RAF Skeabrae
{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF SkeabraeRNAS Skeabrae (HMS Tern II)
| ensign_size =
| native_name =
| partof =
| location = Dounby, Mainland, Orkney
| nearest_town =
| country = Scotland
| image = Target Dossier for Skeabrae, Orkney, Scotland - DPLA - db8db99e7978cc2617ecf091dbb1025d (page 1).jpg
| alt =
| caption = RAF Skeabrae on a target dossier of the German Luftwaffe, 1941
| image2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type = Royal Air Force station
| coordinates = {{Coord|59|03|52|N|003|16|09|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Scotland Orkney#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Orkney
| pushpin_label = RAF Skeabrae
| pushpin_label_position =
| ownership = Air Ministry
| operator = Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
| controlledby = RAF Fighter Command
Fleet Air Arm
| open_to_public =
| site_other_label =
| site_other =
| site_area =
| code = KJ{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=177}}
| built = {{Start date|1940}}
| used = August {{Start date|1940}} - {{End date|1957}}
| builder =
| materials =
| height =
| length =
| fate =
| condition =
| battles = European theatre of World War II
| events =
| past_commanders =
| garrison =
| occupants =
| designations =
| website =
| footnotes =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| FAA =
| TC =
| LID =
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| elevation = {{Convert|18|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=177}}
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length = {{Convert|976|yd|m|abbr=on|0}}
| r1-surface = Concrete
| r2-number = 05/23
| r2-length = {{Convert|976|yd|m|abbr=on|0}}
| r2-surface = Concrete
| r3-number = 14/32
| r3-length = {{Convert|992|yd|m|abbr=on|0}}
| r3-surface = Concrete
| r4-number = 01/19
| r4-length = {{Convert|970|yd|m|abbr=on|0}}
| r4-surface = Concrete
| airfield_other_label =
| airfield_other =
}}
Royal Air Force Skeabrae, or more simply RAF Skeabrae, is a former Royal Air Force station located in Orkney, Mainland, United Kingdom.
History
The following units were here at some point:
;Squadrons
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
- No. 3 Squadron RAF (1941){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=24}}
- No. 66 Squadron RAF (1943){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}}
- No. 118 Squadron RAF (1944){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=57}}
- No. 129 Squadron RAF (1943){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=59}}
- No. 132 Squadron RAF (1942){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=59}}
- No. 164 Squadron RAF (1942){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=64}}
- No. 234 Squadron RAF (1943){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=75}}
- No. 253 Squadron RAF (1941){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=78}}
- No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF (1943){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=86}}
- No. 313 Squadron RAF (1944){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=86}}
- No. 329 Squadron RAF (1945){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=87}}
- No. 331 Squadron RAF (1941-42){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=87}}
- No. 441 Squadron RCAF (1944-45){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=92}}
- No. 451 Squadron RAAF{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=92}}
- No. 453 Squadron RAAF (1943-44){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=93}}
- No. 598 Squadron RAF{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}}
- No. 602 Squadron RAF (1942-43 & 1944){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}}
- No. 603 Squadron RAF{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}}
- No. 611 Squadron RAF (1944){{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=100}}
}}
;Units
- Advanced Ship Recognition Flight RAF (January - February 1943) became No. 1476 (Advanced Ship Recognition) Flight RAF (February - June 1943 & June - January 1944){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=134}}
- No. 1491 (Fighter Gunnery) Flight RAF (November 1942 - August 1943){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=136}}
- 1841 Naval Air Squadron
- No. 2714 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2745 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2766 Squadron RAF Regiment
- No. 2824 Squadron RAF Regiment
;Royal Navy
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
- 801 Naval Air Squadron{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/skeabrae/ |title=Skeabrae |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|accessdate=26 April 2020}}
- 804 Naval Air Squadron
- 841 Naval Air Squadron
- 880 Naval Air Squadron
- 881 Naval Air Squadron
- 882 Naval Air Squadron
- 884 Naval Air Squadron
- 887 Naval Air Squadron
- 894 Naval Air Squadron
}}
Current use
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=Jefford |first1= C G |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |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}}
{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Naval Air Stations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skeabrae, RAF}}
Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland
Category:Buildings and structures in Orkney
Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom