RNAS Hinstock (HMS Godwit) | |||||||
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Located by the village of Hinstock, in Shropshire in England | |||||||
Coordinates | 52°49′59″N 2°30′19″W / 52.83306°N 2.50528°W | ||||||
Type | Royal Naval Air Station | ||||||
Site information | |||||||
Owner | Admiralty Air Ministry | ||||||
Operator | Royal Navy Royal Air Force | ||||||
Controlled by | Fleet Air Arm RAF Maintenance Command | ||||||
Site history | |||||||
Built | 1941 | ||||||
In use |
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Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||
Garrison information | |||||||
Garrison | Fleet Air Arm | ||||||
Occupants | Central Naval Instrument Flying Training School, with accessory training Advanced Single Engine Conversion & Refresher Flying Training Unit. | ||||||
Airfield information | |||||||
Elevation | 80 metres (262 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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Royal Naval Air Station Hinstock (RNAS Hinstock, also known as HMS Godwit) is a former Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm station, located 4 miles (6 km) South West of Market Drayton in Shropshire, England. It was operational between 1941 and 1947, being used by both the Royal Air Force (1941-1942) and the Royal Navy (1942–1947).[1]
The airfield lies 1.75 miles (3 km) West of the village of Hinstock in Shropshire. Stoke on Trent lies 13 miles (21 km) North East and Shrewsbury 11.5 miles (19 km) South West. Birmingham lies 30 miles (48 km) South East.[2]
The airfield opened as RAF Ollerton in 1941 as No. 21 Satellite Landing Ground, as an emergency landing ground for RAF Tern Hill. It was utilised by RAF Maintenance Units[1] and also used as a satellite landing ground for RAF Burtonwood and RAF Shawbury. It was then transferred to the Admiralty who used it from 1942 until 1947, home to a small number of Naval Air Squadrons,[3] known as the Central Naval Instrument Flying Training School,[4] specialising in instrument and blind approach flying training and operating a variety of aircraft. The airfield was closed in February 1947.[3]