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Summary

The site of a First World War airfield which opened in 1917 and from which anti-submarine patrols were flown.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1486320

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• AIRFIELD (World War I - 1914 AD to 1918 AD)

Full description

Pink, F., 2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

National Monument Record, 2015, Pastscape, 1486320 (Website). SDV357603.

The site of a First World War airfield at Prawle Point. The base was opened as a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) airfield in April 1917 to carry out coastal patrols but ceased operations in August of that year. In May 1918 it was reopened by the RAF as a coastal reconnaissance station and continued until the squadron based there was disbanded in February 1919. The site may have been used by an army co-operation unit for a few months and the base was abandoned in early 1920. The site was relatively small covering 50 acres and ill-equipped with no permanent buildings constructed. A number of Sopwith Camels and Sopwith 1½ Strutters of 54 Squadron were initially based there and these were replaced by 254 Squadron which was made up of three RAF Flights; Number 492 (light bomber) Flight of DH9s and 517 and 519 Flights of DH6s. No physical remains of the airfield have survived.

Horner, B., 2016, Display panels at Prawle Point (Ground Photograph). SDV364433.

Photographs taken in July 2016 of display panels inside the former generator building at the Prawle Point lookout station. The panels include information on RNAS Prawle which was the first airfield in the south-west. Anti-submarine patrols were flown from here during the first world war.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV357603	Website: National Monument Record. 2015. Pastscape. http://www.pastscape.org.uk. Website. 1486320. [Mapped feature: #2823 ]
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. ACD618/4/3. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV364433	Ground Photograph: Horner, B.. 2016. Display panels at Prawle Point. Digital.

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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