RNAS/RAF Donibristle / HMS Merlin

Military rationalisation and defence cuts. The air station was closed as part of the post-WWII reduction of the UK's armed forces, outlined in the 1957 Defence White Paper. Its functions as an aircraft repair and maintenance facility were consolidated at other naval air stations.

The site is now completely redeveloped and is unrecognizable as an airfield. The former runways and most of the airfield infrastructure have been removed. The land is occupied by the large Hillend and Donibristle Industrial Estate, which houses numerous businesses. Some of the original military buildings, including several large hangars and workshops, have been repurposed for industrial use and are still standing. The former Officers' Mess building is now used as the Dalgety Bay Community Centre. The surrounding area also includes residential housing.

RNAS/RAF Donibristle, later commissioned as HMS Merlin, was a historically significant military air station with a crucial role in both World Wars.

- **WWI (1917-1918):** Opened in 1917 as a Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) station to support the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet based at nearby Rosyth. It operated as an aircraft acceptance park and a base for torpedo bomber and fighter squadrons conducting anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea and the Firth of Forth.

- **Inter-war Period (1918-1939):** Transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1918, becoming RAF Donibristle. It served various roles, including fleet cooperation and training. In 1939, with the threat of war looming, it was returned to the Admiralty (Royal Navy).

- **WWII (1939-1945):** Commissioned as HMS Merlin on 25 May 1939, it became one of the Royal Navy's most important Aircraft Repair Yards in the UK. It was responsible for the repair, modification, salvage, and maintenance of thousands of Fleet Air Arm aircraft, including iconic types like the Fairey Swordfish, Supermarine Seafire, Fairey Barracuda, and Grumman Avenger. It was a massive industrial complex and a major local employer, vital to maintaining the Royal Navy's air power throughout the war.

- **Post-War (1945-1959):** HMS Merlin continued its role as a primary naval aircraft repair yard, handling the transition from piston-engine aircraft to early jet aircraft like the de Havilland Sea Vampire and Supermarine Attacker. It remained a key support establishment for the Royal Navy's carrier fleet until its closure.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the site as an airport. The extensive industrial and commercial redevelopment since its closure in 1959, along with the removal of the runways and critical aviation infrastructure, makes any future use for aviation purposes infeasible.