RAF Annan

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, Dumfriesshire in Scotland
Hurricane Mk. X (AG162 "EH-W") of No. 55 OTU
RAF Annan
RAF Annan in Dumfries and Galloway
Coordinates55°01′00″N 3°13′45″W
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Area154.10 hectares (380.8 acres)
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1942 (1942)
In use1942–1944 (1944)
FateClosed, now Chapelcross nuclear power station
Battles/warsWorld War II

Station history

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.[1] 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;[2] 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.[3][4] No. 3 TEU moved to RAF Aston Down in July 1944,[5] and Annan then served as a sub-site of No. 14 Maintenance Unit from August 1944 until August 1952.[1]

Units

The following units were based at RAF Annan.[1]

  • Sub-site, No 18 Maintenance Unit (1940–1941)
  • No. 55 Operational Training Unit (April 1942–January 1944)
    • No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit (January–March 1944)
    • No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit (March–May 1944)
  • Detachment, No. 10 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit RAF
  • No. 107 Squadron RAF (August 1942)
  • Night Conversion Unit (March–April 1944)
  • Sub-site, No 14 Maintenance Unit (August 1944–August 1952)
  • No. 56 (Maintenance) Wing RAF[6]

Station facilities

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.[7] 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.[8] Another camp existed about 500 metres (1,600 ft) south of the airfield.[9]

Fate

On 1 July 1955 the site was taken over for the construction of the Chapelcross nuclear power station.[6]

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See also

References
  1. Barrass, M. B. "RAF Stations (A)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. Sawden, Dennis (2015). "Wartime Airfields in Dumfries and Galloway". Scottish Saltire Aircrew Association. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  3. McNeill, Ross (May 1999). "No. 55 OTU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  4. McNeill, Ross (May 1999). "No. 4 TEU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  5. McNeill, Ross. "No. 3 TEU RAF". RAF Commands. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  6. "Annan". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust UK. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. "Annan Airfield: Archaeology Notes". Canmore. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. "Annan Airfield, Creca Camp". ScotlandsPlaces. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. "RAF Annan". Secret Scotland. 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
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