Sign for Crail Raceway with the airfield control tower in the background
| Date | 1 November 2012 | ||
| Location | Crail, East Neuk of Fife | NO 62452 09378; 56.27535°N, 2.60793°W | |
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Information |
The airfield at Crail was constructed in 1939 as Royal Naval Air Station HMS Jackdaw. It was built on the site of a First World War naval air base which had been demolished after its closure in 1919. HMS Jackdaw was the main Fleet Air Arm torpedo-warfare training base. Air operations came to an end in 1947 and the base was redesignated as HMS Bruce, a boys’ training facility. It later served as an Army Transit Camp, and during the 1950s the Joint Services School for Linguists was based at the station, teaching Russian to National Service conscripts. From 1960 the base was used as a pig farm and today parts of it are home to an industrial estate, a karting circuit and Crail Raceway — a motorsport venue featuring a drag strip and race track. The Torpedo Attack Training Building houses a large painted plaster cyclorama supported on a timber frame. Above the cyclorama there is a gantry for lighting, which was used to simulate various daylight conditions, and a platform from which the image of a ship would be projected onto the cyclorama screen. Trainee torpedo-bomber pilots would sit in a high-level mock-up of a cockpit for target-acquisition drills using the facility. Crail Airfield (Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland);
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Crail Airfield
Hangar
Crail Airfield
Crail Airfield
Crail Airfield
Entrance to Crail Raceway, looking towards the control tower
Torpedo Attack Training Building – cyclorama with painted horizon line
Torpedo Attack Training Building
Torpedo Attack Training Building
Timber frame supporting the cyclorama
Torpedo Attack Training Building
What an interesting WW2 relic, that torpedo attack training building is an amazing survivor.
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Marvellous rusty tones on the exterior!
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Otro lugar interesante de fotografiar, desde luego como siempre, lo has clavado, la primera me encanta con ese sol dando de lleno, besos
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beautiful pictures
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I was there when at leuchars nearly 10 years ago but never looked around in that detail fantastic, thaks
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I spent 1940 to 1945 in Crail (22West Green) as my father (Frederick William Miller) was stationed at HMS Jackdaw. He worked in the sick bay and was a driving force in the Jackdaw Players. I remember sports days and Xmas shows that were put on for us children. I often holiday in the area and once looked up my school teacher, Miss Bett. To my amazement she knew my full name without me announcing myself. Love to hear others’ memories please.
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My father stationed here during war. I visited airfield several times for pantomimes and
sports. I attended Crail primary school and was taught by Miss Bett who I looked up decades later and I was amazed she remembered my name without me introducing myself. I often revisit the area for holidays. I live near Worcester.
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