# RNAS Tresco

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Former Royal Naval Air Station

RNAS Tresco RAF Tresco Near Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall in England Site information Type Royal Naval Air Station Owner Admiralty Air Ministry Operator Royal Navy Royal Air Force Location RNAS Tresco Shown within Cornwall Show map of Cornwall RNAS Tresco RNAS Tresco (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom Coordinates 49°57′12″N 6°20′17″W / 49.95333°N 6.33806°W / 49.95333; -6.33806 Site history Built 1917 (1917) In use 1917–1919 (1919)

**RNAS Tresco** was a [Royal Naval Air Service](/source/Royal_Naval_Air_Service) base on [Tresco](/source/Tresco%2C_Isles_of_Scilly), the second largest island in the [Isles of Scilly](/source/Isles_of_Scilly). From February 1917 to May 1919 aircraft patrolled the [Western Approaches](/source/Western_Approaches) and provided an escort for [convoys](/source/Convoys_in_World_War_I). A total of thirteen [U-boats](/source/U-boat) were sighted and nine attacked.[1]

## History

A [Short Type 184](/source/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](/source/Short_Type_184) seaplanes were stationed at Porthmellon on [St Mary's](/source/St_Mary's%2C_Isles_of_Scilly). They were followed by several [Curtiss Type 12](/source/Curtiss_Model_H) flying-boats from [RNAS Cattewater](/source/RAF_Mount_Batten#Royal_Naval_Air_Station_Cattewater) near [Plymouth](/source/Plymouth). Before the base became operational it was transferred to [Tresco](/source/Tresco%2C_Isles_of_Scilly), 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](/source/Bryher%2C_Isles_of_Scilly). 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 Type 12](/source/Curtiss_Model_H) were later decorated.[1]

By the summer, full facilities had been established and from August there were around 22 planes including [Short Type 184](/source/Short_Type_184) and [Felixstowe F.5](/source/Felixstowe_F.5) flyingboats.[2] The squadron patrolled the Western Approaches of the [English Channel](/source/English_Channel) and gained two [DSCs](/source/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_Kingdom)), one [DSM](/source/Distinguished_Service_Medal_(United_Kingdom)) and a [CGM](/source/Conspicuous_Gallantry_Medal).[3] A number of other significant actions followed, notably the thwarting of U-boat attacks on the [White Star liner](/source/White_Star_Line), *[Persic](/source/SS_Persic)* which sustained damage but managed to reach port

On 18 August 1918, the unit became No. 234 Squadron RAF ([Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force)) with Short Type 225 seaplanes.[1] 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](/source/No._234_Squadron_RAF), before being disbanded in May 1919.[4]

## 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

- [Cornwall portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Cornwall)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bowden_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bowden_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bowden_1-2) Bowden, Mark; Brodie, Allan (2011). *Defending Scilly*. Swindon: [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781848020436](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781848020436).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bound for Lyonesse. The history of flying in the Isles of Scilly, Maurice Wickstead

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Walpole, [Group Captain](/source/Group_Captain) Nigel, OBE, BA. *Dragon Rampant: The Story of No. 234 Fighter Squadron*. London Colney, Hertfordshire, UK: Merlin Massara Publishing, 2007. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9543900-1-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9543900-1-3)., pp. 1-10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Halley, James J. *The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988*. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-85130-164-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85130-164-9).

v t e Royal Air Force Formations and units Units Commands Groups Wings Squadrons Flights Conversion units Operational Training units Schools / Training units Ferry units Glider units Misc units Stations Active Former Satellite Landing Grounds Station description Regiment Wings Squadrons Flights Branches and components Air Force Board RAF Regiment RAF Chaplains Branch RAF Intelligence RAF Legal Branch RAF Medical Services Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service RAF Police RAF ground trades RAF Music Services RAF Search and Rescue Force RAF Mountain Rescue Service RAF Marine Branch RAF Air Cadets Operations Reserve forces Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Volunteer Reserve Equipment List of RAF aircraft current future List of RAF missiles List of equipment of the RAF Regiment Personnel Officer ranks Other ranks List of notable personnel List of serving senior officers Personnel numbers Appointments Chief of Air Staff Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Air Member for Personnel Air Secretary Air Member for Materiel Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment Warrant Officer of the RAF Symbols and uniform Badge Ensign Heraldic badges Roundels Squadron standards and battle honours Uniform Associated civil organisations Air Training Corps Combined Cadet Force (RAF section) RAF Association RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine RAF Benevolent Fund RAF Football Association RAF Museum History Timeline Future

v t e Royal Air Force stations in Cornwall Active stations Portreath St Mawgan Inactive Cleave Davidstow Moor Dry Tree Perranporth Predannack St Eval Tresco

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RNAS Tresco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNAS_Tresco) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNAS_Tresco?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.