Airfields Used Bu NZ Squadrons During WW 2, RAF Leuchars

RAF Leuchars

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RAF Leuchars was the second most Northerly Air Defense Station in the UK.

Situated in Leuchars, Fife, on the East Coast of Scotland, near the University town of St Andrews.

Aviation at Leuchars dates back to 1911 with a balloon Squadron of the Royal Engineers setting up a training camp in Tentsmuir Forest.

They were soon joined in the air by the “String and Sealing Wax” aircraft of the Embryonic RFC [Royal Flying Corps].

Such aircraft favoured the sands of St Andrews, where not the least of the attractions was the availability of fuel from the local garages.

Like so many of the RAF Stations the airfield itself owes its existence to the stimulus of War, and work began leveling the existing site on Reres Farm in 1916.

From the beginning Leuchars was intended as a training unit, being termed as a “Temporary Mobilisation Station” taking aircrew from initial flying training through to fleet co-operation work.

Building was still underway when the armistice was signed in November 1918.

Much was made of Leuchars maritime location when it was designated a Naval Fleet Training School, eventually to undertake the training of “Naval Spotting” crews who acted as eyes for the Royal Navy’s capital ships.

The Station was formally named RAF Leuchars on 16th March 1920, but retained its strong Naval links.

As the Navy embraced the value of aviation, the Aircraft Carrier was added to its inventory.

Many of the flights dedicated to Leuchars were detached to such vessels for months at a time, with light and dark blue uniforms mixing together happily.

At St Andrews, the citizens were not unaware of the potential uses of aviation and attempts were made to use aircraft as a means of transport for golfing enthusiasts.

More successful were the barn-storming displays of the flying circuses.

In 1935 Leuchars became home to No 1 FTS [Flying Training School] and ranges for practice bombing were established in Tentsmuir Forest.

With the approach of war, its maritime position ensured that Leuchars would play a more warlike role.

No 1 FTS moved to RAF Netheravon and the Station came under the control of Coastal Command.

With the arrival of No 224 and 233 Squadrons in August 1938, the Station had an operational rather than training role for the first time.

On 4th September 1939, a Lockheed Hudson from No 224 Squadron attacked a Dornier Do 18 over the North Sea, becoming the first British Aircraft to engage the enemy in WW2.

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Lockheed Hudson

In February 1942, another Hudson from No 224 Squadron located the German prison ship Altmark, which allowed for its interception by HMS Cossack, and the liberation of over 200 British prisoners.

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Altmark

During the War, BOAC [British Overseas Airways Corporation] was formed in November 1939 from Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd.

BOAC operated a wartime route from Leuchars to Stockholm, and from 1943, used civilian registered De Havilland Mosquito’s.

Noted for carrying ball bearings from Sweden to the UK, and returning RAF aircrew who had diverted to, or made crash landings in Swedish airfields during operations over Europe.

One of the many Squadrons that called Leuchars home was No 489 [NZ] Squadron, from , flying Beauforts, Blenheims, Hampdens and Beaufighters.

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Bristol Beaufort

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Bristol Blenheim

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Handely Page Hampden

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Bristol Beaufighter

With No 455 RAAF Squadron, they were formed into a strike wing here,

After, presumably, becoming effective operationally they were then moved to RAF Langham, in Norfolk.

The massively important, but often overlooked, Coastal Command, carrying out its tedious duties seeking U-Boats out in the Atlantic.

Coastal Command’s Consolidated Liberators are credited with sinking 93 U-Boats while No 120 Squadron, stationed at Leuchars, accounted for 19.

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Consolidated B24 Liberator
Perhaps a lesser appreciated factor was that, when aircraft such as the Catalina, Sunderland, and Liberator, while on patrol, were spotted, it resulted in the U-Boat immediately diving and therefore being unable to locate and sink shipping.

In early 1950’s the Station was passed to Fighter Command, and both day and night fighter Squadrons moved in, flying the aircraft of the time, including
De Havilland Vampires, Gloster Meteors, De Havilland Venoms, and Gloster Javelins.

The station was passed to the Army at 1200 hrs on 31st March 2015.

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