History RAF Lossiemouth

1 history

1.1 construction (1938–1939)
1.2 second world war (1939–1945)
1.3 fleet air arm years – hms fulmar (1946–1972)
1.4 return of royal air force (1972–1991)

1.4.1 operation granby


1.5 transition shackleton , buccaneer tornado (1991–1999)
1.6 21st century (2000 – present)

1.6.1 f-35 lightning ii , threat of closure
1.6.2 potential use spaceport
1.6.3 raf lossiemouth mountain rescue team
1.6.4 tornado typhoon
1.6.5 end of search , rescue (sar) operations

history
construction (1938–1939)

construction started during summer of 1938, when 220 ha (540 acres) of agricultural land acquired in order accommodate airfield. land cleared of vegetation , buildings , spring of 1939 several wooden huts present. group captain p.e maitland first station commander , took post in march 1939, station formally opening on 1 may 1939. first unit take residence @ lossiemouth no. 15 flying training school raf (15 fts), equipped thirteen airspeed oxfords , 5 hawker harts. aircraft stored in open until first hangars completed in august 1939. same month tragedy struck when 3 crew members killed during mid-air collision between 2 oxfords.

second world war (1939–1945)

at outbreak of second world war detachment of seaforth highlanders sent lossiemouth guard station , anti-aircraft defences installed. flying activity increased 15 fts receiving more oxfords , harts , introduction of north american harvard; eleven fairey battles delivered storage. first front-line aircraft operate lossiemouth detachment of twelve vickers wellington bombers belonging no. 99 squadron raf (99 sqn), arriving in november 1939 take part in attack missions targeting german cruiser deutschland, operating between iceland , shetland isles. january 1940 saw detachments of handley page hampdens no. 44 squadron raf (44 sqn) , no. 50 squadron raf (50 sqn) arrive take part in offensive patrols on north sea. operation short-lived result of bad weather, aircraft returning home base in mid-february.

vickers wellington bombers of no. 9 squadron.

a detachment of no. 9 squadron raf (9 sqn) spent short period of time operating wellingtons during april 1940, before being replaced no. 107 squadron raf (107 sqn) , no. 110 squadron raf (110 sqn) equipped bristol blenheims. during period first loss enemy action of aircraft operating lossiemouth occurred when 3 blenheims shot down on norway.

it became apparent frequent detachments of bomber aircraft disrupting training programme @ lossiemouth , therefore, due strategic importance of station base bomber aircraft, decided relocate 15 fts raf middle wallop in hampshire. on 27 april 1940, after unit’s departure, lossiemouth transferred no. 6 group raf (6 gp) of raf bomber command , no. 20 operational training unit (20 otu) established, operating wellingtons , avro ansons.

no. 46 maintenance unit (46 mu) formed in april 1940. 46 mu’s role modify , fit-out new aircraft before forwarded front-line squadrons. variety of aircraft serviced including hawker hurricanes, de havilland tiger moths, hawker audaxes, , de havilland hornet moth. unit used 6 robin , 8 super robin hangars, due shortage of space many aircraft stored in fields outside station. lossiemouth s first satellite airfield, located @ bogs of mayne 10 mi (16 km) south , known raf elgin, opened in june 1940.

one officer , 2 aircrew killed on 26 october 1940 when raf lossiemouth attacked luftwaffe first time. attack 3 heinkel 111s resulted in destruction of 2 blenheims , damage 2 miles magisters, 2 tiger moths , hurricane. 3 hangars damaged, resultant holes cannon fire still visible today. 1 of heinkels crashed on airfield, having either been hit ground fire or destroyed own bombs. 4 of crew buried in lossiemouth churchyard. result of raid, hurricanes of no. 232 squadron raf (232 sqn) moved raf elgin protect area attacks.

20 otu memorial @ bogs of mayne.

flying activity in 1941 limited due poor condition of airfield; improved weather in spring increased activity 20 otu , 46 mu, continued bomber detachments. operational sorties predominately undertaken blenheims of no. 21 squadron raf (21 sqn), no. 82 squadron raf (82 sqn), 110 sqn , no. 114 squadron raf (114 sqn). winter of 1941 airfield had become muddy wellingtons of 20 otu temporarily relocated raf lakenheath in suffolk. increased activity 46 mu resulted in 2 satellite landing grounds (slg) being established store aircraft off-site. these @ raf black isle (42 slg) bristol beaufighters kept , raf leanach (43 slg) near culloden, hurricanes , supermarine spitfires stored.

lossiemouth used during 1942 base launch several unsuccessful missions sink german battleship tirpitz, @ time operating in norwegian fjords. first missions undertaken in january 1942 detachment of thirteen short stirlings of no. 15 squadron raf (115 sqn) , no. 149 squadron raf (149 sqn) , thirteen handley page halifaxes of no. 10 squadron raf (10 sqn) , no. 76 squadron raf (76 sqn). further attempts made during march avro lancasters of 44 sqn , halifaxes of 10 sqn. lancasters of 9 sqn later joined operation. 1942 saw numerous accidents involving 20 otu aircraft, many of resulted in death , serious injuries. these accidents attributed combination of fatigued aircraft, inexperienced crews , poor weather. wellingtons of 20 otu involved in strategic bombing raids on german cities throughout 1942, training aircraft being required reach target number of 1000 bombers per raid. airfield’s first surfaced runways, (06/24 5,997 ft (1,828 m); 09/27 4,498 ft (1,371 m); 01/19 4,200 ft (1,280 m)), constructed engineering battalion of army air force in late 1942 , helped reduce interruptions flying result of grass strips being affected poor weather. new control tower constructed.

in september 1943, wellingtons of c flight 20 otu, moved second of lossiemouth satellite airfields, raf milltown, located 3 mi (4.8 km) south-east. 46 mu concentrating work on bristol beaufighters , lancasters , slg @ raf leanach had been replaced new site @ dornoch golf course, became known raf dornoch (40 slg). 20 otu received official crest in 1943, 2 examples cast in concrete being constructed @ lossiemouth , raf elgin. crest @ lossiemouth no longer exists , although little remains of airfield @ elgin, concrete crest war memorial served there.

a no. 617 squadron crew , lancaster following successful operation launched lossiemouth against battleship tirpitz on 12 november 1944.

further operations against tirpitz took place between september , november 1944. operation catechism resulted in german battleship being sunk near tromsø on 12 november 1944. thirty-eight lancasters of 9 sqn , no. 617 squadron raf (617 sqn) launched lossiemouth, kinloss , milltown , destroyed vessel tallboy bombs. 50 years later, 617 sqn transferred lossiemouth , based there between 1993 , 2014. examples of tallboy, grand slam , keep (bouncing bomb) on display within squadron site.

in july 1945, after end of hostilities in europe, 20 otu disbanded , 46 mu continued prepare aircraft operations in far east. after war ended, 46 mu began enormous task of breaking-up surplus aircraft scrap. @ 1 point there around 900 aircraft on airfield awaiting disposal. on 28 july 1945 lossiemouth transferred no. 17 group raf (17 gp) of raf coastal command, arrival of no. 111 (coastal) operational training unit raf (111 otu) bahamas shortly thereafter. august 1945, unit operating forty-one consolidated b-24 liberators, ten halifaxes , north american b-25 mitchell; unit disbanded in july 1946.

fleet air arm years – hms fulmar (1946–1972)

lossiemouth transferred royal air force fleet air arm (faa) on 2 july 1946 , became known royal navy air station (rnas) lossiemouth or hms fulmar. on faa taking control, no. 46 mu moved raf elgin. lossiemouth used basic training station faa pilots moved on rnas culdrose (hms seahawk) in cornwall instrument training. raf milltown transferred faa, became known hms fulmar ii , operated deck landing training school. last stage of training practised @ fulmar ii before students land on hms theseus in moray firth. first faa squadron, no. 766 naval air squadron, arrived in august 1946 , operated supermarine seafires , fairey fireflies until departure rnas culdrose in 1953. replace poor quality war-era facilities, 7 hundred new married living-quarters constructed in lossiemouth , elgin in late 1940s, first opening in september 1949. arrangement differed raf, typically constructed living-quarters in airfields. in 1952 , 1953, lossiemouth s runways upgraded , extended present lengths , during time aircraft temporarily operated milltown.

the naval air fighter , strike training school transferred station in 1953 , on next decade many aircraft types operated lossiemouth in training role, including supermarine seafires, fairey fireflys, hawker sea hawks, hawker sea furys, supermarine scimitars, de havilland sea venoms , hawker hunters. 4 gloster meteors used target-towers. 1 of first squadrons of established federal germany navy formed @ lossiemouth in may 1958 under nato cooperative policy. no. 764 naval air squadron had responsibility training german crews on twelve sea hawks, operated in german navy markings. commissioning ceremony attended british , german naval , political figures. in 1958 announced station facilities upgraded @ cost of £3 million, including refurbishment of living accommodation , creation of fulmar club social club. princess alexandra opened new officers mess in july 1965.

blackburn buccaneer s.1 of no. 700z squadron @ rnas lossiemouth circa 1961

the blackburn buccaneer arrived in march 1961 when no. 700z naval air squadron created intensive flying trials unit evaluate aircraft s weapons, systems , performance. squadron operated 2 aircraft , 5 end of 1961. first operational buccaneer squadron (no. 801 naval air squadron) established on 17 july 1962, followed no. 809 naval air squadron in january 1963 , no. 800 naval air squadron in march 1964. buccaneer capable of delivering nuclear weapons conventional weapons anti-shipping warfare , typically active on north sea during service. buccaneers embarked on aircraft carriers hms victorious, eagle, ark royal , hermes. on 28 march 1967, buccaneers lossiemouth bombed shipwrecked supertanker torrey canyon off western coast of cornwall, ignite oil , avoid environmental disaster. mid-1960s saw further investment in facilities @ lossiemouth including new living quarters , messes.

the 1966 defence white paper saw withdrawal of british military forces stationed east of suez during 1970s, reducing need aircraft carriers , fixed-wing naval aviation such buccaneer. aircraft had been considered raf medium-range interdictor , tactical strike aircraft. result, no. 736 naval air squadron began training raf air , ground crews on buccaneer in 1969. late 1960s saw faa reduce activities @ lossiemouth, although fairey gannets of no. 849 naval air squadron transferred rnas brawdy lossiemouth on 13 november 1971. last buccaneers of no. 809 naval air squadron left on 25 september 1972, leaving gannets , search , rescue helicopters.

return of royal air force (1972–1991)

an avro shackleton aew.2 of no. 8 squadron.

the station returned royal air force control on 28 september 1972, first raf squadron operating new raf lossiemouth being d flight, no. 202 squadron in helicopter search , rescue role. jaguar conversion team (designated no. 226 operational conversion unit on 1 october 1974) arrived in may 1973 train raf s first sepecat jaguar crews. late 1974, no. 6 squadron , no. 54 squadron operational.

in august 1973, no. 8 squadron , twelve avro shackleton aew.2s, operating airborne warning (aew) aircraft, moved lossiemouth nearby raf kinloss. shackleton interim aircraft raf aew requirement, saw gradual replacement of fleet air arm fairley gannets, culminating in disbandment of no. 849 naval air squadron in november 1978. towards end of 1970s, 2 non-flying defence units took residence @ station, starting arrival in december 1978 of no. 48 squadron raf regiment equipped rapier surface-to-air missiles. july 1979 saw formation of no. 2622 (highland) royal air force auxiliary regiment ground defence. 1978 1980, before moving raf chivenor in devon, no. 2 tactical weapons unit operated hawker hunter lossiemouth.

the buccaneer made return lossiemouth in 1980s raf maritime strike aircraft, first arriving in november 1980 when no. 12 squadron transferred raf honington in suffolk, followed no. 208 squadron in july 1983. remainder of raf buccaneer fleet arrived in october 1984 when no. 237 operational conversion unit (ocu), took residence. although buccaneer training unit, no. 237 ocu assigned supreme allied commander europe (saceur) overland laser designation, in support of raf jaguars.

operation granby

during 1991 gulf war, personnel 3 buccaneer squadrons took part in operation granby, aircraft s first combat operation. following short-notice decision deploy middle east, first batch of 6 aircraft brought readiness in under 72 hours, including adoption of desert-pink camouflage , additional war-time equipment. @ lossiemouth involved in preparation detachment, personnel working non-stop, day , night, extent station commander, group captain jon ford reported colleagues have hardly slept 3 days. first 6 aircraft departed lossiemouth muharraq in bahrain @ 04:00 on 26 january 1991. twelve buccaneers operated target designators , became common each attack formation comprise 4 tornados , 2 buccaneers; each buccaneer carrying pave spike laser designator pod, 1 spare in case of equipment failure. buccaneer force became known sky pirates in reference maritime history of buccaneer. each aircraft had jolly roger flag painted on port side, alongside nose art featuring female characters. in recognition of scottish roots, buccaneers named after speyside whisky such glenfiddich, glen elgin , macallan. hostilities ended in late february 1991, buccaneers having flown 218 sorties without loss, designating targets other aircraft , later dropping 48 paveway ii laser-guided bombs.

transition shackleton , buccaneer tornado (1991–1999)

the replacement ageing shackleton aew.2, british aerospace nimrod aew.3, suffered considerable development difficulties culminated in aircraft being cancelled during 1986, off-the-shelf purchase of boeing sentry aew1. last shackletons retired in july 1991 , no. 8 squadron transferred raf waddington in lincolnshire, equip new aircraft.

panavia tornados landing @ raf lossiemouth

it had been planned buccaneer remain in service until end of 1990s, having been extensively modernised in process lasting 1989; end of cold war stimulated major changes in british defence policy, many aircraft being deemed surplus requirements. allow retirement of buccaneer, twenty-six panavia tornado gr1s modified gr1b standard allow use of bae sea eagle missile raf maritime strike operations. reduction of buccaneer fleet began on 1 october 1991 when no. 237 ocu disbanded, followed no. 12 squadron in september 1993. no. 27 squadron, @ raf marham, disbanded , re-formed @ lossiemouth no.12 squadron, operating tornado gr1b.

in 1992, no. 237 field squadron of territorial army formed responsibility airfield damage repair (adr). squadron became part of no. 76 engineer regiment (volunteers) of royal engineers, responsible adr in north of england , across scotland. tornado weapons conversion unit, renamed no. 15 (reserve) squadron, arrived raf honington in suffolk on 1 november 1993. last buccaneers withdrawn in april 1994 when no. 208 squadron disbanded. no. 617 squadron transferred lossiemouth raf marham in norfolk, tornado gr1bs. no. 48 squadron raf regiment , rapiers left lossiemouth raf honington on 1 july 1996.

no. 15 (reserve) squadron increased in size in 1999 after closure of tri-national tornado training establishment (ttte) @ raf cottesmore. squadron became raf tornado gr4 operational conversion unit, training pilots , weapon systems operators posting front-line tornado squadrons @ lossiemouth , raf marham. squadron accepted aircrew straight advanced flying training @ raf leeming , raf valley , provided refresher courses experienced aircrew returning tornado gr4, following other tours of duty. squadron trained aircrew officers foreign nations posted uk on 2 3 year exchange tours.

21st century (2000 – present)

a sepecat jaguar t4 of no. 16(r) squadron landing @ lossiemouth.

to concentrate jaguar fleet in 1 place, no. 16(r) squadron eleven aircraft , around 100 personnel departed lossiemouth raf coltishall in norfolk in july 2000, bringing end lossiemouth s 27-year association jaguar. after arrival of no. 14 squadron , tornado gr1s raf brüggen in germany during january 2001, lossiemouth became busiest fast-jet station in raf. in may 2001, no. 51 squadron raf regiment re-established, join no. 2622 rauxaf squadron, under new no. 5 force protection wing headquarters.

f-35 lightning ii , threat of closure

the ministry of defence announced in november 2005 lossiemouth main operating base raf s new f-35 lightning ii fleet, expected enter service in 2013. strategic defence , security review, announced new government in may 2010, cast doubt on whether f-35 based @ lossiemouth , raised fears in local community station close, tornado squadrons moving raf marham in norfolk, engineering work aircraft based. on 7 november 2010 7,000 people took part in march , rally in lossiemouth in support of retaining raf station, including scotland s first minister alex salmond , other politicians. moray being area in scotland dependent on military spending, feared closure of raf lossiemouth , confirmed closure of nearby raf kinloss, lead economic uncertainty , more unemployment. petition more 30,000 signatures delivered 10 downing street campaign members on 11 january 2011.

after public campaign retain airfield, ministry of defence announced on 18 july 2011 lossiemouth , marham remain open lossiemouth s tornados moving marham. raf leuchars in fife close , transfer british army, eurofighter typhoon fgr4s , responsibility quick reaction alert (interceptor) north (qra) moving lossiemouth. later announced ministry of defence in march 2013 f-35 lighting ii based @ marham rather lossiemouth.

potential use spaceport

virgin galactic, commercial spaceflight company, announced in july 2006 interested in using lossiemouth spaceport, start flights in 2010. moray msp angus robertson , mp richard lochhead, lent support proposals , held talks scottish , uk governments promote concept. after two-year review of potential of commercial spaceflight in uk, uk space agency announced in july 2014 lossiemouth among 8 shortlisted sites throughout uk might accommodate spaceport. in march 2015, uk government ruled out lossiemouth nearby raf kinloss candidates, due opposition ministry of defence, cited over-riding operational factors. decision criticised local politicians.

raf lossiemouth mountain rescue team

with closure of nearby raf kinloss , transfer of station british army in july 2012, raf kinloss mountain rescue team (mrt) became raf lossiemouth mrt. team continued operate purpose built base @ kinloss barracks on 2 years, until moved d flight no. 202 squadron hangar in february 2015.

from tornado typhoon

a typhoon fgr4 in 6 squadron markings taking off runway 23.

after strategic defence , security review, no. 14 squadron disbanded on 1 june 2011, reducing number of tornados based @ lossiemouth. in 2012, new combined mess facilities, accommodation junior ranks , senior non-commission officers (snco) completed, replacing separate buildings constructed in 1960s, demolished. new facility opened station commander group captain ian gale , lord lieutenant of moray, grenville johnston.

following announcement in 2011 lossiemouth remain open, £17 million spent in 2013 refurbishing airfield arrival of typhoon, further £70 million set aside later. quick reaction alert (qra) facilities built in northern hardened aircraft shelter (has) complex , alterations made hangars 1 , 3 , new ground-support , communication systems. in march 2014, 3 typhoons raf leuchars arrived @ lossiemouth take part in exercise moray venture, week-long operation test new facilities ahead of aircraft s arrival later year.

in preparation phased transfer of typhoons lossiemouth , reduction in size of raf s tornado fleet, no.12 squadron , no.617 squadron disbanded on 1 april 2014. fly-past 4 tornados part of ceremony mark occasion , attended prince andrew, duke of york cancelled due bad weather. disbandment of 2 squadrons left xv(r) squadron remaining tornado unit @ lossiemouth.

the no. 2 (ac) squadron building , flight-line.

the first typhoon unit, no. 6 squadron, transferred raf leuchars lossiemouth on 20 june 2014. 9 aircraft arrived in formation in shape of number 6. no. 1 squadron followed on 8 september 2014, when responsibility quick reaction alert (north) transferred raf leuchars lossiemouth.

the third typhoon squadron based @ lossiemouth, no. 2 (ac) squadron, arrived in january 2015. work commenced in october 2014 refurbish southern has complex, formerly occupied no.617 squadron ready no. 2 (ac) squadron. 9 aircraft shelters refurbished, hard-standing flight-line capable of accommodating 8 aircraft built, new flood-lighting installed , dining facilities improved £23 million. new headquarters building constructed on site of world war ii era k-type hangar (k20) demolished in 2010. building had space engineering , logistics facilities, survival equipment section, classrooms , office space. work completed ahead of schedule in january 2016 , allowed no. 2 (ac) squadron operate independently other squadrons @ lossiemouth.

tornado gr4 za602 f macroberts reply of 15(r) squadron taxiing @ lossiemouth.

in may 2015, construction began on new 250 m × 16 m (273 yd × 17 yd) section of taxiway provide improved access between qra facilities in northern has site , runway 23/05. new taxiway constructed 53 field squadron, part of 39 (air support) engineer regiment, royal engineers, based @ nearby kinloss barracks. project completed in september 2015 new section named taxiway q .

in preparation withdrawal of tornado gr4 raf service in 2019, no. 15 (reserve) squadron disbanded on 31 march 2017. aircraft , crews absorbed front-line squadrons @ raf marham refresher training on tornado carried out. mark occasion, on 17 march 2017, 5 tornados squadron carried out flypast of former raf base @ leuchars, weapons range @ raf tain , aberdeen international airport, before performing simulated airfield strike on raf lossiemouth on front-of-base personnel, families , friends. disbandment parade held on 31 march 2017, signifying end of twenty-four years of tornado operations @ lossiemouth. on 750 current , former squadron personnel attended ceremony sands of kuwait , tune written commemorate 1991 gulf war (the squadron s last battle honour), played on bagpipes , tornado fly-past took place.

the final infrastructure required support typhoons completed in june 2017, when rolls-royce opened service delivery centre on 29 june 2017. centre, otherwise known typhoon propulsion support facility, operated combination of civilian , raf personnel , provides engineering support typhoon eurojet ej200 engines. constructed balfour beatty , cost £4.5m.

end of search , rescue (sar) operations

two d flight 202 squadron sea kings outside hangar @ lossiemouth.

in 2006, government announced intentions privatise raf search , rescue force (the search , rescue (sar) helicopter service). ten-year contract worth £1.6 billon signed in march 2013 bristow helicopters run service 2015 new agustawestland aw189 , sikorsky s-92 helicopters. sar helicopter operations in north-east of scotland ceased @ lossiemouth , moved inverness airport, located 30 mi (48 km) west. d flight of no. 202 squadron disbanded on 1 april 2015 , sea king har3s stored @ raf valley, anglesey, bringing 43 years of search , rescue operations @ lossiemouth end. sea kings had been familiar sight in skies above scotland, having been involved in piper alpha disaster, lockerbie bombing , appearing in local , national media.

a farewell party held d flight personnel thank local community support, cancelled raf officials. there widespread criticism of decision raf considered event contravene campaigning rules uk general election, perceived being political.

morayvia, local charity bought former lossiemouth sea king xz592 ministry of defence in march 2015. aircraft on display part of morayvia s science , technology experience project @ kinloss. sea king joined hawker siddeley nimrod mr2 xv244 charity had purchased.