Help needed - RNAS Portland W.I.P

[Hooky722]

Hi All,

I'm in the process of cooking up some scenery of the former RNAS Portland Helicopter Station in Dorset Circa 1970's As you can see from these screenies I've pretty much got the AFCAD sorted but I'm having Real problems finding Reference photos or Any Images of the station when it was active! Google maps gives me some clues as to where stuff was but since its been built on in recent years I don't know whats relevant to the cold war era or not! the main point of focus is the Hanger I cant find a decent photo anywhere If theres anybody out there who can help I'd like to hear from you!

Regards

Hooky:salute:

The Station was Home to Several types over the Years Including Wessex,Wasp and Lynx

The AFCAD was based on the Aircraft Movements Map which still resides in the Now Abandoned Control Tower.

 

[Matt Wynn]

all i found is a 1959 image thats tiny of HMS Osprey (RNAS Portland)

will try enlarging it it unless someone can immediately identify hangar type...

"The Naval Base playing fields were taken over as a landing ground and two blister hangars, one of which still stands, were erected below the old fleet canteen. The canteen itself was converted into a headquarters building, operations centre, workshop and control tower. At 1600 on Tuesday 14 April 1959, 815 Squadron with 12 Whirlwind helicopters arrived en masse at the new 'Portland Heliport'. Led by Lieutenant Commander Hayes, they had flown from RNAS Eglington in Northern Ireland and were met at Portland by Captain Pound and the new Commander Air, Commander Henly. One week later the first Whirlwind had ditched off the Shambles and Lt Gill, the pilot, was fished off the sandbank by HMS Keppel. Not to be deterred by this minor setback, Royal Naval Air Station Portland was officially opened by the Commander - in - Chief, Portsmouth, Admiral Sir Manley L. Power on 24 April 1959."

EDIT.... just tried to clear it up for you, hangar is in pale green can see it's got a nice arched roof...

 

[ian elliot]

Hi, looks good Hooky, ive got some pics i can scan for you, one from the 1970's, one from the 80's and a larger version of the image Smoothie dug up. im guessing the hanger high-lighted is actually a "Large Navel Type Blister",
That hanger survived the 1960's-70's redevelopment but i think it was moverd round 90' degrees. give me till this afternoon-early evening and i'll pm you when done.
cheers ian