Sandys, BM 🇧🇲 Closed Airport
BM-0001
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BM-U-A
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 32.320801° N, -64.841103° E
Continent: NA
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: HMS Malabar
RNAS Boaz Island (BM-0001) in Sandys, BM, is not an active airport or travel hub for commercial or passenger flights. It operated as a Royal Naval Air Station, known as RNAS Bermuda or HMS Malabar II, during World War II, primarily for seaplanes and flying boats. The air station closed in 1946 and the land was disposed of by the Admiralty in 1957.
As such, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences regarding airport facilities, amenities, security, customs, transportation, or parking for RNAS Boaz Island (BM-0001) as a current travel destination. While some historical structures, such as slipways and a hangar, remained as of 2020, the site does not function as a modern airport for public use.
Boaz Island itself, however, is part of Bermuda and features beaches and vacation rentals. This location is recognized for its historical significance and is connected to other islands by man-made isthmuses and bridges, forming part of Sandys Parish.
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Circa 1945-1946. While the larger naval base facility it was part of, HMS Malabar, remained operational in a reduced capacity until 1995, the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) component on Boaz Island ceased major air operations with the end of World War II. The requirement for a mid-Atlantic seaplane base diminished rapidly after the conclusion of the Battle of the Atlantic.
The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II and the subsequent strategic shift in military priorities. Key factors include: 1) **Military Drawdown:** The massive demobilization of Allied forces after 1945 led to the closure of numerous bases worldwide. 2) **Technological Obsolescence:** The strategic importance of flying boats and seaplanes waned significantly with the development of long-range, land-based patrol aircraft and the dominance of aircraft carriers. 3) **End of the Battle of the Atlantic:** The station's primary mission was anti-submarine warfare and convoy protection in the Atlantic. With the defeat of Germany's U-boat fleet, this mission was concluded.
The site of the former air station has been completely redeveloped. Following the final withdrawal of the Royal Navy in 1995, the land on Boaz Island was transferred to the Bermuda government's West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) for civilian use. The area where the hangars and slipways once stood is now a residential community featuring a mix of restored historic buildings and new construction. The specific location of the former base is now occupied by housing, roads, and Boaz Island Park, a public recreational space. There are virtually no visible remnants of its past as an active air station.
RNAS Boaz Island, also known as HMS Malabar II, was a critically important Allied airbase during World War II. Commissioned in 1939, its location in the middle of the Atlantic made it an ideal base for anti-submarine patrols and air-sea rescue operations. It was an integral part of the larger Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda (HMNB Bermuda). The station primarily operated flying boats and floatplanes of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force. Aircraft based here included Supermarine Walrus amphibious biplanes and Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes, which were catapult-launched from warships and would land at Boaz Island for servicing. The base played a vital role in protecting Allied convoys from German U-boats, contributing significantly to the success of the Battle of the Atlantic.
None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening RNAS Boaz Island as an airport. The site has been fully and permanently repurposed for residential and recreational use. Bermuda is served by the modern L.F. Wade International Airport (TXKF / BDA), which accommodates all of the island's aviation needs. Furthermore, the military and civil aviation requirement for a seaplane base of this nature is non-existent in the modern era.