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.

History

Opened in March 1943, it was originally used as a training station by No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF, using Airspeed Oxfords. In September 1943, it was reorganised for operational use by several squadrons, including No. 144 Squadron RAF, No. 404 Squadron RCAF,No. 455 Squadron RAAF, and No. 489 Squadron RNZAF as part of the Anzac Strike Wing. Towards the end of 1944, it was reorganised again to include 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

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 No. 404 Squadron RCAF Bristol Beaufighterde Havilland Mosquito XVI 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 No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit Airspeed Oxford May 1943 September 1944 n/a As Relief Landing Ground No. 21 Air Crew Holding Unit N/A No. 1542 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF Airspeed Oxford July 1943 August 1944 Disbanded

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.

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.

References Citations

Bibliography

External links