RAF Dallachy

RAF Dallachy
Elgin, Moray in Scotland
Dallachy Airfield in 1987
Site information
TypeRoyal Air Force satellite station[1]
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Coastal Command
* No. 18 Group RAF[1]
Location
RAF Dallachy
Location in Moray
RAF Dallachy
RAF Dallachy (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates57°39′14″N 3°04′05″W / 57.654°N 3.068°W / 57.654; -3.068
Site history
Built1942 (1942)
In use1943-1945 (1945)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation76 metres (249 ft)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Concrete
00/00  Concrete

Royal Air Force Dallachy or more simply RAF Dallachy, is a former Royal Air Force satellite station situated east of Elgin, Moray, Scotland.

During the Second World War it was a fighter station, used by 18 Group RAF Coastal Command.[2]

History

Opened in March 1943, it was originally used as a training station by No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF, using Airspeed Oxfords.[3] In September 1943, it was reorganised for operational use by several squadrons, including No. 144 Squadron RAF,[4] No. 404 Squadron RCAF[5] and No. 455 Squadron RAAF.[6][3][7] Towards the end of 1944, it was reorganised again with No. 489 Squadron RNZAF, flying Bristol Beaufighters[8] on shipping strikes, and No. 524 Squadron RAF with radar-equipped Vickers Wellingtons.

The airfield was closed in June 1945, becoming a Territorial Army training centre until 1958.[3]

Units

Unit Aircraft Variant From To To Notes
No. 144 Squadron RAF Bristol Beaufighter X 23 October 1944 25 May 1945 Disbanded [4]
No. 281 Squadron RAF Vickers Warwick I 27 February 1944 7 February 1945 RAF Mullaghmore As a detachment[9]
No. 404 Squadron RCAF Bristol Beaufighter
de Havilland Mosquito		 X
VI		 22 October 1944 3 April 1945 RAF Banff [5]
No. 455 Squadron RAAF Bristol Beaufighter X 20 October 1944 25 May 1945 Disbanded [6]
No. 489 Squadron RNZAF Bristol Beaufighter X 24 October 1944 16 June 1945 RAF Banff [8]
No. 618 Squadron RAF de Havilland Mosquito IV September 1944 September 1944 Australia [10]
No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit Airspeed Oxford May 1943 September 1944 n/a As Relief Landing Ground[11]
No. 21 Air Crew Holding Unit N/A [12]
No. 1542 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF Airspeed Oxford July 1943 August 1944 Disbanded [13]

Current use

The site is largely intact. However, most of the former airfield is now used by a waste recycling company. The control tower is in a ruinous state and no other buildings exist. Dallachy Aeromodellers, a radio control model flying club, use a section.

A memorial now stands in the nearby village of Bogmoor to remember the air crews and soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Falconer 2012, p. 75.
  2. ^ "The Wartime Memories Project". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Dallachy". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  4. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 61.
  5. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 89.
  6. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 93.
  7. ^ "Memories of RAF Dallachy". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  8. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  9. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 83.
  10. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 101.
  11. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 43.
  12. ^ "Dallachy". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  13. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 139.

Bibliography

  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001) [1988]. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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