RAF Inverness


Royal Air Force Inverness or more simply RAF Inverness is a former Royal Air Force station located by the Moray Firth in Highland, Scotland. It was also known as RAF Longman and previously Longman Airfield.

History

Longman Airfield was built in 1933 by the local council as a civilian airport for Highland Airways to link Orkney and Wick to Inverness and its major rail links. The airfield was converted to a Royal Air Force base at the Outbreak of World War II, but didn't officially become an RAF base until 1941. The airfield was identified by German reconnaissance units which incorrectly noted it as a seaplane base, which probably saved Inverness from any major bombing by the Luftwaffe.
During the war, Scottish Airways, the successor to Highland Airways, continued to use the airfield for intensive civilian operations supporting the Orkney and Shetland Isles.
Under the command of No. 13 Group, it hosted No. 70 Wing Calibration Flight between 17 February 1941 and 25 August 1945.

Operational Squadrons & Aircraft

Other units

  • No. 14 Group Target Towing Flight RAF became No. 1491 Flight RAF
  • No. 1 Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF
  • No. 1 Radio Servicing Section Calibration Flight RAF became No. 70 Wing Calibration Flight RAF
  • No. 13 Group Communication Flight RAF
  • No. 14 Group Communication Flight RAF
  • Detachment of No. 1479 Flight RAF
Following the war it was converted to general use under the title Longman Airfield until Inverness Airport at Dalcross became the primary hub in 1947, due to Longman being regarded as too small for safe operations. Prior to its closure, it was served by British European Airways, and its fleet of captured ex-Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52. It is believed that for some time Hitler's personal Ju 52 was stored at Longman after the war.