Fraserburgh
Originally built as a satellite airfield, The site at Inverallochy/cairnbulg was officially opened on 6th December 1941. The first aircraft to arrive were Swordfish Biplanes of 823 Squadron. In May 1942 Oxford training Aircraft were brought in for Training until the end of 1944 when Coastal Command took the site over. Coastal Command brought in Warwick's for Air sea rescue duty, which was used to drop lifeboats by parachute to downed aircrews.
In June 1943, a B-17 from the 100th BG made a crash landing, the bomber had taken part in the 8th Airforce's first attack on targets in Norway.
Fraserburgh saw many emergencies with shot up Mosquitoes and Beaufighters returning from combat. In December 1944 the base was used to re fit Mosquitoes for R/P's etc., for two squadrons (235 & 248) these being brought in by the Women and Men of the ATA mostly from Staffordshire airfields. In early 1945 the base saw the arrival of Nos. 279 and 281 ASR Squadrons. A maintenance team from Banff was based at the airfield and carried out Acceptance checks on New Mosquitoes for the Strike wings.
The airfield was frequently used for ASR lectures, for the Mustang pilots at Peterhead (19 &65) in fact they drunk the place dry twice! Fraserburgh Squadrons: 281 ASR Squadron Vickers Warwicks and 279 ASR Squadron Vickers Warwicks Note: 281 had one flight attached to 279 squadron.
In the 1950's The site was used by the Aberdeen Gliding club.
Milestones
Dec 6th 1941 Airfield Opened Dec 8th 1941 823 Squadron Swordfish became the first residents May 18th 1942 Station transferred from Fighter to Coastal Command March 9th 1943 OTU Transferred to Dyce completed and Station reduced to Care & Maintenance April 6th 1943 Station transferred to Flying Training Command, 21 Group July 24th 1943 B17 makes Crash Landing July / August 1943 Operation Tyndall carried out and 10 dummy Bostons were displayed at the site Dec 26th 1944 A detachment of 279 Squadron Warwicks from Banff was based here for Air Sea Rescue duties for the Strike Wings at Banff & Dallachy End June 1945 Airfield Closed Map Reference: - 30/040645
Access: - Off B9107 at Inverallochy
What's left: - At a dispersed site, several ruined buildings. The runways are overgrown and one is used for Battery Hens.
ø Looking down one of the Runways, the Battery Hen buildings are at the far end. ø Old Buildings at a dispersed site on the Fraserburgh-Inverallochy Road ø An old Taxiway leading onto the Runway now occupied by the Battery hens ø More ruined buildings from a dispersed site
