Royal Naval Air Station Dale (RNAS Dale, also known as HMS Goldcrest) is a former Royal Naval Air Station, located South West of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1942 and 1948, being used by both the Royal Air Force (1942–1943) and the Royal Navy (1943–1948).
The village of Dale in Pembrokeshire is situated south-east of the airfield, which itself lies adjacent to the coast, north of St. Ann's Head, the western entrance to the Milford Haven waterway. The town of Milford Haven lies east and Pembroke Dock lies 11 miles south-east. Notable landmarks are St. Anne's Head and Milford Haven, with Skomer Island lying north-west and the small island of Skokholm lying south-west.
History
Station design
Construction of the airfield began between the villages of Dale and Marloes in 1941. RAF Dale opened in the 1 June 1942. The airfield had three runways, constructed of tarmac and concrete in a triangular pattern, measuring: 1065 m (3495 ft) long, 1285 m (4215 ft) long, and 1458 m (4785 ft) long. The area north west of the runways contained associated buildings. Initially it was to be named RAF Marloes, planned as a No. 19 Group RAF Satellite Landing Ground (SLG) to nearby RAF Talbenny, but the name was changed to RAF Dale instead.
RAF Coastal Command
The first RAF unit to use RAF Dale was No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron, twice between June 1942 and April 1943, spending November and December 1942 at RAF Talbenny. It used the Vickers Wellington IC, for air/sea rescue, anti-submarine patrols, bombing raids and convoy protection, supporting No. 311 (Czech) Sqn, which also arrived in Pembrokeshire in June 1942, as part of RAF Coastal Command. It departed for RAF Docking in March 1943.
The Coastal Command Development Unit RAF moved to Dale, from RAF Tain. The CCDU operated many different types of aircraft, evaluating new equipment and developing new tactics. 303 Ferry Training Unit from Talbenny also moved to Dale, this was a temporary measure, while lighting was being installed at the former.
Royal Navy
RAF Dale was transferred to the Admiralty, in exchange for RNAS Angle (HMS Goldcrest), in September 1943. It was transferred on 5 September from No. 19 Group RAF, and commissioned, as HMS Goldcrest, on the 7 September 1943.
794 Naval Air Firing Unit was the first FAA unit to arrive in September 1943, it remained at Dale for two months before leaving in the November. However, at this point the Admiralty set about improving the airfield to support up to six naval air squadrons. A new concrete apron was added; a standard RN pattern four-story control tower was built; concrete huts and at least two naval Mainhill hangars to supplement the existing T2 and Blister hangars were constructed.
In March 1944, 762 Twin Engine Conversion Unit arrived and then six months later, 748 No 10 Naval OTU reloacted to Dale. Work began on the new Fighter Direction School, ½ mile down the coast at Kete, in the latter part of 1944, and the facility was completed in 1945. Then in August 1945, 748 OTU moved out and 790 Fighter Direction Training Unit moved in, beginning live interception flights for the new R.N. Air Direction School, at Kete.
In December 1945, 762 Twin Engined Conversion Unit departed Dale, meaning only 790 NAS was undertaking flying operations at the airbase. On the 1 January 1946, Dale received RNAS Brawdy as a satellite airfield and later that month 784 Night Fighter Training Squadron moved there. However, it disbanded later that year at Brawdy, in the September.
861 Naval Air Squadron formed at Dale, on the 16 September 1946, for the Royal Netherlands Navy, the squadron worked up until ready to embark, leaving Dale on the 22 February 1947.
On 13 December 1947, when 790 NAS departed RNAS Dale, the air station closed to flying. On 31 March 1948, Dale was reduced to Care & Maintenance Status and then it was paid off, on the 31 October 1948.
Royal Air Force Operational History
Anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare
No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron arrived at RAF Dale on the 13 June 1942 from RAF Tiree. It was equipped with Vickers Wellington IC aircraft. It flew operations over the Bay of Biscay and the Western Approaches, tasked with anti-submarine patrols and shipping attacks.
The squadron was involved in notable attacks alongside No. 311 (Czech) Sqn from RAF Talbenny, with a raid on La Pallice, the deep water port of La Rochelle, in occupied France in August 1942, and this was followed up by a successful anti-shipping operation in the Gironde estuary.
On the 30 March 1943 the squadron moved to RAF Docking.