RAF Dallachy

RAF Dallachy
Elgin, Moray, Scotland
RAF Dallachy
Coordinates 57°39′14″N 3°04′05″W / 57.654°N 3.068°W / 57.654; -3.068
Type Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner Air Ministry
Controlled by  Royal Air Force
Site history
Built 1942 (1942)
In use 1943-1945 (1945)
Battles/wars Second World War
Garrison information
Garrison RAF Coastal Command

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

During the Second World War it was a fighter station, used by 18 Group RAF Coastal Command.[1]

History

Opened in March 1943, it was originally used as a training station by No. 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit, using Airspeed Oxfords.[2] In September 1943, it was reorganised for operational use by several squadrons, including No. 144 Squadron RAF,[3] No. 404 Squadron RCAF[4] and No. 455 Squadron RAAF.[5][2][6] Towards the end of 1944, it was reorganised again with No. 489 Squadron RNZAF, flying Bristol Beaufighters[7] 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.[2]

Units

Unit Aircraft Variant From To To Notes
No. 144 Squadron RAF Bristol Beaufighter X 23 October 1944 25 May 1945 Disbanded [3]
No. 281 Squadron RAF Vickers Warwick I 27 February 1944 7 February 1945 RAF Mullaghmore As a detachment.[8]
No. 404 Squadron RCAF Bristol Beaufighter
de Havilland Mosquito 		X
VI 		22 October 1944 3 April 1945 RAF Banff [4]
No. 455 Squadron RAAF Bristol Beaufighter X 20 October 1944 25 May 1945 Disbanded [5]
No. 489 Squadron RNZAF Bristol Beaufighter X 24 October 1944 16 June 1945 RAF Banff [7]
No. 618 Squadron RAF de Havilland Mosquito IV September 1944 September 1944 Australia [9]
No. 14 (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit Airspeed Oxford [10]
No. 21 Air Crew Holding Unit [10]
No. 1542 BAT Flight [10]

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

Current use

The site is largely intact. However, the land is now farmland and there are some small businesses using the old revetments, The control tower is in a ruinous state and no other buildings exist.

References

  1. ↑ "The Wartime Memories Project". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dallachy". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 61.
  4. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 89.
  5. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 93.
  6. ↑ "Memories of RAF Dallachy". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  7. 1 2 Jefford 2001, p. 94.
  8. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 83.
  9. ↑ Jefford 2001, p. 101.
  10. 1 2 3 "Dallachy". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
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