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RAF Grangemouth
Secrets.RAFGrangemouth History
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Saturday, 08 October 2011, at 18:25
by - Add airport postcard link (+123)
Added line 45:
* [[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/details/1234882/ | Postcard showing the original airport]] Retrieved October 08, 2011.
Saturday, 08 October 2011, at 02:03
by - Update (+245)
Changed lines 1-2 from:
'''RAF Grangemouth''' was a World War II airfield which opened in May 1939.
to:
'''RAF Grangemouth''' was a World War II airfield which opened in 1939.
It seems that the unfortunate Grangemouth airfield opened as the '''Central Scotland Airport''' in July 1939, only to close for commercial operation some three months later with the start of World War II, when it became a fighter base.
It seems that the unfortunate Grangemouth airfield opened as the '''Central Scotland Airport''' in July 1939, only to close for commercial operation some three months later with the start of World War II, when it became a fighter base.
Changed line 24 from:
I have now received an official explanation! It appears that the C.O. Grangemouth A.T.C. in an interview quoted an extract from a book relating to accidents at another airfield flying elderly Blenheim Bombers. This is the basis of the story, He states that at no time was Grangemouth and its Spitfires implicated. Regretably this erronious version still is circulating on the Web. I received also a fulsome apology for the frustration felt by myself and ex-collegues relating as it did to our wartime service.
to:
I have now received an official explanation! It appears that the C.O. Grangemouth A.T.C. in an interview quoted an extract from a book relating to accidents at another airfield flying elderly Blenheim Bombers. This is the basis of the story, He states that at no time was Grangemouth and its Spitfires implicated. Regrettably this erroneous version still is circulating on the Web. I received also a fulsome apology for the frustration felt by myself and ex-collegues relating as it did to our wartime service.
Changed lines 56-57 from:
[[Airfield]
to:
[[!Airfield]]
[[!Lost]]
[[!Lost]]
Monday, 16 February 2009, at 11:05
by - Update secret information
Added lines 28-29:
This account is supported by the release of formerly classified or secret information into the public domain regarding the posting of 614 Squadron to [[RAF Macmerry]], where the installation of storage tanks has been described beneath the north end of the runway, with 614 being tasked with spraying the material over the invasion beaches in the event of an enemy attack from this direction.
Monday, 22 December 2008, at 14:18
by - Update
Changed lines 6-11 from:
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died,
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU)
to:
Hoping to take advantage of the 2008 [[RAF Leuchars ]]Airshow, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire - was scheduled to carry out a flypast on Saturday, September 13, 2008, to mark the unveiling of a full size replica of a Mark I Spitfire which had been installed in tribute to air cadets killed while training at Grangemouth's former RAF base. Unfortunately, low cloud led to the flypast being cancelled, and the replica was stored on a lorry, pending completion and installation. The replica is described as an exact copy of the aircraft flown by 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, the highest scoring foreign squadron of the Battle of Britain.
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, planted on ground granted for the purpose and located on the perimeter of the original airfield. Within the garden, a wall features the names of each Polish fighter pilot who died at Grangemouth.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 OTU during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, planted on ground granted for the purpose and located on the perimeter of the original airfield. Within the garden, a wall features the names of each Polish fighter pilot who died at Grangemouth.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 OTU during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
Changed line 39 from:
* [[http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm#Grangemouth RAF Grangemouth information]]
to:
* [[http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm#Grangemouth | RAF Grangemouth information]]
Changed lines 52-54 from:
(:comment Watch for anything concrete on the claim regarding unreliable aircraft, and the aggrieved maintenance personnel in the blog.:)
to:
[[Airfield]
Monday, 01 December 2008, at 01:03
by - Update
Changed lines 8-9 from:
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training for a variety of reasons.
to:
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth.
Added lines 14-25:
!!!Erroneous news reports published
The original news articles published by the BBC[^[[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7606722.stm | BBC News, ''Spitfire tribute to WWII airmen'', September 12, 2008]]^] and the Scotsman online[^[[http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Spitfires-to-fly-above-Forth.3904530.jp | news.scotsman.com ''Spitfires to fly above Forth again in Polish fighter pilots tribute'', March 21, 2008]]^], regarding the unveiling of the memorial described above, contained a misrepresented quotation regarding aircraft and pilot losses.
Both contained the statement "Many of these planes had been badly shot up, one of the reasons that so many were killed in training accidents", and which both attributed the statement to Flying Officer Tom McMorrow, commanding officer of the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps".
Further to correspondence and research provided through our blog, by a veteran technical NCO with five years' service in the RAF in wartime, we are pleased to report that this statement was incorrectly attributed by those sources, as follows:
>>bquote<<
I have now received an official explanation! It appears that the C.O. Grangemouth A.T.C. in an interview quoted an extract from a book relating to accidents at another airfield flying elderly Blenheim Bombers. This is the basis of the story, He states that at no time was Grangemouth and its Spitfires implicated. Regretably this erronious version still is circulating on the Web. I received also a fulsome apology for the frustration felt by myself and ex-collegues relating as it did to our wartime service.
>><<
->- A Paterson
The original news articles published by the BBC[^[[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7606722.stm | BBC News, ''Spitfire tribute to WWII airmen'', September 12, 2008]]^] and the Scotsman online[^[[http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Spitfires-to-fly-above-Forth.3904530.jp | news.scotsman.com ''Spitfires to fly above Forth again in Polish fighter pilots tribute'', March 21, 2008]]^], regarding the unveiling of the memorial described above, contained a misrepresented quotation regarding aircraft and pilot losses.
Both contained the statement "Many of these planes had been badly shot up, one of the reasons that so many were killed in training accidents", and which both attributed the statement to Flying Officer Tom McMorrow, commanding officer of the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps".
Further to correspondence and research provided through our blog, by a veteran technical NCO with five years' service in the RAF in wartime, we are pleased to report that this statement was incorrectly attributed by those sources, as follows:
>>bquote<<
I have now received an official explanation! It appears that the C.O. Grangemouth A.T.C. in an interview quoted an extract from a book relating to accidents at another airfield flying elderly Blenheim Bombers. This is the basis of the story, He states that at no time was Grangemouth and its Spitfires implicated. Regretably this erronious version still is circulating on the Web. I received also a fulsome apology for the frustration felt by myself and ex-collegues relating as it did to our wartime service.
>><<
->- A Paterson
Added lines 33-35:
!!References
[^#^]
[^#^]
Deleted line 40:
Friday, 14 November 2008, at 23:35
by - Update
Added line 24:
* [[http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm#Grangemouth RAF Grangemouth information]]
Added line 40:
(:comment Watch for anything concrete on the claim regarding unreliable aircraft, and the aggrieved maintenance personnel in the blog.:)
Friday, 14 November 2008, at 23:26
by - Update
Changed lines 8-13 from:
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were desperately needed to replace losses in battle.
The memorial rememberscontribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for thememorial protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadet's families in 2006.
The memorial remembers
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadet's
to:
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training for a variety of reasons.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadets' families in 2006.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadets' families in 2006.
Added line 24:
* [[http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wwshack/Misc/Grangemouth.htm | Grangemouth history]]
Monday, 15 September 2008, at 22:58
by - Update
Changed lines 6-11 from:
Taking advantage of the 2008 Leuchars Airshow, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire - were scheduled to carry out a flypast on Saturday, September 13, at the unveiling of a full-sized replica of a Mark I Spitfire which had been installed in tribute to air cadets killed while training at Grangemouth's former RAF base, and remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The full-size replica Spitfire is an exact copy of an aircraft flown by 58 OTU Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, who was killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, which was the highest scoring foreign squadron in the Battle of Britain.
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were desperately needed to replace losses in battle.
The full-size replica Spitfire is an exact copy of an aircraft flown by 58 OTU Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, who was killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on
to:
Taking advantage of the 2008 [[RAF Leuchars ]]Airshow, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire - was scheduled to carry out a flypast on Saturday, September 13, at the unveiling of a full-sized replica of a Mark I Spitfire which had been installed in tribute to air cadets killed while training at Grangemouth's former RAF base. Unfortunately, low cloud led to the flypast being cancelled, while the replica was incomplete pending installation, and was on a lorry, together with its wings. The full-size replica Spitfire is an exact copy of an aircraft flown by 58 OTU Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, who was killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, which was the highest scoring foreign squadron in the Battle of Britain.
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were desperately needed to replace losses in battle.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for thememorial protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The event also marked the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were desperately needed to replace losses in battle.
The memorial remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for thememorial protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
Changed line 19 from:
Employed during World Wars I and II, mustard agents are now regulated under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Three classes of chemicals are monitored under this Convention, with sulfur and nitrogen mustard grouped in Schedule 1, as substances with no use other than chemical warfare.
to:
Employed during World Wars I and II, mustard agents are now regulated under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Three classes of chemicals are monitored under this Convention, with sulphur and nitrogen mustard grouped in Schedule 1, as substances with no use other than chemical warfare.
Monday, 15 September 2008, at 15:41
by - Typos
Changed line 10 from:
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were disparately needed to replace losses in battle.
to:
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were desperately needed to replace losses in battle.
Sunday, 14 September 2008, at 22:23
by - Update
Added lines 5-20:
!!Memorial unveiled
Taking advantage of the 2008 Leuchars Airshow, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire - were scheduled to carry out a flypast on Saturday, September 13, at the unveiling of a full-sized replica of a Mark I Spitfire which had been installed in tribute to air cadets killed while training at Grangemouth's former RAF base, and remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The full-size replica Spitfire is an exact copy of an aircraft flown by 58 OTU Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, who was killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, which was the highest scoring foreign squadron in the Battle of Britain.
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were disparately needed to replace losses in battle.
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadet's families in 2006.
!!Secret gas tests
Former crew stationed at Grangemouth have told of the base being used for secret operations involving the spraying of gas, using Lysanders of 614 Squadron. The whole area around the base became a restricted area due to the stockpiles of mustard gas held there and the secrecy of the missions carried out. The restricted area took in the nearby town and the docks, and special passes were issued to all residents.
Although the name suggests mustard gas is the harmful component, it is in fact a liquid which can be dispersed as an aerosol, and persists where it lands, denying access to an area, and remaining dangerous for some some, being absorbed through the skin if picked up directly or on clothing, and not displaying any significant symptoms for some hours, by which time it is generally too late for effective treatment to be administered.
Employed during World Wars I and II, mustard agents are now regulated under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Three classes of chemicals are monitored under this Convention, with sulfur and nitrogen mustard grouped in Schedule 1, as substances with no use other than chemical warfare.
Taking advantage of the 2008 Leuchars Airshow, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire - were scheduled to carry out a flypast on Saturday, September 13, at the unveiling of a full-sized replica of a Mark I Spitfire which had been installed in tribute to air cadets killed while training at Grangemouth's former RAF base, and remembers the contribution of hundreds of Polish pilots who developed their skills at the airfield as members of 58 Operational Training Unit (OTU) during World War II. By the end of 1939, RAF Grangemouth was used solely as a Battle of Britain satellite airbase, strategically vital for the protection of the Forth Bridge and Rosyth Docks, where many Royal Navy vessels were based or repaired.
The full-size replica Spitfire is an exact copy of an aircraft flown by 58 OTU Sergeant Eugeniusz Tadensy Lukomski, who was killed in 1941 when his Spitfire came down in Avondale Estate in nearby Polmont. The replica will bear the distinctive markings and colours of the Polish 303 Squadron, which was the highest scoring foreign squadron in the Battle of Britain.
The event also marks the opening of a memorial garden to those who died, and is located on ground granted on the perimeter of the original airfield, and has a wall featuring the names of each of the Polish fighter pilots who died at Grangemouth. Sadly, it seems that many of the pilots were killed during training - a direct result of the poor condition of the aircraft which had been badly shot up in their past, but had to be used since new aircraft were disparately needed to replace losses in battle.
The commemoration was organised by the 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) who began a campaign to trace the former cadet's families in 2006.
!!Secret gas tests
Former crew stationed at Grangemouth have told of the base being used for secret operations involving the spraying of gas, using Lysanders of 614 Squadron. The whole area around the base became a restricted area due to the stockpiles of mustard gas held there and the secrecy of the missions carried out. The restricted area took in the nearby town and the docks, and special passes were issued to all residents.
Although the name suggests mustard gas is the harmful component, it is in fact a liquid which can be dispersed as an aerosol, and persists where it lands, denying access to an area, and remaining dangerous for some some, being absorbed through the skin if picked up directly or on clothing, and not displaying any significant symptoms for some hours, by which time it is generally too late for effective treatment to be administered.
Employed during World Wars I and II, mustard agents are now regulated under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Three classes of chemicals are monitored under this Convention, with sulfur and nitrogen mustard grouped in Schedule 1, as substances with no use other than chemical warfare.
Added line 24:
* [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7606722.stm | Spitfire tribute to WWII airmen, BBC News, September 12, 2008]]
Tuesday, 03 June 2008, at 14:35
by - Tidy
Changed lines 1-6 from:
!!!
(:gma-point lat=56.0085552 lon=-3.6920071
to:
'''RAF Grangemouth''' was a World War II airfield which opened in May 1939.
The control tower was established in an existing prewar civilian building, which was destroyed by fire in August 1952. The airfield closed in June 1955, when it was demolished to make way for the expanding BP refinery, and British Hydrocarbons plastics plant nearby.
!!External links
(:include PageLinks:)
* [[http://www.controltowers.co.uk/G/Grangemouth.htm | Control Towers entry]]
!!Aerial views
(:include PageMaps:)
!!Map
(:gma-point lat=56.0085552 lon=-3.6920071 text='RAF Grangemouth' :)
The control tower was established in an existing prewar civilian building, which was destroyed by fire in August 1952. The airfield closed in June 1955, when it was demolished to make way for the expanding BP refinery, and British Hydrocarbons plastics plant nearby.
!!External links
(:include PageLinks:)
* [[http://www.controltowers.co.uk/G/Grangemouth.htm | Control Towers entry]]
!!Aerial views
(:include PageMaps:)
!!Map
(:gma-point lat=56.0085552 lon=-3.6920071 text='RAF Grangemouth' :)
Added line 15:
(:gma-point (:llVgm NS946820 :) text='Tower' :)
Changed lines 18-30 from:
!!Links
!!Aerial
!!Map
[[!WWII]]
!!Aerial
!!Map
[[!WWII
to:
[[!World War II]]
Wednesday, 23 April 2008, at 19:05
by - New Page Added
Added lines 1-24:
!!!RAF Grangemouth!!! was a WWII airfield. It was demolished in the mid 1950s and the BP (now ineos) refinery and British Hydrocarbons plastics plant built on the site.
(:gma-point lat=56.0085552 lon=-3.6920071 :)
(:mlat:56.0085552:)(:mlon:-3.6920071:)(:mngr6:NS945808:)
(:gma-map :)
!!Links
!!Aerial
!!Map
[[!WWII]]
[[!ToDo]]