RAF Inverness

Royal Air Force Inverness or RAF Inverness is a former Royal Air Force station located by the Moray Firth in Highland, Scotland. It was also known as RAF Longman.

RAF Longman
RAF Inverness
Inverness, Highland in Scotland
RAF Longman
Shown within Scotland Highlands
Coordinates57°29′20″N 4°13′07″W
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940-1945 (1945)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Garrison information
GarrisonNo. 13 (Fighter) Group

History

The airfield was built in 1933 as a civilian airport for Highland Airways to link Orkney and Wick to Inverness and the major rail links, the base was converted to an Royal Air Force base at the Outbreak of World War II, but didn't officially become an RAF base until 1941. The base itself was spotted and recognised the base by German Reconnosance Units, however, incorrectly noted it down as a seaplane base, which likely, saved Inverness from any major bombing by the Luftwaffe.[1]

Under the command of No. 13 (Fighter) Group, it hosted No. 70 (Signals) Wing Calibration Flight between 17 February 1941 and 25 August 1945.[2]

Operational Squadrons & Aircraft
UnitFromToAircraftVersionNotes
No. 241 Squadron RAFSep 1940Apr 1942Westland LysanderMK. IIFormed from 'A' Flight of 614 Squadron.
No. 289 Squadron RAF1 May 1939Sep 1939Avro Anson?
No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance SquadronSupermarine SpitfireMk. I
No. 526 Squadron RAFJune 19431 May 1945Airspeed OxfordMK. IAbsorbed into 527 Squadron
No. 527 Squadron RAF1 May 19458 Nov 1945de Havilland Dominie
No. 598 Squadron RAF1 Dec 194312 Mar 1945Airspeed OxfordMk. II
No. 614 Squadron RAF 'A' flight8 Jun 19405 Mar 1941Westland LysanderMk. IIBecame 241 Squadron
782 Naval Air Squadron[3]

Other units
  • No. 14 Group Target Towing Flight RAF[3] became No. 1491 (Target Towing) Flight RAF[4]
  • No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF[5] (19 Oct - 17 Nov 1943)
  • No. 1 Radio Servicing Section Calibration Flight RAF[6] became No. 70 Wing Calibration Flight RAF[7]
  • No. 13 Group Communication Flight RAF[3]
  • No. 14 Group Communication Flight RAF[3]
  • No. 56 Maintenance Unit RAF[3]
  • No. 70 (Signals) Wing RAF[3]
Longman Aerodrome c.1947, Junkers Ju 52 in mid right

Following the war, it was converted to general use under the title Longman Airfield until Inverness Airport became the primary hub in 1947, due to the airfield being regarded as too small for safe operations. Prior to its closure, it was served by the British European Airways, and its fleet of captured Ex-Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52. It is also believed that for some time, Hitler's personal Ju 52 (registration D-2600), was stored at the Longman after the war.

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References
  1. "Forgotten airfields". forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  2. RAFWeb.org (Retrieved 30 September 2009)
  3. "Longman (Inverness)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. Lake 1999, p. 91.
  5. Lake 1999, p. 50.
  6. Lake 1999, p. 159.
  7. Lake 1999, p. 290.
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