RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
RAF · Fife · Scotland · United Kingdom
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
RAF Dunino 1941/1942. No.309 Polish Squadron used the airfield to re equipped with Westland Lysanders. Later to get North American Mustangs.
RNAS Dunino 1943/1946 as (HMS Jackdaw II). 825 Naval Air Squadron arrived with Fairy Swordfish, then 827 with Fairy Barracudas. 737 with Supermarine Walrus and last 813 with Swordfish.
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
A 1939 RAF map
Map of Leuchars - Dunino - Crail
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Red are the buildings we saw there.
The basic layout is for the use by the RAF. So most buildings are standard RAF Temporary Brick (TB) buildings and Blister hangars. Then along come the Royal Navy. They completely change everything. They added more hangars, possibly a Calendar Hamilton Aircraft Repair Shed (ARS) and several Admiralty type S Mainhill hangars. They also added more permanent buildings to sought their needs and the biggest concrete fence posts I have ever seen surrounding the communal sites. Also I do not have a site plan, so I am guessing what the buildings are.
8 x Super Blister hangars 91'x45' Sqn.
4 x Blister hangars 60'x70' Sqn.
4 x Blister hangars 60'x70' storage.
1 x Aircraft Repair Shed (ARS) pos. a Callender Hamilton type.
At least 2 x 'S' Mainhill hangar.
Around 1000 personnel including 140 WREN's.
Plan
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
The basic layout of a Picket post with a communal living site consisting of TB ablutions and quite a few barrack huts (RAF). Then the RNAS came and added the extensive fence, an M&E plinth 9Navy style).
The site under the RAF would have huts for Officers, Sergeants and Men. This was to disperse the ranks around the communal sites so that if an area was attacked by bombers. The spread of dead would not fall on one rank.
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post and could be a 1580/42 type.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post (1580/42) type.
The original door and sets of drain pipe un used behind the door.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post (1580/42) type.
Inside the main room, behind and accessed from outside is a toilet and another room that we could not get too.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post (1580/42) type.
Looking out at the road. Every airmen, Sergeant or Officer would have to book in and out through here. There are several reasons for this. One if an air raid happened, they would want to know who and where everybody was. Another was security, the correct people in the correct huts. Also security to see who was about. Every morning a copy of the list would go to the HQ building and be checked.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post (1580/42) type entrance.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Picket Post (1580/42) type.
I mentioned the concrete fence, this is the first.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Emergency Water Supply (EWS), made of sheets of tin and then a layer of cement. The tin is removed to make the next one. EWS was there in case of fire and a mobile pump could drop a suction hose in and the fireman's hose used to put out the fire.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
The entrance to the communal site, note the fence posts.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
The steel gate into the camp.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Air raid shelter for 50men. I could not get inside, but this type looks to be cast in situ and not made like a Stanton Shelter in pieces.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Mechanical and Electrical Plinth (M&E plinth). As we will see later, they usually have a brick wall around them. Not here, its a huge concrete fence and wire.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
M&E plinth at the back and the gate to keep people out.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
M&E plinth gate. This is a later adaptation by the Navy. The RAF would never have such a huge fence.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Water tower above with a large water tank. There would be a heater for water below and a hot tank to hold the water.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Under the water tank and where the heating plant would have been.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Looking up at where the tank was. Chimney running up the right side.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Looking down the room. There would have been baths, showers, sinks and toilets. A drying room for clothing.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Air vents.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
Looking out towards the barrack blocks up the steps.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions Block.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Track towards the main camp. Note the concrete and wire fence.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Heading into the camp.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Part of the main concrete fence that runs right around the camp. This is Naval not RAF.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house and next the Fire Picket hut.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
Pulley block right up in the roof to remove/replace pumps.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
The electric motor and next to it the water pump.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
A writing board where the log would be kept.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
The tool rack to be used to clear problems, still there after all this time.
All this should be in a museum.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
The electrics.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Water pump house.
'Remove this plate to adjust over current relay'.
Allenwest the company is still going.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fire tender shed.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fire tender shed.
Office.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fire tender shed.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fire picket hut.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fire picket hut inside.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Base of the flag staff.
RNAS Crail has exactly the same metal frame.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unsure what these huts were?
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unsure what these huts were?
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unsure what these huts were?
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Pos. Armoury.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
RN Barrack block the use of red block tiles.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unsure
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unknown.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unknown.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unknown.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unknown building certainly a Naval building.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Unknown.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Ablutions.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
M & E transformer plinth.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Large converted hut. This is big enough to be a Squadron Offices 14531/41??
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Gates into the communal site.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Fuel compound, coal store.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar at Crail, shows how they were designed.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type S Mainhill hangar.
29 September 2023
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
Admiralty type control tower. Its still there, but we missed it.
Cranmore
RAF/RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II)
29 September 2023