RAF Dale

RAF · Pembrokeshire · Wales · United Kingdom

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RAF Period. Opened in June 1942 Dale was a No. 19 Group Satellite Landing Ground (SLG) for RAF Talbenny. It was put to operational use the same month when 304 (Polish) Squadron Wellingtons moved in. They operated from Dale until the end of March 1943 when they relocated to RAF Docking in East Anglia, They were replaced by the Coastal Command Development Unit which transferred from RAF Tain, Dale was also a temporary home for 303 Ferry Training Unit which operated from here while the Drem lighting system was installed at their home station, Talbenny. R.N.A.S. period. In September 1943 RAF Dale was transferred to the Admiralty. 2 x Pentad (Squadron) - 185'x110'. 9 x Mains (Squadron) - 60'x84'. 6 x Mains hangars (Storage) - 60'x84'. 3 x Pentad hangars (Reserve Servicing) - 185'x110'. 1 x Pentad A.R.S. - 239' x113'. 2 x T2 hangars (A.R.S.) - 185'x110'. Sizes in Feet. A.R.S. - Aircraft Repair Shed. R.N.A.S. - Royal Naval Air Service.

R.N.A.S. Dale H.M.S. Goldcrest.
Twin Engine Conversion Course.
Fighter OTU.
Night Fighter School.
RN Aircraft Direction School — R.N.A.S. Dale H.M.S. Goldcrest. Twin Engine Conversion Course. Fighter OTU. Night Fighter School. RN Aircraft Direction School

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The red road is the B4327 from Haverfordwest and we took the route following the red arrows. Green - are the RAF sites laid out to the N/E. BS - Bomb Store. BH - Battle HQ. OPS - site of Operations Block. SSH - Standby Set House.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Spitfire PR Mark XI of 541 Sqn RAF took this photo.

15 April 1946

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Dale Point also had another RNAS camp HMS Harrier/ex RAF Kete. The Royal Navy Air Direction Centre. Training School for Officers and Radar Plotters. School of Meteorology. Started 1944 as RNAS Goldcrest 2. Commissioned as RNAS Harrier on 1st February 1948 and closed down July 1960. Paid off 2nd January 1961. Returned to agriculture in 1980's

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

History : RAF Dale opened in May 1942 as a satellite for RAF Talbenny about two miles N/E. This is the reason why there was only one hangar & a small amount of RAF buildings. All major maintenance would be carried out at RAF Talbenny. 19 Group Coastal Command took over and No.304 (Polish) Sqn flying Wellington's.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

BCF (British Concrete Federation) hut (small).

16 March 2009

The two BCF huts on the hill above RAF Dale, they may have been the HF/DF site?

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

BCF (British Concrete Federation) hut (small). The original electrical inputs and door.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

BCF (British Concrete Federation) hut (large). Site of the Huff Duff. HF/DF or Huff Duff as it was known was a device for determining the direction of short wave radio signals. It enabled their source to be located by taking bearings from two or more sites. Then the aircraft could be directed to the nearest airfield or home base.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

BCF (British Concrete Federation) Hut (large) inside.

16 March 2009

The roof centre section, the trusses are in two halves pulled together by a long nut & bolt. Brick hollow tiles were used as infill on the inside walls.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

BCF (British Concrete Federation) huts. Huff Duff site. The field walls have been modified and a brick pier built to open an entrance to protect from RAF vehicles probably.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Communal site entrance

16 March 2009

The RAF communal site (yellow RAF buildings that are still here).

The RN communal site, slightly larger area than the RAF.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Communal site. Google

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Communal site. Institute 7479/41. (84 Cpls, 500 A/M) .

16 March 2009

The plan I have is not very clear so I hope I get the drawing numbers correct?

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Communal site. The top four huts on the left are RN, the RAF Institute is the main building and the huts to the right are RN.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Communal site.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RN's Commanding Officers house. (site of RAF officers mess). The owner of this house was very helpful and allowed us to photograph the area.

16 March 2009

Officers mess 7416/41 and a bath house 7421/41 was originally on this site.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RN's Commanding Officers house.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

1/3rd of the Officers Mess left

16 March 2009

Yellow is all that is left of the officers mess.

The Wellington's were not only used as ant-submarine but reverted back and bombed the U-boat base at La Palice on the French Atlantic coast.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

1/3rd of the Officers Mess left

16 March 2009

Their Wellington's were then fitted with Leigh Lights, a very bright spotlight that can be shone onto a surfaced submarine at night to aid an attack.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Huts on the hill.

16 March 2009

There seems to have been many accidents with their Wellington's due to take-offs & landings and unfortunately many casualties.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Main entrance to the airfield.

16 March 2009

The yellow arrow is where the entrance is but you may not get in this way as it is locked. The owner of the CO's house kindly let us in. The other way in is where the green arrow is located.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Through the main entrance, went right and came back on the left side. Aircraft were withdrawn from Dale around December 1943 so that Drem lighting could be fitted which aligned lamps in such a way as to provide a guide for a normal curving aircraft landing approach .

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Track to the hangar.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Admiralty Mainhill 'S' shed workshops.

16 March 2009

This Mainhill shed was used as a workshop as there is no main large door to allow access for aircraft.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Admiralty Mainhill 'S' shed workshops.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Admiralty Mainhill 'S' shed workshops. A long workshop bench made of concrete.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Admiralty Mainhill 'S' shed workshops. Where the front door should have been, but as this was a workshop. There was no need. Partitioned into different spaces for different repairs and in this picture a small crane to lift heavy objects.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Metal fittings to hold the corrugated sheets onto the frame.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

A Dudley & Dowell Cradley Heath, Staffs drain cover.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The next area showing the RN added hangars to this RAF dispersal area. Pentad & Mainhill 'S' were a typical types hangars on RN station.

Google 2006

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Large hut base and track.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Base of a naval Pentad hangar.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Naval Pentad hangar with a Seafire warming up. Other details, you can see the slope on the Pentad wall, T2's are straight sided. Also the lights hanging down inside the hangar and a Mosquito the other side of the hangar.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Seafire and a Mosquito outside the Pentad hangar.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RAF T2 hangar.

16 March 2009

B17 under hangar repairs with the doors wide open.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The runners for the fully opening doors.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The airfield drainage.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

More Dudley & Dowell Cradley Heath, Staffs drain cover for runway drainage.

Dudley & Dowell drain covers running the full length of RAF Weston-Super-Mare.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

NE/SW runway.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The site of three Mainhill 'S' hangars.

Google 2006

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

M&E Plinth.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Bomb store track.

16 March 2009

Hub with STANTON 1947 marked on it? Found on the side.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Fuzing Point Building (light) 4778/42 [47]

16 March 2009

An RAF fuzing point, how it may have looked.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Track leading off to the rest of the bomb stores. Smoke bomb, incendiary, Pyro & small bomb container store. Dale was then transferred over to Royal Navy and re named HMS Goldcrest 1943 - 1947. Instead of bombers the navy brought target towing aircraft of No794 Sqn RNAS with Defiant & Masters.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RAF bomb store. 40 - 3164/42 - Bomb Store (Type D). 41 - 3274/41 - Fuzed Spare Bomb Store. 42/44 - 4733/42 - Component Stores (Type B). 45/46 - 4734/42 - Incendiary Bomb Stores. 47/48 - 4779/42 -Fuzing Point Building (Heavy Light). 49 - 5779/42 - Smoke Bomb Store. 50 - 12725/41 - Pyro Store (Type A). 51 - 15737/41 R.U. Small Bomb Container Store.

Air Ministry Site Plan 1464/44

Tail fin store 3164/42 (Type D) is usually on the end of one or more bomb stores.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

RAF bomb store Air Ministry plan 1464/44 40 - 3164/42 - Bomb Store (Type D). 41 - 3274/41 - Fuzed Spare Bomb Store. 42/44 - 4733/42 - Component Stores (Type B). 45/46 - 4734/42 - Incendiary Bomb Stores. 47/48 - 4779/42 -Fuzing Point Building (Heavy Light). 49 - 5779/42 - Smoke Bomb Store. 50 - 12725/41 - Pyro Store (Type A). 51 - 15737/41 R.U. Small Bomb Container Store.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Bomb Store Type D 3164/42 [40]. The area from the small wall on the left to the roadway on the right, there would be low blast walls of earth between each bomb sore bay and on the right it still has its longitudinal blast wall between the bomb store and the airfield. Bombs would be delivered over the low wall on the left into the store and removed from the road way on the right. A one way system would be in operation to make the delivery and collection a smooth operation.

16 March 2009

Delivery from the left, collection from the right.

Small bombs on their trailers usually towed by a tractor from the store to the awaiting aircraft.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The low delivery wall. On later bomb stores, this wall would have been much higher, up to the bed of a lorry and trammel rings fitted into the brick work. As this was an early store and the RN took it over, there was no need to u date the arrangements, as large bombs were probably not ever used here.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Fuzed & Spare Bomb Store 4780/42 [41]. The track running through is the unloading/loading road, the track on the right is a by pass if the main track is blocked.

16 March 2009

Plan, green square at the bottom is the Fuzed & Spare Bomb Store 4780/42 [41].

A 500lb bomb is loaded on to a Blackburn Skua of 800 NAS.
How the navy did it, bombing up on HMS Ark Royal. — A 500lb bomb is loaded on to a Blackburn Skua of 800 NAS. How the navy did it, bombing up on HMS Ark Royal.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Aircraft dispersal, one of 35 built for the RAF. Imagine working here on the engine of a Wellington in mid winter with a gale blowing.

16 March 2009

One of around five aircraft tie downs to stop planes from flying in the wind.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Probably not to scale, but it dose give an idea of how windswept it is there.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

The stunning Pembroke coast.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Another dispersal on the side of a cliff.

16 March 2009

Dispersal showing four tie downs, some had more.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Bomb Store Type D 3164/42 [40]. A large Fighter Direction School was built at Kete just south of RAF Dale and No700 Sqn arrived to provide its aircraft to be used in training.

16 March 2009

Bicycles playing the part of fighters to be directed by trainees.

May 1944 Stalker & her Seafires left to help with D-day.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Pembrokeshire coast path walkers.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

NE/SW runway.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Battle Head Quarters 11008/41.

16 March 2009

Plan of a battle HQ, not listed on the 1464/44 site plan? Built earlier in the war as a HQ to coordinate all the airfields defences against an airborne attack.
RAF Ibsley BHQ details. — Plan of a battle HQ, not listed on the 1464/44 site plan? Built earlier in the war as a HQ to coordinate all the airfields defences against an airborne attack. RAF Ibsley BHQ details.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Battle Head Quarters. The battle would have been fought by the CO of Dale, usually a Wing or Group commander. He would locate himself and his battle staff in the BHQ hopefully before the battle had started. And would co-ordinate the airfields defence. That could be Home Guard, an infantry battalion that was defending this part of the coast. Also most RAF personnel would have been issued with .303 Lee-Enfield rifles and earlier in the war, the airmen had to have them at all times.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Battle Head Quarters 11008/41.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

View up the estuary towards Pembroke Dock. RAF Pembroke Dock link.

16 March 2009

Two Choughs (Pyrrhocorax Pyrrhocorax) flying above us.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Petrol Installation Aviation 48,000gal 3941/41 [38]. The instillation always used a circular road with two concrete parking bays. These were made level do that when fuel was being delivered one side, the dips could be checked and the quantity recorded and then when the fuel was being put into a bowser again it could be checked and recorded.

16 March 2009

There were three RAF aviation petrol instillations:
A - 3941/41 [38]48000gal.
B - 9846/41 (39) 72000gal.
C - 15425/40 (8) 24,000gal. — There were three RAF aviation petrol instillations: A - 3941/41 [38]48000gal. B - 9846/41 (39) 72000gal. C - 15425/40 (8) 24,000gal.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Petrol Installation Aviation 48,000gal 3941/41 [38]. Pump house.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Petrol Installation Aviation B - 9846/41 (39) 72000gal. My site plan is not at all very good quality, so I am having to use quite a bit of guess work with numbering.

16 March 2009

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Petrol Installation Aviation B - 9846/41 (39) 72000gal. Inside looking at the pump & motor plinths.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Naval protected hut. I do not have a site plan of the Naval buildings and layouts, so its all guess work I am afraid.

16 March 2009

Inside what looks like a Nissen style hut made of curved asbestos sheets on brick walls to extend its height.

RAF Dale/RNAS Goldcrest

Naval curved corrugated asbestos Turners hut. The Turner’s Hut used pre-stressed concrete sheeting so that the concrete sheeting did not require additional support.

16 March 2009