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 Show map of Moray RAF Dallachy Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	57.654°N 3.068°W / 57.654; -3.068
Type	Royal Air Force satellite station[1]
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Coastal Command * No. 18 Group RAF[1]
Site history
Built	1942 (1942)
In use	1943-1945 (1945)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation	76 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

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]

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

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.

References

Citations

1. Falconer 2012, p. 75.
2. "The Wartime Memories Project". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
3. "Dallachy". Control Towers. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
4. Jefford 2001, p. 61.
5. Jefford 2001, p. 89.
6. Jefford 2001, p. 93.
7. "Memories of RAF Dallachy". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
8. 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.

External links

• "A Short Profile of RAF Banff Strike Wing". Retrieved 17 April 2009.
• "RAF Dallachy Strike Wing Memorial". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 17 April 2009.