Library Reference Number: 219
Wartime Airfields In Caithness
An earlier account described the surprising number of World War Two airfields which had existed in the Dumfries and Galloway area. Continuing the theme of describing material for those interested in aviation history, heritage and local history, research in the Caithness area of Scotland has also produced remarkable results. Instead of showing several pages of descriptive text, the following brief details of squadron movements illustrate the sheer volume of aircraft activity in and around the Caithness area during this wartime period.
Taking Castletown in the first instance, it appears to have been a hive of activity with a large amount of aircraft movements taking place. Squadrons based there are noted in numerical order commencing with No.3 Squadron.
Castletown Airfield:
No.3 Squadron deployed to Sudan during the Abyssinian crisis in 1935. Upon its return, No 3 Squadron introduced the Gladiator into RAF service and just as the Second World War started received Hurricanes at Biggin Hill. Then based at Castletown between 3/9/40 until 3/4/41 flying the Hurricane 1. A brief stint as part of the BEF in France was followed by relocation to Castletown on night-patrol duties protecting Scapa Flow.
No 17 Squadron flying Hurricanes flew over Southern England throughout the Battle of Britain, then moved to Castletown in April 1941. In November 1941, the squadron sailed for the Far East where war broke out in December. Diverted to Burma, it arrived in January 1942, as Japanese troops neared Rangoon.
54 Squadron flying Hurricanes around south coast until, in May-June 1940, the unit provided air cover for the evacuation of Dunkirk. Following on from this, the Squadron was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain until moving to Castletown to regroup prior to undertaking coastal patrols. In mid-1942, the Squadron left for Australia and joined the battle against the Japanese before disbanding in October 1945.
66 Squadron In February 1943 flying Spitfires moved to Castletown to protect Scapa Flow in the Orkneys.
118 Squadron Flying Spitfires V6 over northern France. In January 1943, it moved to East Anglia and began sweeps over the Netherlands, moving in September ‘43 to Castletown on defensive duties.
123 Squadron The squadron reformed in the fighter role at Turnhouse on 10th May 1941. Equipped with Spitfires, it remained on defensive duties in Castletown until being despatched to the Middle East in April 1942.
124 Squadron The squadron reformed at Castletown on 10th May 1941 as a Spitfire equipped fighter unit for the defence of Scapa Flow. In November the squadron moved south to Biggin Hill, from where it began bomber escort missions.
131 Squadron For the next two years it moved around Britain, providing convoy protection in the Irish Sea from Wales, offensive sweeps over France from Southern England and air defence of Scapa Flow from Castletown Scotland. It even underwent deck landing training aboard HMS Argus in the Clyde, in order to prepare it for possible amphibious operations.
132 Squadron The squadron formed at Peterhead on 7th July 1941 as a day fighter unit equipped with Spitfires. When declared operational the squadron remained in Castletown on defensive duties until September 1942, when it moved south to begin offensive operations over France. From January to March 1944, it was back to Castletown but on returning south, it rejoined 2nd Tactical Air Force.
167 Squadron Reformed at Scorton as a fighter unit on 6th April 1942, it was declared operational the following month and moved to Castletown in June to provide defensive cover for Scapa Flow. The squadron moved to Ludham in East Anglia in June and began fighter sweeps over Belgium and Holland.
213 Squadron It remained in the south throughout the Battle of Britain, although it was in the South-West until September when it moved to Tangmere. November 1940 saw it move back to Yorkshire and February 1941 a move further north to Castletown.
232 Squadron Reformed from 'B;' Flight of No 3 Squadron at Sumburgh on 17th July 1940 as a Hurricane unit, it remained at Castletown on defensive duties until April 1941 when it was earmarked for the Middle East.
260 Squadron Reformed as a fighter squadron at Castletown on 22nd November 1940, it operated Hurricanes on air defence duties and coastal patrols around Scotland until April 1941.
278 Squadron By December 1943 it had extended its operational area to include North-East England and by February 1944 into Scotland based at Castletown.
282 Squadron This Air-Sea Rescue unit was formed at Castletown on 1st January 1943 to provide ASR cover around the coasts of Northern Scotland. Initial equipment was Walrus amphibians, Ansons were added in March.
310 Squadron In the New Year 1940 it took part in fighter sweeps over France but in July moved north to Castletown. December 1941 saw the Squadron moving again, this time to Cornwall and later Devon until June 1943 when it returned to Castletown once again. Here it formed part of the air defences for Scapa Flow.
331 Squadron Formed at Catterick on 21 July 1941 from Norwegian personnel as a fighter squadron, it was equipped with Hurricanes 2b, becoming operational on 15th September. It provided defence for Northern Scotland, having moved to Castletown on 21st August, until May 1942 when it moved North Weald, having re-equipped with Spitfires in November 1941.
404 Squadron Formed at Thorney Island on 1st May 1941, it was equipped with Blenheim Is and IVs and was intended to for the coastal fighter role. It moved to Castletown in Scotland in June 1941 and began operations in September carrying out convoy escort duties and anti-shipping operations over the North Sea.
504 Squadron From June 1940 it operated from Castletown flying Hurricane 1 defending Scapa Flow, moving to join in the Battle of Britain in September.
607 Squadron Returning north in October flying Hurricane 2b it settled mainly in Castletown returning south in August 1941 to Martlesham Heath. It moved to Manston in October remaining there until going to India in 1942.
610 (County of Chester) Squadron Flying Spifire Vc arrived at Castletown on 15/10/42 for only a short spell.
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Wick Airfield:
22 Squadron Flying Beauforts spent short time at Wick in June 1940.
41 Squadron Spitfires arrived at Wick on 19th October 1939. Flew defensive patrols until May 1940.
43 (Fighting Cocks) Squadron Formed at Stirling in 1916. As part of the defence network for Scapa Flow, the Squadron shot down several German bombers during their stay at RAF Wick.
48 Squadron Flying Hudsons in October 1941, moved to Skitten, then to Wick in January 1942, Sumburgh in September 1942 and then Gosport in November in order to take part in the Allied landing in north Africa.
50 Squadron On 25/26th April 1945 15 Lancasters (which took off from RAF Wick) took part in the attack at Vallo, 5 of the Lancasters aborted the mission.
58 Squadron Detachment at Wick flying Whitleys from 29th July 1942 until 11th August 1942.
61 Squadron Lancasters at Wick (November/December 1939) for operatios with Coastal Command.
86 Squadron Beauforts arrived Wick 9th March 1942; Aircraft and Aircrews to Middle East 17/07/42.
111 Squadron Having covered the Dunkirk evacuation, it took part in the Battle of Britain flying Hurricanes until early September 1940, when it was sent to Wick to rest and re-equip. A return south in July 1941 allowed the squadron to carry out offensive operations over France, which it continued until September 1942, when it was earmarked for overseas service.
122 Squadron 122 Squadron flying Spitfires were based at RAF Wick from July 1945 until April 1946.
144 Squadron Flying Beaufighters arrived at Wick 1st October 1943 before embarking for Middle East.
220 Squadron In April 1941 the Hudson Squadron moved to Wick, a detachment having been there since March. Converted to Fortress 1 in December 1941. Here it continued to operate on anti shipping duties over Norwegian waters and on 1st February 1942, a detachment of No 90 Squadron, in the Middle East, equipped with Fortress 1s was reallocated to No 220 Squadron and continued to operate in the area until 9th March 1943.
236 Squadron Detachment of Beaufighters arrived at Wick 1st July 1942 and left in April 1945.
269 Squadron No. 269 Squadron was transferred to RAF Wick on 10th October 1939 flying Ansons. By March 1940 the Squadron started to receive Lockheed Hudsons. This was one of the first wartime squadrons to be based at Wick and probably one of the longest serving squadrons on the base. During this period not only did they carry out many maritime operations but also air strikes over Occupied Europe.
519 Squadron Formed from No 1406 Flight at Wick on 15th August 1943, it continued to conduct meteorological reconnaissance duties, equipped with Hampdens and Spitfires, over the North Sea. Hudsons arrived to replace Hampdens in September 1943 and were themselves replaced by Venturas the following month, these remaining until October 1944. Hudsons had returned in July 1944, Spitfire VIIs for high altitude work arrived in October and Fortresses in November. When the squadron disbanded at Leuchars on 31st May 1946, its sole equipment was Halifax IIIs, which had started to arrive in August 1945.
605 Squadron It was re-designated a fighter squadron in January 1939, receiving Gladiators in February. It moved. to Wick in February 1940, moved south in May to cover the British withdrawal at Dunkirk, back to Wick again. Moving South in September in time to join the closing stages of the Battle of Britain.
608 Squadron Blenheim IVs arrived early in 1941 but were soon replaced by Hudsons, moving to Wick in January 1942 and then to North Africa in October, where it flew anti submarine patrols over the Mediterranean.
612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron Flying Whitleys arrived at Wick on 1st March 1941 until May 1941.
618 Squadron The squadron deployed to RAF Benson in September, transitioning to Mosquito XVIIIs in October. They later deployed to Wick in June 1944, and re-equipped with Mosquito VIs the following month.
803 (FAA) Squadron In April the squadron flying Blackburn Skuas embarked on HMS Ark Royal but its further service in the RAF was short-lived as the Squadron was transferred to Admiralty control on 24th May 1939. In September 1939 803 Squadron flew ashore to Wick to join the air defences of Scapa Flow in October, and 800 Squadron flew ashore to RAF Halston in Orkney in September 1939 to protect Scapa Flow. In December1939 both Squadrons left with HMS Ark Royal for the South Atlantic.
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Skitten:
Opened in1940 and closed 1944. Became a Satellite Airfield used by both Castletown & Wick Airfields and many of the squadrons mentioned above used it as a temporary landing facility. RAF Skitten was also designated as a reserve base for Bomber Command.
Dounreay:
Dounreay differed from the other wartime airfields in the area, RAF Wick, RAF Castletown and RAF Skitten, in that it had been planned, and was intended for use by Coastal Command, while the others had been constructed quickly in response to the needs for such facilities. In December 1943, Coastal Command declared it would not be occupying Dounreay. It was never commissioned for use and came to be known as HMS Tern II, intended to be a satellite of HMS Tern at Twatt in Orkney. Instead, the airfield was used as a dummy and for diversions.
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On 25th April 1941 a Whitley bomber was returning to RAF Wick after operations at 1am. The aircraft wing hit a chimney of the Accommodation Block, Town and County Fever Hospital, (which was the only two storey building in the hospital grounds). When it hit the building one of the engines and wing broke free and remained in the building. The building was mostly destroyed by the resulting fire, trapped in the building in their attic accommodation were two maids who sadly perished in the fire. The plane crashed into an adjoining field and all the aircrew were sadly killed. The aircraft was an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V Aircraft from 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron. Its side markings were WL-L and its tail number was T4296.
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OTHER RAF UNITS AT RAF WICK
A Flt, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (1Jul – 1Oct 1940)
C Flt, Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (11 Oct – 16 Nov 1940)
C Flt, No 1 PRU (16 Nov 1940 – 7 Jan 1941)
B Flt, No 1 PRU (9 Jan – 16 Apr 1941)
D Flt, No 1 PRU (15 Apr – Jul 1941)
Mosquito Flt, No1 PRU (May – Dec 1941)
E Flt, No 1 PRU (15 Jul – Oct 1941)
No 4 Air/Sea Rescue Marine Craft Unit (28 Mar 1942 – 1 Feb 1946)
No 1693 (General Reconnaissance) Flt (11 Dec 1943 – 14 Jan 1944)
No 6122 Servicing Echelon (28 Aug – 24 Sept 1945, 19 Oct 1945 – 3 Jan 1946)
No 6118 Servicing Echelon (19 Oct 1945 – 3 Jan 1946)
No 6303 (Polish) Servicing Echelon (5 Jan – 6 Mar 1946)
Operational Control - Opened 1939, No 18 Group 1944; April 1946 RAF Wick reverted to civil operations, Land given back to the CAA1978.
Note: The above material is compiled from a widely available range of aviation, service and local information. Content is not claimed to be a definitive, complete or comprehensive record of events, but only published to illustrate the level of aircraft activity at Caithness Airfields during the Second World War.
Research by Wilson Crawford; Edited by Jack Burgess.