During the Second World War a number of naval air squadrons were posted or formed here at some point. Post-war Post-war she continued to play a significant role, being renamed HMS Ariel on 31 October 1959 to reflect her electrical, radar and ground training emphasis; she took over the work of the Royal Naval Air Electrical Training Establishment, Worthy Down prior to its closure in 1961. In 1962 the Joint Service Hovercraft Unit was formed with the aim of testing hovercraft in an operational military environment, and soon after the Air Station reverted to the name HMS Daedalus on 5 October 1965. She was home to the Naval Air Trial Installation Unit (NATIU), formed to install and test new systems in a variety of flying test bed aircraft including a Hawker Hunter and a De Havilland Devon. Units The following units were here at some point: Post-Royal Navy use (1996–2014) In 2003 it was the subject of much controversy over the proposal to use a small part of it as a refuge for asylum-seekers. In March 2006 the site was split, with ownership of the central area including the runways transferred to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who have continued to use it as a base for their air sea rescue helicopters. Hampshire Constabulary's fixed wing aircraft also continued to use the airfield. The outlying areas, including the former accommodation and technical area and surrounding land, hangars, and dispersals, were transferred to the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). In April 2006, Gosport and Fareham Borough Councils issued a oint Planning Statement for Daedalus stating that "There should be provision of leisure and community facilities which could complement existing facilities to the benefit of local residents" and "Future development should seek to maximise the benefit of the existing runways for general and private aviation use." In April/May 2006, whilst conducting repairs to the runway, building crews discovered a giant unexploded land mine over 60 feet long that had been placed underneath the runway in the 1940s to cripple the airfield's operational capabilities in the event of a German invasion. The bomb (along with 19 others subsequently discovered) was scheduled to be removed in September 2006. The work was completed on 24 October 2006. During its RN ownership the airfield had been used for a variety of groups, including the Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club (PNGC). The Lee Bees Model Flying