HMS Sanderling Pipe Band - Abbotsinch

In 1943, the airfield at Abbotsinch, near Glasgow, was transferred to Royal Navy control and was designated as HMS Sanderling. Previously it had been used for test flying and as the secondary field for the RAF at Renfrew but it was now to be used as a Royal Navy Maintenance Yard, where aircraft would come for repair, or would be stationed there whilst one of the carriers was in refit. It also operated as an Aircraft Storage Yard, and many of the famous aircraft that served with the Royal Navy in the early pre-war years could be seen in the skies over Paisley and Glasgow, or viewed stored in and around the hangers at the airfield. In the late 50’s it was soon apparent that Renfrew Airport was too small to host the RAF and carry the rapid expansion in civilian air travel, therefore it was announced in 1960 that the site for the new Glasgow City Airport would be located at the Abbotsinch field. HMS Sanderling was therefore decommissioned and the new airport opened within a few years.

The picture above shows the HMS Sanderling Pipe Band and was originally captioned as "celebrating their successes in 1967" – though this does not tally with the establishment closure date in 1960. If anyone has any better information please let me know.

Campbell de Burgh

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