Welcome

Hello and welcome to HMS Tern Living Museum blog. We aim to talk about our activities on this page as the museum develops over time and as we re-create the atmosphere of a Second World War airfield. We have many exciting plans for the huge site, but first a little about the history of HMS Tern or as it was also known RNAS Twatt – named after the local area in Orkney.

The airfield was opened on April 1, 1941, and primarily served as a training facility throughout the Second World War. Many aircraft temporarily visited HMS Tern after departing from airfield carriers in Scapa Flow. An example of a unit that remained at the airfield for a longer duration is No. 700 Squadron. Between June 1942 and its disbandment in 1944, this squadron provided final training for catapult aircraft crews before they embarked on their ships.

No. 771 Squadron also came from Hatston around the same time as No. 700 Squadron and stayed for three years. This unit served as a Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) and operated a wide variety of aircraft types in different roles to support the fleet based at Scapa Flow. The aircraft used included Bristol Blenheims, Boulton Paul Defiants, Gloster Sea Gladiators, and Vought-Sikorsky Hoverfly helicopters.

During the Second World War, frontline squadrons were based at the site, operating Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers and Fairey Fulmar fighters.

The airfield was one of the earliest purpose-built naval airfields in Britain, featuring four hard runways and associated facilities. Its control tower is particularly distinctive, as it was built on top of the operations block. The main technical area was located to the southwest, with additional hangars and dispersal areas spread throughout the airfield. While none of the hangars remain, several buildings still stand on the site, including the control tower and operations block, various support buildings, and pillboxes.

HMS Tern is owned and managed by The Birsay Heritage Trust. The Birsay Heritage Trust is a non-profit-making organisation and is a Recognised Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, SCO 27642.

The Birsay Heritage Trust was established in 1998 by the members of the Birsay community who were concerned that important historical sites in the parish were rapidly decaying, disappearing, or at risk of being lost from living memory. The Trust protects, records, and shares Birsay’s heritage, and encourages the public to appreciate and help preserve the many aspects of the area’s historical places, stories, and traditional ways of life. The Birsay Heritage Trust structure fulfils the interests and aspirations of a wider public.

At the Twatt Naval Air Station, HMS Tern, Birsay Heritage Trust is currently working to conserve the surviving wartime buildings on the site, including the unusual control tower. It is planned to be part of the Defence of Britain program and to display aircraft remains in cooperation with Aircraft Research Group of Orkney and Shetland. The Trust aims to make the site more accessible to visitors, develop displays and interpretation boards, and share the unique stories of people who served there.

The work at HMS Tern sits alongside the Trust’s other activities. This includes preserving the Kitchener Memorial, which commemorates the sinking of HMS Hampshire; conserving the original Birsay whalebone and raising funds for a bronze sculpture to mark its historic location; supporting the world’s last working bere mill, Barony Mill; and maintaining and caring for St. Magnus Church.

There are many other aspects of heritage to be recorded and displayed, including archaeological sites, both prehistoric and more recent. You can participate and bring fresh ideas and energy to preserving the heritage of our part of Orkney. 

Birsay Heritage Trust welcomes support from anyone anywhere in the world with an interest in history, heritage, wartime sites, archaeology, traditional ways of life, or the story of Birsay. You can help by visiting HMS Tern, making a donation, volunteering, becoming a member, or sharing memories or photographs.

Donations and volunteer support help the Trust conserve historic buildings, care for artefacts, improve visitor displays, and keep HMS Tern open for future generations.

Birsay Heritage Trust is a recognised Scottish Charity SCO 27642.

HMS Tern Bryameadow, Birsay, United Kingdom KW17 2JH. Telephone +447904664 686 Email hmsternadmin@birsay.org.uk