 Gosport
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1914 to 1956 | | Location: | 50 48 N - 1 10 W | | 2nm NW of Gosport, Hampshire | | ICAO: EG | IATA: | Elevation: 16 feet |
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| History of this Base/Heliport: | | |
Opened in 1914 after runways were laid to the north and west of Fort Grange and Fort Rowner. After brief naval occupancy, it became a Royal Flying Corps base in Jan 1915. It was under RAF control from Apr 1918 when the service formed. Its original (short) runways were laid during the early 1930s for deck landing practice but were extended in 1940. After WWII, it transferred from RAF 16 Group and commissioned as HMS Siskin on 1 Aug 1945, although an FAA maintenance unit had been based here since May 1940. It became famous in May 1947 as the location of the first Royal Navy exclusively helicopter equipped squadron. It closed in May 1956 and by 1985 the runways had been dug over and covered by housing.  |