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This Memorial commemorates Aircrew of many Nationalities who were Lost in Action or on Active Service during the Second World War whilst operating or training from the 29 airfields and 3 anchorage's in the North of Scotland named on the handrails.
During WWII Northern Scotland was of major strategic importance in the defence and surveillance of the North Atlantic and the convoys crossing it, the support of supply convoys to Russia, mine laying and bombing missions against German occupied ports around the Baltic, bombing and special missions against German ships and submarines. In the area north of Aberdeen in the East and Oban in the West, there were twenty nine airfields and three harbours which were occupied at various times by operational squadrons of the RAF, RCAF, RN Fleet Air Arm and air forces of the United States of America, Norway, Czechoslovakia and an Army Glider Unit, all of whose efforts were crucial to the successful outcome of the Conflict. They were supported by 32 training and other specialist units. This immense effort resulted in the loss of many aircrew. Some of these bases still provide Operational and Training services for the defence of our heritage as they have done sine 1945.
The Aircrew Memorial Bandstand honours the sacrifice, bravery and fortitude of the Aircrew Members who flew from these bases. The memorial was inaugurated on 3rd July 2000 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and dedicated on 16th November 2000 by the Chaplain of the Royal Air Force Station Kinloss and Lossiemouth. It was built at the instigation of the Highland Branch of the Air Crew Association following fund-raising by ACA Branches, Squadron and Unit Associations, Private and Public subscription and with support from Inverness Project, the Landfill Tax Credit and the Inverness Common Good Fund. The Architect was ex RAF Navigator, Mr John Loud. FRIAS, ARIBA of Elgin.
WWII Airfields, Aircraft Carrier Harbours, Flying Boat Bases in the North of Scotland used by the RAF and Allied Forces, Royal Navy and Army.
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Airfield/Mooring/Anchorage
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Squadrons
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| Alness/Invergrdon |
4 (C) OTU, 201, 209, 210, 228, 240 (RN FAA Squadrons listed at air bases in the area.) |
| Banff |
3 OTU, 14, 14 PAFU, 143, 144, 235, 248, 279, 333 N, 404, 489, 1512 BAT. |
| Benbecula |
7 OTU, 36, 179, 206, 220, 304, 838, 842. |
| Castletown |
1, 3, 17, 54, 124, 131, 167, 213, 232, 310, 404, 504, 607, 610, 260, 278, 282, 331, 719, 771, 808, 825. |
| Dalcross |
2 AG, 2 FIS, 8 AFTS, 11 SFTS, 19 (P) AFU, 19 OTU, 41, 63, 88, 102, 122, 424, 652. |
| Dallachy |
14 (P) AFU, 144, 404, 405, 489, 524, 838, 1542 BAT. |
| Dyce |
1 CPF, 8 OTU, 71 SW, 111, 122, 129, 130, 141, 143, 165, 234, 235, 248, 254, 310, 331, 332, 404, 410, 416, 540, 602, 603, 612, 887, 1509 BAT. |
| Elgin |
19 (P) AFU, 17, 20 OTU, 57, 105 SSS, 232. |
| Evanton |
1 AOS, 6 FTS, 7, 8 FTS, 64, 99, 614, 774, 801, 816, 820, 821, 823, 825. |
| Fearn (HMS Owl) |
714, 717, 736 B, 747, 812, 814, 816, 817, 818, 819, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 828, 837, 841, 847. |
| Forres |
19 OTU (D), 19 (P) AFU. |
| Fraserburgh |
8 OTU, 14 (P) AFU, 279, 823, 838, 883. |
| Hatston (HMS Hawk) (USS Wasp) |
254, 700, 701, 712, 746, 771, 800, 801, 803, 804, 806, 807, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 835, 836M, 837, 840, 841, 842, 845, 846, 848, 852, 853, 856, 860, 878, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 887, 888, 890, 891, 893, 894, 896, 898, 899, 1770, 1771, 1820, 1840, 1841, 1842. |
| Kinloss |
8, 9, 10, 14 SFTS, 19 OTU, 49, 50, 51, 77, 90, 102, 120, 201, 206, 217, 236 OCU, 609. |
| Kirkwall (Grimsetter) (HMS Robin) |
132, 234, 800, 801, 807, 824, 825, 826, 841, 842, 846, 848, 849, 880, 881, 882, 884, 887, 894, 899, 1770, 1834, 1840. |
| Longman (Inverness) |
241, 289, 309, 526, 527, 598, 614, 728. |
| Lossiemouth |
4 FPP, 6, 8, 9, 10 FPP, 15 SFTS, 20 OTU, 21 54, 57, 110, 111 OTU, 226 OCU, 617. |
| Milltown |
9, 20 OTU, 111 OTU, 224, 617, 1674 HCU. |
| Oban |
10, 95, 209, 210, 228, 302 FTU, 308 FTU, 330, 422, 423, 524. |
| Peterhead |
2 FIS, 19, 65, 118, 122, 125, 129, 143, 164, 165, 234, 245, 278 ASR, 282, 308 FTU, 309, 313, 315, 350, 416, 504, 524, 598, 602, 802, 808, 883, 884, 886, 899. |
| Rattray (Crimond) (HMS Merganser) |
714, 717, 769, 774, 817, 818, 825. |
| Scapa Flow |
(RN FAA Squadrons listed at air bases in the area) |
| Scatsta |
59, 172, 271, 282, 612, 617. |
| Skeabrae |
3, 65, 66, 118, 132, 164, 234, 253, 289, 312, 329, 441, 451, 453, 598, 602, 603, 611, 801, 804, 1476 ASRF. |
| Skitten |
38, 48, 172, 179, 217, 223, 260, 404, 489, 519, 607, 618, 804, and Glider Pilot Regiment Squadron on special mission detachment. |
| Stornoway |
48, 58, 303 FTU, 500, 518, (HMS Mentor) 700, 701, 825, 827, 842, 1840. |
| Sullom Voe |
190, 201, 202, 204, 210, 240, 330, 413, 700, 701. |
| Sumburgh |
3, 17, 42, 118, 125, 143, 144, 162, 234, 247, 248, 254, 307, 310, 313, 333, 404, 453, 455, 540, 598, 602, 608, 611, 821, 828, 880. |
| Tain |
17, 76, 86, 123, 144, 186, 254, 271, 280, 311, 404, 415, 519, 547, 801, 815, 817, 822, 829. |
| Tiree |
120, 224, 281, 304, 516, 517, 518, 1840. |
| Twatt |
71, 802, 804, 809, 812, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 832, 846, 880, 884. |
| Wick |
3, 41, 42 PRU, 43, 50, 61, 86, 91, 144, 162, 164, 172, 179, 220, 224, 269, 303, 316, 404, 407, 489, 504, 519, 605, 608, 612, 803, 807, 1406 MET. |
Many of the bases also had Squadrons from other areas of the UK using them as advanced bases for operations from time to time.
My thanks to the Air Crew Association (Highland Branch) for their assistance with the information for this page and in particular to Mr Don Owens, Secretary of the Association.
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