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This story has been added by Linda Clark on behalf of the author Kenneth H. Rickard. It is an extract from a book he wrote in 2004 called 'St Dennis and Goss Moor', published by Halsgrove of Tiverton, Devon. They fully understand the site's terms and conditions.

Building and construction materials supplied from Goss Moor sand works were used in the construction of the military airfields at St Eval(RAF) and St Merryn(RNAS). The former started in 1939: George Wallace Ltd did the levelling and earth moving, Richard Costain Ltd the construction work and Dorman Long erected the four main hangers. RAF St Eval played a vital role in the air war, carrying out many different duties, with its most successful and important one being as a front line coastal command station. This fact was known by the enemy, which accounted for the numerous attacks during 1940-1941. St Eval closed in 1959 with the remaining squadrons being transferred to RAF St Mawgan.
The St Merryn aerodrome was developed in 1937 for civil use and had one hanger. In 1939 the admiralty surveyed and acquired the site for military use. Construction started immediately and the base was commissioned on 10 August 1940. The airfield was renamed RNAS St Merryn, HMS Vulture and was a front-line training establishment for carrier-borne aircraft and crews. Another unit named HMS Curlew joined the base as a second-line training squadron.
The airfield was bombed by German aircraft in 1941. A rebuilding programme was carried out in 1944-45. RNAS St Merryn was closed in January 1956, after playing a vital part during the war and a valuable peacetime role, with all remaining operations being transferred to RNAS Culdrose.

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