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RAF Dallachy

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

RAF Dallachy
Elgin, Moray in Scotland
Dallachy Airfield in 1987
RAF Dallachy is located in Moray
RAF Dallachy
RAF Dallachy
RAF Dallachy is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Dallachy
RAF Dallachy
Coordinates57°39′14″N 3°04′05″W / 57.654°N 3.068°W / 57.654; -3.068
TypeRoyal Air Force satellite station[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Coastal Command
* No. 18 Group RAF[1]
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

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

History

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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

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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]

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.

Current use

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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, an radio control model flying club, use a section.

References

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Citations

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  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

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  • 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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