RAF Skitten

RAF Skitten is a former Royal Air Force station directly east of the village of Killimster, located 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north east of Watten, Caithness, Scotland and 4.7 miles (7.6 km) northwest of Wick, Caithness, Scotland. On 19 November 1942, Operation Freshman departed from RAF Skitten.[1]

RAF Skitten
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Location	Killimster, Caithness
Built	1940 (1940)
In use	1940-1945 (1945)
Elevation AMSL	85 ft / 26 m
Coordinates	58°29′45″N 003°09′50″W
Map
RAF Skitten Location in Caithness
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 00/00 0 0 Asphalt 00/00 0 0 Asphalt 00/00 0 0 Asphalt

History

• No. 48 Squadron RAF.[2]
• No. 86 Squadron RAF.[3]
• No. 144 Squadron RAF.[4]
• No. 172 Squadron RAF.[5]
• No. 179 Squadron RAF.[5]
• No. 217 Squadron RAF.[6]
• No. 232 Squadron RAF.[7]
• No. 260 Squadron RAF.[8]
• No. 404 Squadron RAF.[9]
• No. 407 Squadron RAF.[9]
• No. 489 Squadron RAF.[10]
• No. 519 Squadron RAF.[11]
• No. 607 Squadron RAF.[12]
• No. 608 Squadron RAF.[12]
• No. 612 Squadron RAF.[13]
• No. 618 Squadron RAF.[14]
• 804 Naval Air Squadron.[15]
• No. 1693 (General Reconnaissance) Flight.[15]

Current use

The site is now used for quarrying and as farmland.[15]

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

1. Otway, p.72
2. Jefford 1988, p. 41.
3. Jefford 1988, p. 51.
4. Jefford 1988, p. 61.
5. Jefford 1988, p. 65.
6. Jefford 1988, p. 71.
7. Jefford 1988, p. 74.
8. Jefford 1988, p. 80.
9. Jefford 1988, p. 89.
10. Jefford 1988, p. 94.
11. Jefford 1988, p. 95.
12. Jefford 1988, p. 99.
13. Jefford 1988, p. 100.
14. Jefford 1988, p. 101.
15. "Skitten". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 18 October 2013.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Otway, Lieutenant-Colonel T.B.H (1990). The Second World War 1939–1945 Army - Airborne Forces. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 0-901627-57-7.