HMS Daedalus and Naval Aviation

1917

The establishment of a naval air station at Lee-on-the-Solent in 1917, later commissioned as HMS Daedalus, had a significant impact on the Hill Head area. The air station, located just to the west of Hill Head, operated throughout both world wars and into the Cold War period, serving as a base for naval aircraft and a training establishment. The presence of the air station brought employment and activity to the area, and the sound of aircraft became a familiar feature of daily life in Hill Head. During the Second World War, HMS Daedalus was heavily involved in preparations for D-Day, and the surrounding area saw increased military activity, with troops and equipment moving through the local roads. The air station also influenced the pattern of development around Hill Head, as military land use restricted building in certain directions. After the war, HMS Daedalus continued as a training establishment before eventually closing in 1996. The closure and subsequent redevelopment of the Daedalus site has been a significant planning issue for the area, with new housing, business units and the Solent Enterprise Zone now occupying parts of the former air station. The Daedalus heritage is commemorated locally, and the control tower has been preserved as a listed structure.