RAF Annan


Royal Air Force Annan, or more simply RAF Annan, is a former Royal Air Force station located about north-east of the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, which was operational during the Second World War.

Station history

Initially serving as a sub-site of No. 18 Maintenance Unit in 1940–1941, RAF Annan was opened as an air station in April 1942 as the base for No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF, to train fighter pilots. As part of No. 81 Group 55 OTU pilots flew at low level over the Solway Firth training to fly "Rhubarb" missions, crossing the English Channel to attack targets of opportunity in France and the Low Countries. Initially they flew Hawker Hurricanes; and later, Miles Master trainers and Hawker Typhoon fighter-bombers. In June 1943 55 OTU was transferred to No. 9 Group; and on 26 January 1944 was redesignated No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit, then No. 3 TEU on 28 March 1944. No. 3 TEU moved to RAF Aston Down in July 1944, and Annan then served as a sub-site of No. 14 Maintenance Unit from August 1944 until August 1952.

Units

The following units were based at RAF Annan:
  • Sub-site, No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF
  • No. 55 Operational Training Unit RAF
  • * Night Conversion Unit
  • *No. 4 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • *No. 3 Tactical Exercise Unit
  • Detachment, No. 10 Advanced Flying Unit RAF
  • No. 107 Squadron RAF
  • Sub-site, No. 14 Maintenance Unit RAF
  • No. 56 Wing RAF

    Station facilities

The air station had two concrete runways at right angles, running north-east/south-west, and north-west/south-east. The main technical area was in the north-eastern sector, and there were at least seven blister hangars around the perimeter. There was a camp about north-east of the airfield near the village of Creca which contained various accommodation buildings, huts, and air raid shelters. Another camp existed about south of the airfield.

Fate

On 1 July 1955 the site was taken over for the construction of the Chapelcross nuclear power station.