Summary
Royal Air Force Annan, or more simply RAF Annan, is a former Royal Air Force station located about 2 miles (3.2 km) north-east of the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, which was operational during the Second World War.
RAF Annan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annan, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland | |||||||||
 Hurricane Mk. X (AG162 "EH-W") of No. 55 OTU | |||||||||
  RAF Annan RAF Annan in Dumfries and Galloway  RAF Annan RAF Annan (the United Kingdom) | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 55°01′00″N 3°13′45″W / 55.01667°N 3.22917°W | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||
| Code | AG[1] | ||||||||
| Area | 154.10 hectares (380.8 acres) | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Fighter Command 1942-44 * No. 9 Group RAF * No. 81 (OTU) Group RAF RAF Maintenance Command 1944- | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1941/42 | ||||||||
| Built by | John Laing & Son Ltd | ||||||||
| In use | April 1942–1945 | ||||||||
| Fate | Closed, now Chapelcross nuclear power station | ||||||||
| Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 9 metres (30 ft)[1] AMSL | ||||||||
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Station history edit
Initially serving as a sub-site of No. 18 Maintenance Unit in 1940–1941, RAF Annan was opened as an air station in April 1942 as the base for No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF (OTU), to train fighter pilots.[2] As part of No. 81 Group 55 OTU pilots flew at low level over the Solway Firth training to fly "Rhubarb" missions, crossing the English Channel to attack targets of opportunity in France and the Low Countries. Initially they flew Hawker Hurricanes;[3] and later, Miles Master trainers and Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers. In June 1943 55 OTU was transferred to No. 9 Group; and on 26 January 1944 was redesignated No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit (TEU), then No. 3 TEU on 28 March 1944.[4][5] No. 3 TEU moved to RAF Aston Down in July 1944,[6] and Annan then served as a sub-site of No. 14 Maintenance Unit from August 1944 until August 1952.[2]
Units edit
The following units were based at RAF Annan:[2]
- Sub-site, No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF (1940 – 1941)[7]
- No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF (April 1942 – January 1944)[8]
- Detachment, No. 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF (April 1942)[11]
- No. 107 Squadron RAF (August 1942)
- Sub-site, No. 14 Maintenance Unit RAF (August 1944 – August 1952)[7]
- No. 56 (Maintenance) Wing RAF (July 1944 - May 1946)[12]
Station facilities edit
The air station had two concrete runways at right angles, running north-east/south-west (1,476 m (4,843 ft)), and north-west/south-east (1,454 m (4,770 ft)). The main technical area was in the north-eastern sector, and there were at least seven blister hangars around the perimeter.[13] There was a camp about 600 metres (2,000 ft) north-east of the airfield near the village of Creca which contained various accommodation buildings, huts, and air raid shelters.[14] Another camp existed about 500 metres (1,600 ft) south of the airfield.[15]
Fate edit
On 1 July 1955 the site was taken over for the construction of the Chapelcross nuclear power station.[16]
See also edit
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 36.
- ^ a b c Barrass, M. B. "RAF Stations (A)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ Sawden, Dennis (2015). "Wartime Airfields in Dumfries and Galloway". Scottish Saltire Aircrew Association. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ McNeill, Ross (May 1999). "No. 55 OTU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ McNeill, Ross (May 1999). "No. 4 TEU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ McNeill, Ross. "No. 3 TEU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 205.
- ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 241.
- ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 227.
- ^ a b Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 288.
- ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 42.
- ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 317.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland (2006). "Annan Airfield: Archaeology Notes (845445)". Canmore. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Annan Airfield, Creca Camp". ScotlandsPlaces. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "RAF Annan". Secret Scotland. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Annan". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
Bibliography edit
External links edit
- RAF Annan at solwaymilitarytrail.co.uk Retrieved 9 May 2022