RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

Chapter Chapter 1: 1: Historical Historical Summary Summary & & Not Notes Not es on on Sources
Sources
1.1 1.1 Historical Historical Summary
Summary
Nearly 80 years ago, a temporary Naval seaplane training school opened at Lee-on-the-Solent,
as a satellite to the well established school at Calshot. While the station was being developed as
a permanent station, the organisation of the RFC and RNAS changed and combined to form the
Royal Air Force. Throughout the 1920s as a RAF station, training continued under the Fleet Air
Arm, and in 1931, steps were taken for the preparation of an aerodrome surface. Lee-on-Solent
(as it became known) now became Headquarters Coastal Area and this signalled the start of a
major re-building programme. With the expansion of the RAF now taking place, and with more
buildings under construction, Parliament announced on 21 July 1937, that the Fleet Air Arm
would come under Admiralty control.
On 24 May 1939, RAF Lee-on-Solent was returned to Admiralty control and was commissioned
as HMS Daedalus. Construction started firstly on two hard-surfaced runways and then in 1942 /
1943, a third runway was added. Wartime expansion included a new hutted camp and a unique
three-storey barrack block.
Throughout the war years, Lee-on-Solent was used for the formation and work-up of newly
commissioned operational squadrons and for the re-equipment of others. Lee also played a
major contribution to the D-Day landings.
Post-war, the station’s function returned to that of training and a decision was made to develop it
as the FAA’s major technical training establishment. 1962 saw the formation of the Joint Service
Hovercraft Unit. In 1973 a Naval Search and Rescue Flight became operational from the base
and this commitment is still retained in 1996 - albeit by Bristow Helicopters Ltd. on behalf of the
Coastguard. HMS Daedalus closed on 31 March 1996.
1.2 .2 Structure of the Report
A rapid survey was carried out on 30 May 1996. The survey report encompasses all aspects of
the airfield complex, including construction and operational histories, technical and domestic
accommodation, perimeter track, runways and roads. A Gazetteer has been compiled of a
selection of the surviving buildings that date from 1918 to 1945 (with some later exceptions). The
object of this report is to flag up historic buildings for further recording. The building descriptions
are to the English Heritage Level 1 standard:
Level 1 is essentially a basic visual record, supplemented by the minimum of information needed
to identify the building’s location, age and type. This is the simplest record, not normally an end in
itself but contributing to a wider aim. Typically it will be undertaken when the objective is to gather
basic information about a large number of buildings – for statistical sampling, for area
assessments or historic landscape characterisation, for a pilot project, to identify buildings for
planning purposes, or whenever resources are limited and much ground has to be covered in a
short time. It may also serve to identify buildings requiring more detailed attention at a later date.
This version of the report is without Chapter 5 which was the conclusion.
1.3 2010 2010 Observations
Observations
On a visit in September 2010, it appears that around 50% of buildings on the main technical and
domestic site that were extant in 1996 have been demolished. As far as it I can tell, many of
these buildings without proper recording. The demolition includes all of the Engineering School
plus most of the WWI hutted buildings. This leaves a core of historic buildings based around the
WWI seaplane sheds and the officers’ mess plus others that have been let out to industry.
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