Royal Air Force Kirknewton, otherwise known as RAF Kirknewton, is a
Royal Air Force station
The Royal Air Force (RAF) operates several stations throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. This includes front-line and training air bases, support, administrative and training stations with no flying activity, unmanned airfields used fo ...
at Whitemoss, a mile south east of
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
. It is retained by the
Ministry of Defence
{{unsourced, date=February 2021
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...
, as Kirknewton Airfield and is home to 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.
History
Primarily an RAF radar station, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
No. 289 Squadron RAF
No. 289 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron formed as an anti-aircraft cooperation unit in World War II.
History
Formation in World War II
The squadron formed at RAF Kirknewton on 17 November 1941 and was equipped with Lysanders and ...
was formed there as an anti-aircraft co-operation unit on 20 November 1941. In June 1943, RAF Kirknewton was the site of an outstanding act of bravery when Sqn Ldr
Peter Guy Ottewill rescued two airmen from a burning
Bristol Beaufighter
The Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter (often called the Beau) is a British multi-role aircraft developed during the Second World War by the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was originally conceived as a heavy fighter variant of the Bristol Beaufort ...
, earning a
George Medal
The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI,''British Gallantry Medals'' (Abbott and Tamplin), p. 138 is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically by civilians, or in circ ...
.
RAF Kirknewton was also used as a temporary
prisoner of war
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...
Camp for German officers during the War, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA. During the War the area in trees to the west of the airfield (which has now been redeveloped for housing) was used for additional accommodation and was known as
Ritchie Camp
Ritchie Camp was a military base located near Kirknewton, West Lothian in Scotland.
History
Ritchie Camp was initially established during World War II to provide accommodation for units based at RAF Kirknewton. After the War it provided accommo ...
.
From 1952 to 1966, Kirknewton was home to several small
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain. These units included 6952nd Security Group, formerly the 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile,
United States Air Force Security Service
Initially established as the Air Force (USAF) Security Group in June, 1948, the USAF Security Service (USAFSS) was activated as a major command on Oct 20, 1948 (For redesignations, see Successor units.)
The USAFSS was a secretive branch of the ...
(USAFSS). Around 500 American service personnel were tasked with the interception of voice and Morse signals, including military and commercial naval traffic, with priority being given to signals involving Soviet radar and air operations.
[ The airfield returned to UK control during the late 1960s.
Between 1968 and 1986, some of the airfield buildings were used by the battalions resident in Ritchie Camp as mechanical transport workshops and garaging. The airfield was used for driver training and for low level tactical training.
As part of the ''Future Force 2020'' budgetary announcement in July 2011, Kirknewton was to have been developed into a major British Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade and both ]Dreghorn Barracks
Dreghorn Barracks are located in Edinburgh, Scotland. The barracks are situated at the southern edge of the city, south of Colinton, and adjacent to the Edinburgh City Bypass.
History
The present barracks complex was largely built in 1937–1939 ...
and Redford Barracks
Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks is located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Redford Barracks was built between 1909 and 1915 by the War Office and designed by Harry Be ...
were earmarked for disposal. However plans to develop Kirknewton as an army barracks were scrapped in March 2013.
Current use
Kirknewton houses No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, flying a fleet of three Grob Viking T1 gliders and providing flying experience and training to members of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is a volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force that manages both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. The organisation is headed by a former ser ...
.
There are also a few private recreational planes based at the airfield.
Units
Current units based at Kirknewton Airfield.
No. 22 Group (Training) RAF
* No. 2 Flying Training School
No.2 Flying Training School is a Flying Training School (FTS) of the Royal Air Force, Royal Air Force (RAF). It is part of No. 22 Group RAF, No. 22 (Training) Group that delivers glider flying training to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Its head ...
** No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron – Grob Viking T1
See also
* List of former Royal Air Force stations
This list of former RAF stations includes most of the stations, airfields and administrative headquarters previously used by the Royal Air Force.
The stations are listed under any former county or country name which was appropriate for the du ...
* United States Air Force in the United Kingdom
Since 1942 the United States has maintained air bases in the United Kingdom. Major Commands of the USAF having bases in the United Kingdom were the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Strategic Air Command (SAC), and Air Mobility Command ...
References
External links
UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Kirknewton (EGKT)
{{Royal Air Force
Kirknewton
Buildings and structures in West Lothian