RAF Dallachy
{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Moray, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name = RAF Dallachy
90px
|native_name =
|partof =
|country = Scotland
|image = 250px
|caption = Dallachy Airfield in 1987
|map_type = Scotland Moray#UK
|map_caption =Location in Moray
|type = Royal Air Force satellite station{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=75}}
|coordinates = {{coord|57.654|-3.068|type:landmark_region:GB-MRY|display=inline}}
|code =
|pushpin_label = RAF Dallachy
|built = {{Start date|1942}}
|builder =
|materials =
|height =
|used = 1943-{{End date|1945}}
|demolished =
|condition =
|ownership = Air Ministry
|operator = Royal Air Force
|controlledby = RAF Coastal Command
* No. 18 Group RAF{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=75}}
|past_commanders =
|occupants =
|battles = European theatre of World War II
|events =
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| ICAO =
| FAA =
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| elevation = {{Convert|76|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=75}}
| r1-number = 00/00
| r1-length =
| r1-surface = Concrete
| r2-number = 00/00
| r2-length =
| r2-surface = Concrete
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}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/airfields/index.php|title=The Wartime Memories Project|access-date=17 April 2009}}
History
Opened in March 1943, it was originally used as a training station by No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF, using Airspeed Oxfords.{{cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/D/Dallachy.htm|title=Dallachy|publisher=Control Towers|access-date=17 April 2009}} In September 1943, it was reorganised for operational use by several squadrons, including No. 144 Squadron RAF,{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=61.}} No. 404 Squadron RCAF{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=89.}} and No. 455 Squadron RAAF.{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=93.}}{{cite web|url=http://williammullen.blogspot.com/|title=Memories of RAF Dallachy|access-date=17 April 2009}} Towards the end of 1944, it was reorganised again with No. 489 Squadron RNZAF, flying Bristol Beaufighters{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=94.}} 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.
=Units=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| Unit | Aircraft | Variant | From | To | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 144 Squadron RAF | Bristol Beaufighter | X | 23 October 1944 | 25 May 1945 | Disbanded | |
| No. 281 Squadron RAF | Vickers Warwick | I | 27 February 1944 | 7 February 1945 | RAF Mullaghmore | As a detachment.{{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=83.}} |
| No. 404 Squadron RCAF | Bristol Beaufighter de Havilland Mosquito | X VI | 22 October 1944 | 3 April 1945 | RAF Banff | |
| No. 455 Squadron RAAF | Bristol Beaufighter | X | 20 October 1944 | 25 May 1945 | Disbanded | |
| No. 489 Squadron RNZAF | Bristol Beaufighter | X | 24 October 1944 | 16 June 1945 | RAF Banff | |
| No. 618 Squadron RAF | de Havilland Mosquito | IV | September 1944 | September 1944 | Australia | {{Harvnb|Jefford|2001|p=101.}} |
| No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit | Airspeed Oxford | May 1943 | September 1944 | n/a | As Relief Landing Ground{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=43}} | |
| No. 21 Air Crew Holding Unit | N/A | {{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/dallachy |title=Dallachy |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=13 June 2013}} | ||||
| No. 1542 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF | Airspeed Oxford | July 1943 | August 1944 | Disbanded | {{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=139}} |
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=
{{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 |last=Jefford |first=C.G. |title=RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912 |location= Shrewsbury, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing |orig-year=1988 |year=2001 |edition=2nd |isbn=1-85310-053-6}}
- {{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
{{Commons category|RAF Dallachy}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/banfprof.html|title=A Short Profile of RAF Banff Strike Wing|access-date=17 April 2009}}
- {{cite web|url=http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/P02095.001|title=RAF Dallachy Strike Wing Memorial|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=17 April 2009}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dallachy}}
Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
Category:Defunct airports in Scotland