RNAS Rattray

Last updated

RNAS Rattray (HMS Merganser)
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Crimond, Aberdeenshire in Scotland
Crimondairfield.jpg
View of the airfield
Site information
TypeRoyal Naval Air Station
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Navy
Location
Aberdeenshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RNAS Rattray
Shown within Aberdeenshire
Coordinates 57°36′44″N01°53′01″W / 57.61222°N 1.88361°W / 57.61222; -1.88361
Site history
BuiltMarch 1943 (1943)
In useJuly 1943-present
Airfield information
Elevation13 metres (43 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06/241,000 metres (3,281 ft) Concrete
11/291,000 metres (3,281 ft) Concrete
15/33900 metres (2,953 ft) Concrete
02/20900 metres (2,953 ft) Concrete
Commissioned3 October 1944

Royal Navy Air Station Rattray, (RNAS Rattray; or HMS Merganser) and also known as Crimond Airfield, Crimond Aerodrome or Rattray Aerodrome was a Royal Naval Air Station near Crimond, Aberdeenshire.

Contents

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:

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]

See also

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "HMS Merganser / RNAS Crimond / RNAS Rattray / RNAS Rattray Head". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Smith 1983, p. 177.
  3. "Defence High Frequency Communications Service" (PDF). High Frequency Industry Association. Babcock International Group. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.

Bibliography