The Royal Navy have started work but it is still incomplete.
Navy runways are 30 feet wide so they have to be widened to the RAF standard 50 feet and there are acute labor shortages in the Orkney islands which also slow down progress.
Research notes
The Royal Navy have started work but it is still incomplete.
Navy runways are 30 feet wide so they have to be widened to the RAF standard 50 feet and there are acute labor shortages in the Orkney islands which also slow down progress.
A directive is sent to the Admiralty to the effect that Skaebrae is no longer needed since Castletown in Caithness is now operational.
Station is still very incomplete.
Grumman Martlet, piloted by Lt. L.V. Carver and Sub/Lt. T.R.V. Park, from 804 Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm, based at RNAS Skeabrae, shoots down a Ju 88 which crash lands near the farm of Flotterston in Sandwick, on the West Mainland of Orkney. Lt. K. Schipp, Fw. H. Schreiber, Uffz. J. Spoertl and Oberfefr. K. Rotter all taken prisoner. This is the first kill of the war by a UK pilot in a US aircraft. Aircraft salvage complete by 15/3/41 and stored in a hanger at Skeabrae for some time.
First RAF squadron to operate from the airfield.