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| Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent | |
|---|---|
| Name | Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent |
| Native name | HMS Daedalus |
| Location | Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire |
| Country | England |
| Type | Naval air station |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Used | 1917–1996 |
| Battles | First World War, Second World War |
Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent was a major Royal Naval Air Service and Fleet Air Arm installation at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, England, known as HMS Daedalus. The station played roles across the First World War, Second World War, and Cold War eras, and later became a site for civilian aviation, heritage groups, and aerospace industry activity around Fareham and Portsmouth. Its development involved figures and organisations such as Sir Samuel Hoare, Admiral Sir Nigel Stuart, Air Ministry, and companies including De Havilland and Flight Refuelling Limited.
Lee-on-the-Solent originated in 1917 as an Royal Naval Air Service shore base responding to German U-boat campaign threats, expanding under the newly formed Royal Air Force and reverting to Royal Navy control with creation of the Fleet Air Arm in the 1920s. During the interwar period the station hosted trials with aircraft from Fairey Aviation Company, Supermarine, and Avro, and was associated with personalities such as Sir Frederick Sykes and Air Marshal Christopher Courtney. In the Second World War the site was key for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort operations, collaborating with units from Coastal Command, Western Approaches Command, and allied forces including the Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Navy. Post‑1945 the base supported jet conversion, helicopter development with firms like Westland Aircraft, and Cold War maritime patrols linked to NATO exercises including Exercise Mainbrace and Operation Grapple.
The station featured a grass airfield initially, later supplemented by paved runways, hangars, and a concrete slipway adjoining the Solent, aligned with infrastructure projects from the Air Ministry and MOD. Buildings included Type C and Type D hangars similar to those at RAF Uxbridge and RNAS Worthy Down, technical workshops used by Royal Naval Aircraft Repair Yard No.1, control towers influenced by Air Ministry Directorate of Works standards, and accommodation blocks modelled on MOD housing schemes. Navigational aids incorporated systems influenced by Chain Home radar concepts, and the base maintained fuel farms and maintenance facilities used by contractors such as Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace.
Lee-on-the-Solent hosted numerous Fleet Air Arm units, including operational squadrons, training flights, and trials units: notable formations present were 790 Naval Air Squadron, 727 Naval Air Squadron, 706 Naval Air Squadron, and 703 Naval Air Squadron, as well as test and evaluation units linked to Royal Aircraft Establishment and Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. The station also accommodated joint elements from Royal Air Force detachments, Royal Canadian Navy air units, and exchange personnel associated with Naval Air Arm research. Reserve and volunteer units such as Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve flights used the airfield alongside civilian aero clubs like Solent Flying Club.
Aircraft types flown from the station ranged from early seaplanes and flying boats such as the Short Type 184 and Supermarine Southampton to carrier-borne types including the Fairey Swordfish, Supermarine Seafire, and Grumman Avenger during wartime. Postwar operations saw jets and helicopters like the de Havilland Sea Vampire, Gloster Meteor, Westland Whirlwind, Westland Wessex, and later Westland Sea King employed for training, trials, and search and rescue tasks. Experimental and prototype airframes from Fairey Aviation Company, de Havilland, and English Electric underwent testing at Lee-on-the-Solent under the auspices of organisations including the Test Pilot School and Royal Navy Experimental Squadrons.
In the First World War the base supported anti-submarine patrols and escort duties during the Battle of the Atlantic campaign, working with Royal Naval Reserve seaplane units and seaplane carriers. During the Second World War Lee-on-the-Solent contributed to anti‑U‑boat warfare, coastal strike missions, and pilot conversion for carrier operations, integrating with commands such as Admiralty operational planning and cooperating with Allied navies including the United States Navy and Royal Canadian Navy. Cold War roles included maritime reconnaissance, helicopter search and rescue during NATO deployments, and participation in crises such as Suez Crisis-era operations and support functions during Falklands War logistics and training efforts via detached elements.
After primary naval flying ceased the site transitioned to a mix of MOD administrative functions, industrial use by aerospace companies, and civilian aviation including flying schools and private operators such as Bond Helicopters and Cobham plc. Parts of the airfield were redeveloped for commercial and residential purposes in line with planning by Gosport Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, while aviation activities continued in retained zones leased to organisations like QinetiQ and Britannia Aviation. Preservation efforts involved entities such as the National Heritage Memorial Fund and local trusts negotiating with the Ministry of Defence to conserve historic buildings and memorials associated with naval aviation.
Heritage displays and museums associated with the station include collections preserved by the Solent Sky Museum, local regimental museums, and private archives maintained by groups like the HMS Daedalus Association. Exhibits feature aircraft components, squadron insignia, photographs of operations with links to Fleet Air Arm Museum collections, and memorials commemorating personnel from units such as 790 Naval Air Squadron and 703 Naval Air Squadron. Public events, airshows, and educational programmes have been supported by partnerships with Royal Navy Historic Flight volunteers, Imperial War Museum outreach, and local heritage organisations to interpret the site's role in maritime aviation history.
Category:Former Royal Navy bases Category:Military installations in Hampshire