GrenPen Posted 8 November , 2017 Share Posted 8 November , 2017 Hello, Is it the case there were three bases in Orkney: Caldale Airship Station - Airships and kite balloons Scapa Seaplane Station - self explanatory, located on Scapa beach Loch Stenness Seaplane Station - self explanatory Regards GP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 8 November , 2017 Share Posted 8 November , 2017 I think I've heard of one more but don't quote me. Probably worth either asking the Fleet Air Arm Museum Archive (Google for details) or going to archive.org and searching Navy List 1914 (etc) then checking the index at the front of each volume to see what pages they have the Air Stations listed on - you can then 'leaf' through the scanned book. sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie56 Posted 8 November , 2017 Share Posted 8 November , 2017 Seaplane base Kirkwall bay ? Ramp and control tower still there but may be ww2 but I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 9 November , 2017 Share Posted 9 November , 2017 Operated by the RN (i.e. pre-4/1918):- SMOOGROO - Kite Balloons SCAPA - Seaplanes/flying boats HOUTON BAY - Seaplanes/flying boats CALDALE - Airships and kite balloons KIRKWALL BAY - Seaplanes/flying boats plus the following opened under RAF:- PIEROWALL/WESTRAY - sea planes/flying boats forward base from 8/1918 STENNES - flying boats from 5/1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 9 November , 2017 Share Posted 9 November , 2017 I believe the last should be spelt Stenness, if I may be so bold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 9 November , 2017 Share Posted 9 November , 2017 (edited) sJ - you may be so bold - but I have also seen it spelled STENNES (it appears thus in a WW1 Gazetteer (e.g. Cross & Cockade)). Edited 9 November , 2017 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 9 November , 2017 Share Posted 9 November , 2017 Fair enough. It was Stenness when I went there last year, if indeed the same place is intended. TNA's Discovery catalogue is no help whatsoever... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrenPen Posted 10 November , 2017 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2017 Thank you all for the assistance rendered. Best regards GP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 10 November , 2017 Share Posted 10 November , 2017 Bloody Orkney This bloody town's a bloody cuss No bloody trains, no bloody bus, And no one cares for bloody us In bloody Orkney. The bloody roads are bloody bad, The bloody folks are bloody mad, They'd make the brightest bloody sad, In bloody Orkney. All bloody clouds, and bloody rains, No bloody kerbs, no bloody drains, The Council's got no bloody brains, In bloody Orkney. Everything's so bloody dear, A bloody bob, for bloody beer, And is it good? - no bloody fear, In bloody Orkney. The bloody 'flicks' are bloody old, The bloody seats are bloody cold, You can't get in for bloody gold In bloody Orkney. The bloody dances make you smile, The bloody band is bloody vile, It only cramps your bloody style, In bloody Orkney. No bloody sport, no bloody games, No bloody fun, the bloody dames Won't even give their bloody names In bloody Orkney. Best bloody place is bloody bed, With bloody ice on bloody head, You might as well be bloody dead, In bloody Orkney There's nothing greets your bloody eye But bloody sea and bloody sky, 'Roll on demob!' we bloody cry In bloody Orkney. Hamish Blair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 11 November , 2017 Share Posted 11 November , 2017 Lovely one! Of course, having been there only as a visitor, summertime, about 12 times, well - I love the place! My dream place to retire to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 12 November , 2017 Share Posted 12 November , 2017 Certainly has one of the widest chronological ranges of archaeology and history I've ever seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 16 April , 2020 Share Posted 16 April , 2020 Hello folks - just came across this site when looking for info about the Seaplane Base at Stenness / Steness / Stennes as you wish. I have an interesting postcard sent from the base dated14 July 1918 from 'James' who was serving there, initially with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), but from mid 1918 they were amalgamated into the newly formed RAF. I was up there at Christmas 2019 but had too many other sites to visit. If anyone has a WWI photo of the base that would be great. I have some fascinating mail and naval stuff from Orkney in WII Stay safe everyone (It's corvid-19 time just now) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCeeCee Posted 17 April , 2020 Share Posted 17 April , 2020 (edited) On 10/11/2017 at 21:57, Muerrisch said: Bloody Orkney This bloody town's a bloody cuss No bloody trains, no bloody bus, And no one cares for bloody us In bloody Orkney. The bloody roads are bloody bad, The bloody folks are bloody mad, They'd make the brightest bloody sad, In bloody Orkney. All bloody clouds, and bloody rains, No bloody kerbs, no bloody drains, The Council's got no bloody brains, In bloody Orkney. Everything's so bloody dear, A bloody bob, for bloody beer, And is it good? - no bloody fear, In bloody Orkney. The bloody 'flicks' are bloody old, The bloody seats are bloody cold, You can't get in for bloody gold In bloody Orkney. The bloody dances make you smile, The bloody band is bloody vile, It only cramps your bloody style, In bloody Orkney. No bloody sport, no bloody games, No bloody fun, the bloody dames Won't even give their bloody names In bloody Orkney. Best bloody place is bloody bed, With bloody ice on bloody head, You might as well be bloody dead, In bloody Orkney There's nothing greets your bloody eye But bloody sea and bloody sky, 'Roll on demob!' we bloody cry In bloody Orkney. Hamish Blair D'yer think poor Hamish was there long? Edited 17 April , 2020 by TeeCeeCee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 17 April , 2020 Share Posted 17 April , 2020 15 hours ago, Tony Walker said: Hello folks - just came across this site when looking for info about the Seaplane Base at Stenness / Steness / Stennes as you wish. I have an interesting postcard sent from the base dated14 July 1918 from 'James' who was serving there, initially with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), but from mid 1918 they were amalgamated into the newly formed RAF. Welciome to the GWF, Tony. A couple of observations: The flying boat air station at Stenness Loch, Orkney, was opened by the RAF in May 1918, shortly after the demise of the RNAS. Although the RNAS may have earmarked it for operations these did not start until under RAF command.So, although "James" may have enlisted as an RNAS rating, he was RAF from 1 April 1918 and he would have been RAF at RAF Stenness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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