RAF Oban

Last updated

RAF Oban
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Oban, Argyll and Bute in Scotland
Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. CH855.jpg
A Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 210 Squadron RAF undergoing maintenance just off the base.
Site information
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Owner Air Ministry
Operator Royal Air Force
Controlled by RAF Coastal Command
Location
Argyll and Bute UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Oban
Shown within Argyll and Bute
United Kingdom adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Oban
RAF Oban (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates 56°25′06″N5°29′50″W / 56.41833°N 5.49722°W / 56.41833; -5.49722
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940-1945 (1945)
Battles/wars European theatre of World War II

RAF Oban is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) flying boat base located at the northern end of the island of Kerrera, in Ardantrive Bay west of Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland during the Second World War.

Contents

History

Oban was surveyed by the RAF in the 1930s as a suitable base for flying boat operations. The slipway on the island of Kerrera was commandeered, and No. 209 Squadron RAF began utilising the facilities operating the Supermarine Stranraer flying-boat in October 1939. [1] [2] An aircraft servicing area, new slip and jetty were constructed on the island.[ citation needed ]

The base became operational in September 1938, with headquarters at Dungallan House, Oban. [1] No. 209 Squadron re-equipped with Saro Lerwick flying-boats were based at RAF Oban. [2] Aircrew based at RAF Oban were billeted in the main seafront hotels at Oban. [3] No. 210 Squadron RAF equipped with the Short Sunderland replaced No. 209 Squadron in July 1940. [2]

Anti submarine patrols, convoy escorts as part of 15 Group Coastal Command and ferry services were carried out from the base. [4] No. 228 Squadron RAF, [5] No. 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, [6] No. 422 and 423 Squadrons Royal Canadian Air Force, [7] No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF. [8]

No. 302 Ferry Training Unit RAF (July 1943 – April 1945) [9] and No. 4 Flying Boat Servicing Unit RAF (September 1942 – 1945) served at the base. [10] [11] No. 524 Squadron formed at the base in October 1943 with Mariner Mk1 aircraft but disbanded in December of the same year. [12]

A Flying Boat Maintenance Unit located to the north east at Ganavan provided maintenance for aircraft utilising the base. The base was reverted to care and maintenance on 28 April 1945. [3]

Commanding officers

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Hughes, Mike (1998). The Hebrides at war. Edinburgh: Canongate. p. 9. ISBN   0862417716.
  2. 1 2 3 Jefford 1988, p. 70.
  3. 1 2 Smith, David J. (1989). Action stations 7; military airfields of Scotland the North-East and Northern Ireland (2 ed.). Cambridge: Stephens. p. 166. ISBN   1852603097.
  4. ↑ Hendrie, Andrew (2007). Cinderella Service: RAF Coastal Command 1939 - 1945. Havertown: Pen and Sword. pp. 211–220. ISBN   9781844153466.
  5. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 74.
  6. ↑ Campbell, John (2013). Royal Air Force Coastal Command : a short history of the Maritime Air Force which protected the United Kingdom's shipping during WW I and WW II. Cirencester: Mereo. p. 181. ISBN   9781909544734.
  7. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 91.
  8. ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 87.
  9. ↑ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 116.
  10. ↑ "Oban (Ganavan Sands)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 148.
  12. ↑ Campbell, John (2013). Royal Air Force Coastal Command : a short history of the Maritime Air Force which protected the United Kingdom's shipping during WW I and WW II. Cirencester: Mereo. p. 321. ISBN   9781909544734.
  13. ↑ McRery, Nigel; Franks, Norman; McManus, Edward (2015). "August 1940". The Fallen Few of The Battle of Britain. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 33. ISBN   978-1-47382-787-5.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.