The History
Airfield Twatt (RNAS Twatt, also known as HMS Tern) was an airfield in the Orkneys in Scotland
The airfield opened on 1 April 1941. Construction of its 4 concrete runways began that same month. During the war it was used by Royal Navy Squadrons 700, 771, 804, 809, 819 and 822. These units flew Blackburn Roc, Fairy Swordfish, Miles Martinets, Bristol Blenheims, Walrus and Douglas Bostons amongst others.
Twatt was mainly used as a training airfield. As such it saw a number of crashes, some with fatalities. On 30 March 1944 it was decided that Twatt was to be develeoped as the only suitable airfield to disembark squadrons of the Home Fleet. Huge extension plans were develeoped, but they were abandoned when it became clear that the focus of the war effort shifted to the Far East.
Twatt also saw a 'first' for Britain: in February 1945 a 771Sqn Sikorsky R-4 slewed round on takeoff and its tail rotor struck a parked Blenheim.
Both aircraft were badly damaged, the helicopter was written off. The event marked the first helicopter crash in Britain.
Twatt became a reserve station under RAF Lossiemouth until 1949. The airfield was sold off in 1957.
The visit
Didn't mean to find this place, got the ferry to Orkney from Scotland and started driving around the greenland looking for somewhere to photograph.
About 3 hours in we saw the sign for Twatt and decided to go in... Obviously.
Just as we entered Twatt we found the air base and had a look around, decided to scout for an hour before entering as we was over 300 miles from home.
Got some good snaps but most of the land is owned by the farmer and is using it for storage.
Twatt Airstation ahah!
Looking through a sniper hole onto what would of been a runway.
Memorial
Memorial
Entrance to a undergound bunker
Training building, entrance was unsealed but it was sealed inside.
What was the radar tower.
The airfield opened on 1 April 1941. Construction of its 4 concrete runways began that same month. During the war it was used by Royal Navy Squadrons 700, 771, 804, 809, 819 and 822. These units flew Blackburn Roc, Fairy Swordfish, Miles Martinets, Bristol Blenheims, Walrus and Douglas Bostons amongst others.
Twatt was mainly used as a training airfield. As such it saw a number of crashes, some with fatalities. On 30 March 1944 it was decided that Twatt was to be develeoped as the only suitable airfield to disembark squadrons of the Home Fleet. Huge extension plans were develeoped, but they were abandoned when it became clear that the focus of the war effort shifted to the Far East.
Twatt also saw a 'first' for Britain: in February 1945 a 771Sqn Sikorsky R-4 slewed round on takeoff and its tail rotor struck a parked Blenheim.
Both aircraft were badly damaged, the helicopter was written off. The event marked the first helicopter crash in Britain.
Twatt became a reserve station under RAF Lossiemouth until 1949. The airfield was sold off in 1957.
The visit
Didn't mean to find this place, got the ferry to Orkney from Scotland and started driving around the greenland looking for somewhere to photograph.
About 3 hours in we saw the sign for Twatt and decided to go in... Obviously.
Just as we entered Twatt we found the air base and had a look around, decided to scout for an hour before entering as we was over 300 miles from home.
Got some good snaps but most of the land is owned by the farmer and is using it for storage.
Entrance to a undergound bunker
What was the radar tower.