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RAF Leuchars

⚠ (:tracetrails:)

RAF Leuchars is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast, north of St Andrews, and is the most northerly Air Defence Station in the United Kingdom. (IATA: ADX, ICAO: EGQL). Prior to extension in 2007, in preparation for the arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon which will replace the station's Tornado squadrons, the airfield's two tarmac runways were; 04/22: 4,803 feet (1,464 m), and 09/27: 8,491 feet (2,588 m), which will extend to 11,000 feet (3,500 m).

Because the Base Commander at RAF Leuchars also fulfils the role of Air Officer Scotland, the position is held by an Air Commodore, rather than a Group Captain who would normally occupy command such a base.

The airfield served as RAF Strike Command's main base within the UK until 2007. Strike Command was the military organization which controlled the majority of the UK's combat aircraft from 1968 until April 1, 2007, when it merged with Personnel and Training Command to form the single Air Command, with headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, a single Commander in Chief, and two deputies.

As of 2007, Leuchars was home to 43 Squadron and 111 Squadron, flying Tornado F3. It also hosts Army Air Corps Gazelle helicopters and RAF Grob T1 training planes. The airfield's relative isolation means it has become RAF's preferred location for night training exercises, as well as the site of many large scale exercises, such as Tactical Leadership Training (TLT), and the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course (QWIC).

History

The area's connection with aviation dates back to 1911, when the Royal Engineers carried out military testing with balloons.

Leuchars Airfield was formally established in 1918, when a fleet station of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) formed the Fleet Aerial Gunnery and Fighting School (NW area) there. The school occupied most of the original technical area, including six general coupled aeroplane sheds, and many of the original buildings, which were used as classrooms, stores and accommodation.

Between September 1942 and August 1943, extensive modifications were made to the organisation and structure of the airfield. RAF aerial photography from the time shows that the runways were extended, several pillboxes were demolished, additional hardstanding and perimeter buildings constructed, and the camouflage changed from multi-pattern to two-tone. Most of the work was carried out on the area to the south.

A Norwegian squadron was based at Leuchars during World War II, and a memorial dedicated to its memory is located near the entrance.

Annual Leuchars Airshow

RAF Leuchars usually hosts the annual Leuchars Air Show, which generally takes place on a Saturday in September. The 2007 show was cancelled due to work being carried out to extend the runway.

The show is generally well attended, and the 2006 show attracted some 45,000 visitors, with displays including the Red Arrows, Eurofighter Typhoon, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, together with contributions from the Air Forces of many NATO countries providing further static and flying displays.

External links


RCAHMS referenceMap markers
59.00 RAF Leuchars (on 9m spot height at runway crossroads)⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46432054 :) link='59.00 RAF Leuchars' :) Map jump
59.01 Aircraft Hangars, Buildings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4572820743 :) link='59.01 Aircraft Hangars, Buildings' :) Map jump
59.02 Aircraft Hangars, Buildings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4601320794 :) link='59.02 Aircraft Hangars, Buildings' :) Map jump and ⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4719020794 :) link='59.02 Aircraft Hangars, Buildings' :) Map jump
59.03 Aircraft Hangars⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46412077 :) link='59.03 Aircraft Hangars' :) Map jump
59.04 Church, Buldings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4559121037 :) link='59.04 Church, Buldings' :) Map jump and ⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4557521017 :) link='59.04 Church, Buldings' :) Map jump
59.05 Houses⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45752112 :) link='59.05 Houses' :) Map jump
59.06 Buildings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45762093 :) link='59.06 Buildings' :) Map jump
59.07 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45962073 :) link='59.07 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.08 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46252072 :) link='59.08 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.09 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46522079 :) link='59.09 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.10 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4650220885 :) link='59.10 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.11 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46702088 :) link='59.11 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.12 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4707721554 :) link='59.12 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.13 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46872056 :) link='59.13 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.14 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46882038 :) link='59.14 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.15 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45782025 :) link='59.15 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.16 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45302058 :) link='59.16 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.17 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO47371997 :) link='59.17 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.18 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4608319945 :) link='59.18 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.19 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4584419899 :) link='59.19 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.20 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45562154 :) link='59.20 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.21 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4623320909 :) link='59.21 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.22 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45972096 :) link='59.22 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.23 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4600421581 :) link='59.23 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.24 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45902107 :) link='59.24 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.25 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45752121 :) link='59.25 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.26 Radio station⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46002150 :) link='59.26 Radio station' :) Map jump
59.27 Control Tower (Old)⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4573420692 :) link='59.27 Control Tower (Old)' :) Map jump
59.28 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45352066 :) link='59.28 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.29 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45252043 :) link='59.29 Pillbox' :) Map jump
59.30 Barracks⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4553821146 :) link='59.30 Barracks' :) Map jump
59.31 Barracks, Huts⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4550721025 :) link='59.31 Barracks, Huts' :) Map jump
59.32 84 Houses on Meteor Row, Spitfire Place, Whirlewind Place, Mosquito Drive, Javelin Crescent, Blenheim Place, Anson Place and Anson Walk.⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45122084 :) link='59.32 84 Houses on Meteor Row, Spitfire Place, Whirlewind Place, Mosquito Drive, Javelin Crescent, Blenheim Place, Anson Place and Anson Walk.' :) Map jump
59.33 Bomb Store⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46762024 :) link='59.33 Bomb Store' :) Map jump and ⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO47432016 :) link='59.33 Bomb Store' :) Map jump
59.34 Dispersal Bays, Buildings, Aircraft Hangar⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO47872043 :) link='59.34 Dispersal Bays, Buildings, Aircraft Hangar' :) Map jump
59.35 Dispersal Bays, Buildings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO47312108 :) link='59.35 Dispersal Bays, Buildings' :) Map jump
59.36 Control Tower (New), Buildings⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46932087 :) link='59.36 Control Tower (New), Buildings' :) Map jump
59.37 Huts⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO46182087 :) link='59.37 Huts' :) Map jump
59.38 Sewage Works⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4576120208 :) link='59.38 Sewage Works' :) Map jump
59.39 Club; Restaurant⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4541521178 :) link='59.39 Club; Restaurant' :) Map jump
59.40 Houses; Flats⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45382112 :) link='59.40 Houses; Flats' :) Map jump
59.41 Medical Centre; Surgery⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO4578921016 :) link='59.41 Medical Centre; Surgery' :) Map jump
59.42 Pillbox⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO47092094 :) link='59.42 Pillbox' :) Map jump
78 Pillbox, Guardbridge⚠ (:gma-point ⚠ (:llVgm NO45041973 :) link='78 Pillbox, Guardbridge' :) Map jump

Aerial views


Map

See also the Tentsmuir coastal defences page for the defences which ran from RAF Leuchars to Tayport in the north.

⚠ (:gma-point lat=56.375743 lon=-2.861617 text='RAF Leuchars' :) ⚠ (:gma-map zoom=14 view=sat :)

⚠ [[!Airfield]] ⚠ [[!World War II]] ⚠ [[!Cold War]]

⚠ (:WPCategoriesList:)

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