RNAS Tresco

{{Short description|Former Royal Naval Air Station}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox military installation | name =RNAS Tresco<br />RAF Tresco | ensign=[[File:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|90px]] [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]] | ensign_size= | native_name = | partof = | nearest_town = [[Tresco, Isles of Scilly]], Cornwall | country = England | image = | caption = | pushpin_map =Cornwall#UK | pushpin_label = RNAS Tresco | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cornwall | coordinates = {{Coord|49|57|12|N|6|20|17|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}} | type = [[Royal Naval Air Station]] | code = | site_area = | height = | ownership = [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]]<br />[[Air Ministry]] | operator = [[Royal Navy]]<br />[[Royal Air Force]] | controlledby = | open_to_public = | condition = | built = {{Start date|1917}} | builder = | used = 1917–{{End date|1919}} | materials = | fate = | battles = | events = | past_commanders =  | garrison = | occupants = | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | h1-number = | h1-length = | h1-surface = | website = }} '''RNAS Tresco''' was a [[Royal Naval Air Service]] base on [[Tresco, Isles of Scilly|Tresco]], the second largest island in the [[Isles of Scilly]]. From February 1917 to May 1919 aircraft patrolled the [[Western Approaches]] and provided an escort for [[Convoys in World War I|convoys]]. A total of thirteen [[U-boat]]s were sighted and nine attacked.<ref name=Bowden>{{cite book|last=Bowden|first=Mark|title=Defending Scilly|year=2011|publisher=[[English Heritage]]|location=Swindon|isbn=9781848020436|author2=Brodie, Allan }}</ref>

==History== [[File:Short 184.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Short Type 184]] seaplane]]

Despite warnings from locals that the bay was too exposed for these relatively fragile machines, in January 1917 a handful of [[Short Type 184]] seaplanes were stationed at Porthmellon on [[St Mary's, Isles of Scilly|St Mary's]]. They were followed by several [[Curtiss Model H|Curtiss Type 12]] flying-boats from [[RAF Mount Batten#Royal Naval Air Station Cattewater|RNAS Cattewater]] near [[Plymouth]]. Before the base became operational it was transferred to [[Tresco, Isles of Scilly|Tresco]], and formed RNAS Tresco at New Grimsby. The first patrol was undertaken on 28 February 1917 and the first conclusive action took place on 27 May 1917, when an unidentified U-boat was spotted, on the surface, off [[Bryher, Isles of Scilly|Bryher]]. Before diving the U-boat shot at, and holed the aircraft's radiator, which was temporary fixed by one of the crew climbing onto the wing and plugging the hole with a handkerchief! The flying boat dropped two bombs and onshore observers witnessed the submarine's stern rising out of the water at an angle of 60° before she sank. Subsequent research suggests that the U-boat may have survived the attack. The crew of the [[Curtiss Model H|Curtiss Type 12]] were later decorated.<ref name=Bowden/>

By the summer, full facilities had been established and from August there were around 22 planes including [[Short Type 184]] and [[Felixstowe F.5]] flyingboats.<ref>Bound for Lyonesse. The history of flying in the Isles of Scilly, Maurice Wickstead</ref> The squadron patrolled the Western Approaches of the [[English Channel]] and gained two [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|DSCs]], one [[Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)|DSM]] and a [[Conspicuous Gallantry Medal|CGM]].<ref>Walpole, [[Group Captain]] Nigel, OBE, BA. ''Dragon Rampant: The Story of No. 234 Fighter Squadron''. London Colney, Hertfordshire, UK: Merlin Massara Publishing, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-9543900-1-3}}., pp. 1-10.</ref> A number of other significant actions followed, notably the thwarting of U-boat attacks on the [[White Star Line|White Star liner]], ''[[SS Persic|Persic]]'' which sustained damage but managed to reach port

On 18 August 1918, the unit became No. 234 Squadron RAF ([[Royal Air Force]]) with Short Type 225 seaplanes.<ref name=Bowden/> The last patrol was made on 10 November 1918, by which time all four Flights had been incorporated into the RAF as [[No. 234 Squadron RAF]], before being disbanded in May 1919.<ref>Halley, James J. ''The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988''. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}.</ref>

==Remains today==

Some remains of RNAS Tresco are visible today, most prominently the ramp from the yard onto the beach. The site is now occupied by the appropriately named Flying Boat Club of the Tresco Estate.

==References== {{Portal|Cornwall}} {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tresco}} [[Category:Royal Navy air stations in Cornwall|Tresco]] [[Category:Royal Naval Air Service|Tresco]] [[Category:Tresco, Isles of Scilly]] [[Category:Military installations established in 1917]] [[Category:Military installations closed in 1919]]