RNEC Manadon

Land was purchased in 1937 to allow the expansion of the Engineering School contained within the Dockyard site at Keyham (opened Jul 1880) in Devonport, Plymouth. The site was opened in 1939 and rapidly expanded during WWII. The Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon was commissioned as HMS Thunderer in 1946.

The helipad had been built by 1960, when it was used for a short period by Britannia Flt, until the Norton site was ready. Hangars containing a significant number of Ground Instruction (GI) airframes were to the north of the original 40 hectare site, roughly between where the present day Frobisher Approach and Warspite Gardens have been built.

The site was closed in 1995, the GI airframes dispersed or scrapped, the developers moved in and sadly, another fine old building was lost from the Plymouth skyline.