Mullion Admiralty Airship Station

Mullion Admiralty Airship Station - HMS Bonython

2nd August 2008

Aerial view of the airship shed bases. The vegetation projecting out from the bases marks the location of the wind breaks	Mullion Airship Station as it looked in the Summer 1917	A view of RNAS Mullion from the observation tower on the roof of Mullion's main shed (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	View of the two airship sheds and the adjacent wind breaks (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)
Interior view of Mullion's main shed, note the tennis net in the foreground (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	The Silicol hydrogen producing installation at RNAS Mullion (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	The carpenter's shop at RNAS Mullion (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	This is believed to be the stationary steam engine that drove the woodworking machinery in the carpenter's shop (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)
This image appears to show the hotel with adjacent Marconi wireless installation at Poldhu Cove, which is a short distance from Mullion (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	RNAS Mullion ground crew (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	RNAS Mullion ground crew (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)	RNAS Mullion ground crew (© R. Edwards via J. Smillie)

Sometimes referred to as the Lizard Airship Station and known locally as HMS Bonython, Mullion Admiralty Airship Station opened in June 1916 with the intention of it becoming a major airship base with a number of out-stations. The Admiralty acquired 320 acres of land from the Bonython Estate for the purpose of providing much-needed counter submarine patrols. Initially, one large airship shed measuring 300ft x 100ft x 70ft high was erected together with an extensive hutted camp. Further buildings were erected in early 1917 and by 1918 a second smaller airship shed had been constructed alongside Mullion’s main shed. In its short history Mullion had already provided a base for Sopwith Strutter land-planes and with the formation of the RAF in 1918 and the subsequent re-organization of units, fixed wing aircraft returned to Mullion in May 1918 with the establishment of Special Duty Flight, equipped with DH6 aircraft. A second Flight was formed the following month and became 515 and 526 Flights respectively, as part of 254 Squadron. In August 1918 these Flights were transferred to 236 Squadron. This organization survived until early 1919, with disbandment probably taking place in May of the same year. By this time the infrastructure at Mullion had expanded to include a number of additional aircraft sheds, including six Bessonneau hangars and attendant workshops. However, by the end of 1919, with the First World War having ended, the station was closed and most of the infrastructure and buildings removed, leaving only a few huts and the large mooring blocks used to tether the airships. Today, the land is once again part of the Bonython Estate, who have permitted a number of wind turbines to be erected on the site. To the casual observer there is little left to indicate the site of what was a busy airship station. It is worth pointing out, that contrary to what has been stated in a number of airfield related publications, Mullion Admiralty Airship Station is not situated in the same location as RAF Predannack.

From conversations with a local person who is familiar with the Bonython Estate, there is evidence to suggest that the RAF occupied the site during most of World War II. Apparently, a large area was used for open bomb storage (presumably for RAF Predannack) and the buildings, which were still standing at the time, used for accommodation purposes for personnel stationed at RAF Dry Tree. In fact following the war a number of buildings remained occupied as a consequence of the chronic shortages in housing and it wasn’t until the early 1950's, that the estate in co-operation with the local authority, were forced to relocate the remaining inhabitants into newly-built council housing at Cury. The last occupant to be evicted was an elderly gentleman who lived in the last surviving building, photos of which can be seen on this website. The Lyle family who had owned the Bonython Estate before and during the war also had a direct connection with Mullion Admiralty Airship Station. A member of the Lyle family had been a captain in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War and it is said that he used to fly in and land at the station so that he could return to the nearby family home, Bonython Manor. There are even stories about Captain Lyle using his privileged position to fly back from active service in France, although this cannot be confirmed.