Operator Royal Air Force 00/00 Concrete Elevation 201 m Owner Ministry of Defence | In use 1941-present 00/00 Concrete Year built 1941 | |
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Type Royal Air Force station Address Whitemoss Road, Kirknewton EH27 8DB, United Kingdom Similar Craigiehall, Coronation Chair, Fort George - Highland, Pentland Hills | ||
RAF Kirknewton is a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland.
Contents
History
Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the Second World War. No. 289 Squadron RAF 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, earning a George Medal.
RAF Kirknewton was also used as a temporary POW 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.
From 1952 to 1966, Kirknewton was home to several small United States Air Force units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain. These units included 6952nd Security Group, formerly the 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile, formerly the 37th Radio Squadron Mobile, United States Air Force Security Service (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.
Between 1968 and 1986, some of the airfield buildings were used by the battalions resident in Ritchie Camp as MT workshops and garaging. The airfield was used for driver training and for low level tactical training.
Current use
RAF Kirknewton houses No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron RAF flying a fleet of eight Grob Viking gliders to provide flying experience and training to members of the Air Cadet Organisation.
There are also a few private recreational planes based at the airfield.
The future
As part of the Future Force 2020 budgetary announcement in July 2011, Kirknewton was to have been developed into a major Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade and both Dreghorn Barracks and Redford Barracks were earmarked for disposal. However plans to develop Kirknewton as an Army barracks were scrapped in March 2013.