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RAF Kai Tak

Coordinates: 22°19′43″N 114°11′39″E / 22.32861°N 114.19417°E / 22.32861; 114.19417
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RAF Kai Tak
HMS Flycatcher
HMS Nabcatcher
at Kai Tak Airport, in Kowloon, on the Kowloon Peninsula in Hong Kong
Kai Tak Airport with runway 13/31 extension project, 1950s
Station badge
RAF Kai Tak is located in Hong Kong
RAF Kai Tak
RAF Kai Tak
Location of RAF Kai Tak within Hong Kong
Coordinates22°19′43″N 114°11′39″E / 22.32861°N 114.19417°E / 22.32861; 114.19417
TypeMilitary airbase
Site information
OwnerBritish Hong Kong
OperatorRoyal Air Force (1927–1941, 1945–1978)
Royal Navy (1939–1941, 1945–1947)
Controlled byFar East Air Force (1945–1971)
Fleet Air Arm (1939–1941, 1945–1947)
Site history
In use
  • 1927–1941, 1945–1978 (Royal Air Force)
  • 1939–1941, 1945–1948 (Fleet Air Arm) (Lodger facilities 1948–1978)
Battles/wars
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: HKG, ICAO: VHHH/VHKT
Elevation10 feet (3.0 m) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
07/25 1,585 yards (1,449 m) x 70 yards (64 m) concrete
12/30 1,525 yards (1,394 m) x 110 yards (101 m) concrete
13/31 2,800 yards (2,560 m) Asphalt
Source: Royal Navy Research Archive[1][2]

RAF Kai Tak was a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Hong Kong, based at Kai Tak Airport. It was opened in 1927 and used for seaplanes. The RAF flight operated a few land based aircraft as well as having spare aircraft for naval units.

History

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The Royal Navy at Kai Tak (1939-1941)

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On 24 May 1939, the control of all Fleet Air Arm squadrons and flights was transferred to the Admiralty, while the Royal Air Force granted lodger rights at Kai Tak. No. 715 Catapult Flight, which had been established at RAF Kai Tak in 1936, was by this point engaged in operations with Supermarine Walrus amphibious maritime patrol aircraft across a number of Royal Navy cruisers, utilising Kai Tak as its shore base.[3]

715 Naval Air Squadron represented the sole Royal Navy presence at the station at the onset of the Second World War in September 1939. Subsequently, on 21 January 1940, this squadron was integrated into 700 Naval Air Squadron, which assumed responsibility for all catapult aircraft operations.[4]

On 8 December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army initiated an offensive against Hong Kong, occurring hours subsequent to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The colony resisted for a duration of two weeks before surrendering on 25 December 1941.[5]

From 1968 to 1978 it was used by various RAF helicopter units, as well as the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps Air Unit. The RAF left Kai Tak and moved most other operations to Sek Kong Airfield.

From 1993 onwards the civilian Government Flying Service replaced the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force at Kai Tak, thus ending the RAF presence at the airport.

The apron and the old NCO Mess areas were used by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force as the Police Driving School premises for a number of years until re-sited.

Royal Navy

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HMS Nabcatcher (1945-1947)

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HMS Nabcatcher was a Royal Navy (RN), Mobile Operational Naval Air Base (MONAB) which was located at Kai Tak airfield. HMS Nabcatcher was also known as MONAB VIIII and Royal Naval Air Station Kai Tak (or RNAS Kai Tak).

On 26 September, MONAB VIII was established at Kai Tak airfield as RNAS Kai Tak, HMS Nabcatcher. This unit was designed to operate in a manner akin to those in Australia, providing shore facilities for disembarked squadrons and ultimately overseeing a Fleet Requirements Unit. Concurrently, the Royal Air Force began its operations at this site. It was decided that the station would be used collaboratively, comprising two separate camp and maintenance areas. The airfield was partitioned, with the RAF occupying the eastern section, which contained pre-war airfield infrastructure, while the Royal Navy utilised the western, undeveloped area for the deployment of MONAB equipment. Additionally, it was established that the RAF would retain sole authority over Air Traffic Control.[6]

Personnel and equipment for Mobile Naval Air Base VIII commenced had assembled in May 1945, at RNAS Middle Wallop (HMS Flycatcher), Hampshire. This mobile air base was designated as a Fighter Support MONAB and its technical components comprised Mobile Maintenance (MM) No. 7, Mobile Servicing (MS) Nos. 13 and 14, as well as Mobile, Storage, and Reserve (MSR) No. 9, which provided support for Supermarine Seafire, Vought Corsair, and Fairey Firefly fighter aircraft.[6]

MONAB VIII was commissioned as HMS Nabcatcher on 1 July 1945, with Captain V.N. Surtees, DSO, RN, serving as the commanding officer. That month personnel boarded the SS Majola, which departed for Sydney, Australia. Subsequently, the stores, equipment, and vehicles were loaded onto the SS Empire Chieftain, which departed on 7 July. The announcement of Japan's surrender was while at sea, leading to the celebration of V-J Day during the voyage. With the conclusion of the war, MONAB VIII was deemed unnecessary for operations in Australia. Consequently, it was scheduled for transfer to Hong Kong, where it would be established at Kai Tak airport to facilitate the reopening of the airfield and to offer shore-based support to the British Pacific Fleet units stationed in the region.[6]

The advance contingent of MONAB VIII was transported aboard the escort carrier HMS Slinger, which set sail from Australia for Hong Kong on 5 September. The SS Empire Chieftain reached Sydney two days prior, on 3 September and departed for Hong Kong on the 15. Meanwhile, Mobile, Storage, and Reserve (MSR) No. 9 was loaded onto the escort carrier HMS Reaper for its journey to Hong Kong, which commenced on 28 September.[1]

1701 Naval Air Squadron headquarters was established at HMS Nabcatcher on 1 November 1945[7] and 721 Naval Air Squadron, a Fleet Requirements Unit arrived on 11 January 1946 on the escort carrier HMS Speaker.[8]

In August 1946, there was a reduction in the naval presence at the station. 1701 Naval Air Squadron was officially disbanded on 27 August,[7] with its Supermarine Sea Otter aircraft transferred to 721 Naval Air Squadron, the Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU).[8] The same day Mobile Operational Naval Air Base VIII (MONAB VIII) was no longer recognised as an independent command, being downgraded to the status of RN Air Section Kai Tak. The ships account for Nabcatcher was maintained at HMS Tamar, the Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong.[9]

At the beginning of October, the aircraft carrier HMS Glory docked in Hong Kong, where it disembarked its squadrons: 806 Naval Air Squadron, which was equipped with Seafire F Mk XV fighter aircraft and 837 Naval Air Squadron, which had Firefly FR.I fighter reconnaissance aircraft.[10] The squadrons re-embarked at the beginning of November, with 837 Naval Air Squadron returning to the ship on the 4. followed by 806 Naval Air Squadron two days later.[11]

On 8 November 1946, command of HMS Nabcatcher was transferred to Commander (A) W.H.N. Martin, RN, who also assumed the role of Fleet Aviation Officer (FAO) for the British Pacific Fleet.[2] On 27 November, more Seafire F Mk XV fighter aircraft arrived at the station when 802 Naval Air Squadron disembarked from HMS Venerable and they were joined by 806 Naval Air Squadron from HMS Glory on 19 December.[12]

HMS Flycatcher (1947)

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The two Supermarine Seafire equipped squadrons remained at RNAS Kai Tak until 12 February 1947, at which point they rejoined their respective aircraft carriers.[13] HMS Nabcatcher resumed its primary function of conducting FRU flights until 1 April, when a further administrative shift took place. On that day, Nabcatcher was decommissioned, and the Air Section was re-commissioned as HMS Flycatcher, a designation previously associated with the two MONAB formation stations in the United Kingdom, while accounts continued to be managed by HMS Tamar.[9]

The RN Air Section at Kai Tak marked the conclusion of its operations with the arrival of its final disembarked squadron on 20 October 1947. On this date, Supermarine Seafire F Mk XV fighter aircraft from 804 Naval Air Squadron flew ashore from the aircraft carrier HMS Theseus, subsequently re-embarking on November 4.[14] By this juncture, a decision had been made to terminate the operations of the RN Air Section. The Fleet Requirements Unit was officially disbanded on 31 December[8] and HMS Flycatcher was decommissioned on 31 December. Following these events, the facilities of the RN Air Section at Kai Tak were downgraded to a 'care and maintenance' status, with an 18-month notice period established for potential reopening. However, this option was never pursued, although the rights to disembark Royal Navy squadrons at the airfield were preserved.[9]

Commanding officers

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List of commanding officers of HMS Nabcatcher with date of appointment:

Lodger facilities (1948–1978)

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The initial deployment of a Royal Navy squadron ashore following the transfer of the airfield to the Royal Air Force occurred during the Malayan Crisis. On 5 November 1949, 800 Naval Air Squadron, which was equipped with Supermarine Seafire FR Mk.47 fighter aircraft, disembarked from the Colossus-class light fleet carrier HMS Triumph and re-embarked on 3 December. The squadron made a subsequent return on 13 March 1950, remaining on land for a duration of one month before re-embarking on 10 April.[15]

891 Naval Air Squadron disembarked its de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22 jet fighter from the Centaur-class light fleet aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark on 17 May 1958. The squadron remained deployed until 3 June before returning to the carrier.[16] Notably, this deployment marked the sole occasion when Royal Navy jet aircraft utilised the historic runway 12/30. Subsequently, a new runway, designated 13/31, was inaugurated in September 1958, extending 2,800 yards into Kowloon Bay on reclaimed land. This new runway was situated on the southeastern side of the airfield, distinct from the other two runways.[2]

In December 1958, two squadrons from the Centaur-class light fleet carrier HMS Albion deployed detachments to Kai Tak. On 12, three Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 anti-submarine helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron were deployed,[17] followed by five de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.21 jet fighter aircraft from 809 Naval Air Squadron on the 19. Both groups rejoined HMS Albion on 5 January 1959.[18] Subsequently, HMS Albion returned in July 1960, during which a detachment of four de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.22 jet fighter aircraft from 894 Naval Air Squadron was disembarked for a week-long stay.[19] Later that same year, several Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 anti-submarine helicopters from 848 Naval Air Squadron were landed from HMS Bulwark on 9 November and they re-embarked on 21.[20]

On 23 October 1963, HMS Victorious disembarked a contingent consisting of four Blackburn Buccaneer S.1 aircraft from 801 Naval Air Squadron and four de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 aircraft from 893 Naval Air Squadron for a brief period, with both units re-embarking on 7 November.[21][22]

Non-military users

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It was the main airfield in Hong Kong housing other non-military users:

Aircraft

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During the Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945, Japanese A6M Zero fighters were based at Kai Tak.

A list of British aircraft stationed there:

Aircraft Type Number Dates Notes
Gloster Meteor fighter – 1962
de Havilland Vampire fighter – 1962
de Havilland Venom fighter – 1962
Fairey Flycatcher fighter 1927–?
Hawker Horsley bomber 3 1935–1937
de Havilland Tiger Moth trainer 2 1935–1937
Chance-Vought Corsair (Fleet Air Arm) fighter 1950s
Bristol Beaufighter fighter-bomber 1950s
de Havilland Hornet fighter 1950s
Hawker Hunter fighter 1962–1967
Gloster Javelin Mk 9FW Interceptor 1966–1967

Squadrons

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1983, a Westland Wessex HC.2 of No. 28 Squadron RAF, normally based at RAF Sek Kong, taking off from Kai Tak during "SAREX '83" – a search and rescue exercise.

The Japanese were stationed at Kai Tak during World War II and extended the runway at the base.

A list of RAF units at Kai Tak:[23]

RAF detachments

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Kai Tak runway

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Kai Tak's first runway was a grass strip and the first tarmac, an east–west runway, was 457 metres long in 1939. A series of extensions were added over the years:

  • 1940s – 1,371 metres runway added by the Japanese
  • 1956 – 2,194 metres north–south runway added
  • 1970 – 2,541 metres
  • 1975 – 3,358 metres
  • post 1975 – single asphalt runway 13/31 – 3,390 metres (or 11,122 feet)

Facilities

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Historic buildings

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Former Headquarters Building, along Kwun Tong Road.
Air-raid shelter in the former Officers' Quarters Compound.

Several buildings of the former station remain. Three of them, built in 1934,[26] are Grade I historic buildings: the Headquarters Building, the Officers Mess and an Annex Block.[27]

  • The former Headquarters Building is located at No. 50 Kwun Tong Road. It housed the Kai Tak Vietnamese Refugee Camp (啟德越南難民營) from 1979 to 1981, and was used for detaining Vietnamese refugees until 1997. It has been housing the Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre (明愛向晴軒) since 2002.[26]
  • The former Officers' Quarters Compound, which includes the RAF Officers' Mess and an Annex Block, is located at No. 51 Kwun Tong Road. It was handed over to the Government in 1978 and converted into a Detective Training School of the Hong Kong Police Force, and remained in use until 2001. It has later been refurbished as the new Kai Tak campus of Hong Kong Baptist University, housing its Academy of Visual Arts (視覺藝術院).[26][28] Other remaining structures in the compound include a former barrack office, a squash court, an air-raid shelter, a dust bin store, a Nissen hut, a mini-range, a latrine block, basketball court and an incinerator.[26] The restoration and adaptive reuse of the Officers' Mess received an Honourable Mention at the 2009 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards.[29]
  • The Gray Block (克拉克樓), located at No. 2 Kwun Tong Road, was built in 1973. It has been converted into the New Horizons Building (新秀大廈), used by Christian Action.

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b "MONAB VIII - HMS Nabcatcher". Royal Navy Research Archive - The MONAB Story - A history of the mobile airfields of the Royal Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Kai Tak". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  3. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 21.
  4. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 2.
  5. ^ Fairburn 1991, p. 97.
  6. ^ a b c Hobbs 2007, p. 150.
  7. ^ a b Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 275.
  8. ^ a b c Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 26.
  9. ^ a b c Hobbs 2007, p. 151.
  10. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 123.
  11. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, pp. 205, 123.
  12. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, pp. 113, 124.
  13. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, pp. 113&124.
  14. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 118.
  15. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 105.
  16. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 262.
  17. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 165.
  18. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 130.
  19. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 268.
  20. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 226.
  21. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 110.
  22. ^ Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 266.
  23. ^ Air of Authority, RAF Kai Tak
  24. ^ Lake 1999, p. 17.
  25. ^ Kai Tak Airport Archived 28 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ a b c d Brief Information on Proposed Grade II Items. Items #365, 367, 369 Archived 23 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings in Building Assessment (as of 27 December 2013)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Getting to HKBU – Kai Tak Campus". Hong Kong Baptist University. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  29. ^ 2009 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards Winners

Bibliography

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  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Fairburn, Tony (1991). Action Stations Overseas. Yeovil, Somerset, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited (Haynes Publishing Group). ISBN 1-85260-319-4.
  • Hobbs, David (2007). Moving Bases Royal Navy Maintenance Carriers and MONABs. Liskeard, Cornwall, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 978-1-904459-30-9.
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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