© 2009 -
Past Events: Sandbanks 70, Platinum Anniversary of RNAS Sandbanks
8th July 2010
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the formation of Fleet Air Arm’s HMS Daedalus II at the Royal Naval Air Station, Sandbanks (RMYC)
As a prelude to 2010’s Air Show celebrating the formation of the Royal Naval Air
Station Yeovilton, and the commemorations held at the Battle Britain Memorial Site
at Capel-
This ‘Platinum Celebration’ marked the prospected relocation of part of the Fleet
Air Arm’s Seaplane Training from Lee-
Jeremy Waters a Vice President of Poole Flying Boats Celebration retold the remarkable story which few visitors to Sandbanks today would guess, where student pilots would train on various seaplanes: Walrus (numerous), Seafox, Swordfish, Kingfisher, a Sea Otter etc. before postings to bases worldwide + to ships, e.g. aircraft carriers.
Seventy guests attended this Celebration held by charities PFBC and the Wessex Cancer Trust, hosted by the Royal Motor Yacht Club, with a dinner, followed by music provided by the local trio ‘Gilt’.
Present were Lady Cobham, and Commodore Martin Westwood -
On a personal note, Dr. Martin Pitts Crick recalled fond memories of his father Ronald Pitts Crick then a Surgeon Lieutenant in the RN, who reconnoitred the RMYC together with other premises locally, before taking charge of the Mess Arrangements in its Wardroom.
Poole had already become the base for the UK’s Flying Boat Fleet of Imperial Airways in September 1939 with the declaration of war, so that the expanse of water freed of pleasure craft offered golden opportunities to the military to set up the Royal Naval Air Station Sandbanks at the RMYC, officially named as HMS Daedalus II.
Later the RAF was to construct a Flying Boat base at Hamworthy during Summer 1942 (current home of the Special Boat Services).
The Fleet Air Arm would also operate Air Sea Rescue Seaplanes from RNAS Sandbanks to cover this sector of the English Channel and soon after the arrival of the first Seaplanes on 765 Squadron at Sandbanks, the 2 lieutenants of a ASR Walrus were shot down:
In this unarmed Seaplane ‘Tim’ Rose-
During the 3 years of operation to the Autumn of 1943 there were frequent occasions of thrills and spills for those in training; but an air raid in 1943 which destroyed ‘Byfleet’ No. 100 Panorama Road mercifully narrowly missed the Ratings billeted there who had just left after breakfast for duty at the RMYC and Sandbanks Boatyard.
The Celebration was held in the Mountbatten Room, as the former Wardroom of HMS Daedalus II ~ and was ‘most atmospherically’ accompanied by the cannon fire associated with Race Night at the RMYC with an interlude for the splendid Fireworks at Poole Quay.
After WW2 some members of HMS Daedalus II returned to live in the area, whilst many remarked it was their best ever posting…and with a superb setting for the Celebration who would disagree?!
PFBC Introduction of Commodore Martin Westwood
Patron (Lady Cobham) Commodore PFBC, Ladies & Gentlemen
It is my very great pleasure to introduce our principle guest on this very special occasion to celebrate 70 years of the R N Air Station here at Sandbanks on this very site of the RMYC.
This celebration comes just one year after the Royal Navy celebrated the centenary of Naval Aviation in 2009, which followed only 6 years after the Wright Brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk.
So what could be more appropriate, than to be honoured this evening with the presence of the current Chief of Staff of the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Martin Westwood.
Commodore Westwood has enjoyed a busy and varied career since graduating from the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth.
Fairly early on he learnt to navigate properly, which many of us would agree was eminently sensible.
Following on from that he learnt to fly, which several of us would agree was even more sensible.
Helicopters have been the Commodore’s forte, but I am sure that the fixed wing pilots amongst us won’t hold that against him!
Commodore Westwood’s time in the Navy has been fascinating since he has juggled his flying operations with that of commanding serious ships, such as Frigates, no mean task in this modern electronic world.
When not directly commanding the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Westwood is far from idle, since he is also Assistant Chief of Staff of Carrier Strike and Aviation and like many of us here he likes to sail and when time permits, spend time with his family here in Dorset.
What some of you may not know is that the Royal Navy represents up to 40% of our involvement in Afghanistan. Sir, it is a great privilege for us, that you have accepted our invitation to spend some of your valuable time with us this evening.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Commodore Martin Westwood
