RNAS Rattray
Royal Navy Air Station Rattray or RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser) and also known as Crimond Airfield, Crimond Aerodrome or Rattray Aerodrome was a Royal Naval Air Station near Crimond, Aberdeenshire.
RNAS Rattray | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimond, Aberdeenshire in Scotland | |||||||||||||
 View of the airfield | |||||||||||||
  RNAS Rattray Shown within Aberdeenshire | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 57°36′44″N 01°53′01″W | ||||||||||||
| Type | Royal Naval Air Station | ||||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Navy | ||||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||||
| Built | March 1943 | ||||||||||||
| In use | July 1943-present | ||||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||||
| Elevation | 13 metres (43 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||||
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| Commissioned | 3 October 1944 | ||||||||||||
History
The station started to be built from March 1943, with 774 Naval Air Squadron moving in from July 1943 for Telegraphist Air Gunners training but the site was not commissioned until 3 October 1944.
The base then switched to training Torpedo Bombing Reconnaissance crews.
The following units were here at some point:
- 708 Naval Air Squadron:[1]
- 714 Naval Air Squadron (May 1944-unknown)[2]
- 717 Naval Air Squadron (November 1944-unknown)[2]
- 753 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 766 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 769 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 774 Naval Air Squadron (July 1943-August 1945)[2]
- 815 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 817 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 818 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 821 Naval Air Squadron[1]
- 825 Naval Air Squadron[1]
The base was closed in 1946, being moved into a state of care & maintenance. It was also used as a Royal Naval Wireless Station until 2004.
Current use
The site is home to a high frequency transmitter station forming part of the Defence High Frequency Communications Service. The station is operated by Babcock International Group on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.[3]
References
Citations
- "HMS Merganser / RNAS Crimond / RNAS Rattray / RNAS Rattray Head". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- Smith 1983, p. 177.
- "Defence High Frequency Communications Service" (PDF). High Frequency Industry Association. Babcock International Group. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
Bibliography
- Smith, D J (1983). Action Stations: Vol 7. Military airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland. Cambridge: Patrick Stephens Limited. ISBN 0-85059-563-0.
