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RAF Annan

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAF Annan

| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg

| ensign_size = 90px

| partof =

| location = Annan, Dumfries and Galloway

| nearest_town =

| country = Scotland

| image = Hurricane Mk.X 55 OTU in flight c1941.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Hurricane Mk. X (AG162 "EH-W") of No. 55 OTU

| image2 =

| alt2 =

| caption2 =

| type = Royal Air Force station

| coordinates = {{coord|55|01|00|N|3|13|45|W|type:landmark_region:GB-DGY|display=inline}}

| pushpin_map = Scotland Dumfries and Galloway#UK

| pushpin_map_caption = RAF Annan in Dumfries and Galloway

| pushpin_label_position = right

| ownership = Air Ministry

| operator = Royal Air Force

| controlledby = RAF Fighter Command 1942-44
* No. 9 Group RAF
* No. 81 (OTU) Group RAF
RAF Maintenance Command 1944-

| site_other_label =

| site_other =

| site_area = {{convert|154.10|ha}}

| code = AG{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=36}}

| built = {{Start date|1941}}/42

| used = April 1942–{{End date|1945}}

| builder = John Laing & Son Ltd

| materials =

| height =

| length =

| fate = Closed, now Chapelcross nuclear power station

| condition =

| battles = European theatre of World War II

| events =

| past_commanders =

| occupants =

| website =

| footnotes =

| IATA =

| ICAO =

| FAA =

| TC =

| LID =

| GPS =

| WMO =

| elevation = {{Convert|9|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=36}}

| r1-number = 13/31

| r1-length = {{Convert|1450|m|0}}

| r1-surface = Concrete

| r2-number = 04/22

| r2-length = {{Convert|1400|m|0}}

| r2-surface = Concrete

| h1-number =

| h1-length =

| h1-surface =

| airfield_other_label =

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}}

Royal Air Force Annan, or more simply RAF Annan, is a former Royal Air Force station located about {{convert|2|mi|}} north-east of the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, which was operational during the Second World War.

Station history

Initially serving as a sub-site of No. 18 Maintenance Unit in 1940–1941, RAF Annan was opened as an air station in April 1942 as the base for No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF (OTU), to train fighter pilots.{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Annan |title=RAF Stations (A) |first=M. B. |last=Barrass |work=Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation |accessdate=14 May 2016}} As part of No. 81 Group 55 OTU pilots flew at low level over the Solway Firth training to fly "Rhubarb" missions, crossing the English Channel to attack targets of opportunity in France and the Low Countries. Initially they flew Hawker Hurricanes;{{cite web |url=http://www.aircrew-saltire.org/lib218.htm |title=Wartime Airfields in Dumfries and Galloway |first=Dennis |last=Sawden |work=Scottish Saltire Aircrew Association |year=2015 |accessdate=14 May 2016}} and later, Miles Master trainers and Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers. In June 1943 55 OTU was transferred to No. 9 Group; and on 26 January 1944 was redesignated No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit (TEU), then No. 3 TEU on 28 March 1944.{{cite web |url=http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/55otuF.html |title=No. 55 OTU RAF |first=Ross |last=McNeill |work=RAF Commands |date=May 1999 |accessdate=14 May 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/4teuF.html |title=No. 4 TEU RAF |first=Ross |last=McNeill |work=RAF Commands |date=May 1999 |accessdate=14 May 2016}} No. 3 TEU moved to RAF Aston Down in July 1944,{{cite web |url= http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/3teuF.html |title=No. 3 TEU RAF |first=Ross |last=McNeill |work=RAF Commands |accessdate=14 May 2016}} and Annan then served as a sub-site of No. 14 Maintenance Unit from August 1944 until August 1952.

Units

The following units were based at RAF Annan:

Station facilities

The air station had two concrete runways at right angles, running north-east/south-west ({{Convert|1476|m|abbr=on}}), and north-west/south-east ({{Convert|1454|m|abbr=on}}). The main technical area was in the north-eastern sector, and there were at least seven blister hangars around the perimeter.{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA|num=90517 |desc=Annan Airfield (Event ref: 845445) |year=2006 |access-date=18 June 2025}} There was a camp about {{convert|600|m}} north-east of the airfield near the village of Creca which contained various accommodation buildings, huts, and air raid shelters.{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/rcahms/280532/annan-airfield-creca-camp-domestic-site/rcahms?inline=true |title=Annan Airfield, Creca Camp |work=ScotlandsPlaces |year=2016 |accessdate=14 May 2016}} Another camp existed about {{convert|500|m}} south of the airfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/RAFAnnan |title=RAF Annan |work=Secret Scotland |year=2016 |accessdate=14 May 2016}}

Fate

On 1 July 1955 the site was taken over for the construction of the Chapelcross nuclear power station.{{cite web |url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/annan/#tab2 |title=Annan |work=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK |year=2016 |accessdate=14 May 2016}}

See also

References

=Citations=

{{reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=J|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R|last2=Hamlin|first2=J|last3=Halley|first3=J|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}

External links

  • [https://www.solwaymilitarytrail.co.uk/trail-attractions/raf-annan/ RAF Annan at solwaymilitarytrail.co.uk] Retrieved 9 May 2022

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Annan}}

A

Category:1942 establishments in Scotland

Category:1944 disestablishments in Scotland

RAF