RNAS Lee - The Airfield Research Group

The number and types of aeroplanes on strength at this time was as follows:
• 24 Short 184 Seaplanes
• 2 Short 827 Seaplanes
• 27 FBA Flying Boats
• 16 Norman Thompson NT2B Flying Boats
By the time of the Armistice in November, the station had grown to its peak strength. Soon
afterwards however, the post-war rundown began and both men and machines were dispersed to
other bases.
2.2 1920 1920-1939
1920 1939
Seaplane training began again in June 1919, but only until December, when it ceased due to the
run-down of the Royal Air Force. After another period of Care and Maintenance, the Air Ministry
finally decided to re-open the station in June 1920, as a permanent RAF station. Lee-on-Solent
was initially given the title School of Naval Co-operation & Air Navigation. The following year
however, another name change took place, this time as the RAF Seaplane Training School, Leeon-Solent
although this was to soon change back to its earlier title (School of Naval Co-operation
& Air Navigation).
From January 1921 and now using Fairey IIID floatplanes, the school’s primary task was to begin
the training of Observers for both RAF and RNAS units. Until 1924, seaplane training also
continued on an irregular basis. On 19 April 1923, came yet another title change, this time to the
School of Naval Co-operation. This training establishment remained throughout the period 1923
to 1938 as the station’s principle unit. During 1924, the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Air Force
was formed.
Whilst the bulk of the aircraft moving up and down the slipways during the 1920s, were the Fairey
IIID’s belonging to the school, other machines also made their appearance here during this
period whilst they were engaged in experimental work. Types involved in trials included the
seaplane version of the rugged little Fairey Flycatcher, which was the principal first-line fighter in
use with the FAA until 1934. The Fairey machine was also in service with many of the catapult
flights located on the capital ships of the Royal Navy.
Other experiments were conducted with radio-controlled Fairey IID’s and the Parnall Peto, which
was the subject of a remarkable project to provide a submarine with its own aircraft.
During the 1920s and early 1930s, the front-line units of the Fleet Air Arm were the 400 series
Flights, most of which were allocated to aircraft or seaplane carriers. One of the latter was HMS
Vindictive, and for this, 444 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight was formed here on 15 January 1925
with three Fairey IIIDs, and eventually sailed for the China Station one year later. More and more
battleships were also being equipped with catapult aircraft at this time and from 1929 onwards,
444 Flight (now returned from overseas) and 445 Flight were amongst the units based at Lee-on-
Solent, to supply seaplanes and their crews for cruisers.
During the next six years, major changes took place at Lee-on-Solent, which was now being
developed as a major headquarters location.
First of all, in 1930, the School of Naval Co-operation was re-equipped with the much improved
Fairy IIIF, with its long twin floats and in the following year, the school was joined by a new
Floatplane Training Flight.
Secondly, the headquarters of 10 Group, which had been based here since 1920 was disbanded
to be replaced by HQ Coastal Area (the forerunner of RAF Coastal Command). This directly led
to a large rebuilding programme of the station’s fabric, with the construction of many grand
buildings that were specially designed to reflect the importance associated with headquarters
Coastal Area. Another major change was the Air Ministry decision to lay out a grass aerodrome
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