS. Being made of wood Mosquitos many have floated quite well, but hardly ideal for operations on water!
richard brand
This comment was written on: 2018-09-01 17:12:48If you know where to look . beaching facilities for 2 catalinas still visible.Good B&W pics can be found on internet. Early WW2 Ex Norwegian HE115s also operated from here. Memorial to 333sqn exists by Laburnum tree. Wormit Yacht club is the location.
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