RAF Milltown
| RAF Milltown HMS Fulmar II   | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: none | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator |
Royal Air Force Royal Navy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Elgin, Moray | ||||||||||||||||||
| Built | 1941 | ||||||||||||||||||
| In use |
1941-1946 Royal Air Force use 1946-1977 Royal Navy use 1977 – present Ministry of Defence use | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 16 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 57°40′12″N 003°14′04″W / 57.67000°N 3.23444°WCoordinates: 57°40′12″N 003°14′04″W / 57.67000°N 3.23444°W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||
  RAF Milltown Location in Moray | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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Royal Air Force Station Milltown or RAF Milltown is a former Royal Air Force station located south of the Moray Firth and 3.6 miles (5.8 km) north east of Elgin, Scotland.
Flying stopped in 1977 but the site is still used by the Ministry of Defence.
History
RAF Milltown, lying to the southeast of Lossiemouth on the Moray Firth, began life as a bombing decoy for nearby RAF Lossiemouth.[1] Between 1941 and 1943, three runways and two hangars were constructed and the airfield became a satellite of RAF Lossiemouth.[1]
In July 1946, along with RAF Lossiemouth, Milltown was officially handed over to the Royal Navy as HMS Fulmar II, a Deck Landing Training School.[2]
Closed for flying in 1977, the site was developed as a communications station, and has some 50 masts visible. It has been an RAF signals transmitter station transmitting RAF VOLMET (using a 600W transmitter) and RAF STCICS. Since the award of the MOD HF signals contract to VT Communications the site is surplus but will be retained by the MOD for services use.
Squadrons and aircraft
| Unit | Dates | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 224 Squadron RAF | September 1944-July 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | V, VI and VIII | Coastal Command.[3] |
| No. 1674 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF | 1945 | Consolidated Liberator | Coastal Command | |
| No. 20 Operational Training Unit RAF | 1943-1945 | Vickers Wellington | Satellite with main base at RAF Lossiemouth | |
| No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF | 1945-1946 | Consolidated Liberator | During the late 40s-early 50s Mosquito bombers also operated from Milltown. | Satellite with main base at RAF Lossiemouth |
| No. 663 (Volunteer) Gliding Squadron RAF | 1974-1977 | Air Training Corps glider training |
RNAS HMS FULMAR gliding club and Highland Gliding Club.
Current use
The majority of the runways and taxiways are intact but a number of the aircraft stands have been removed.
See also
References
Citations
- 1 2 "RAF Milltown" (wiki). Secret Scotland. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ "RN Air Station Milltown". Military Genealogy. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 73.
Bibliography
- Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.