RAF Inverness

RAF Longman; RAF Inverness
	Inverness, Highland in Scotland
	RAF Longman Shown within Scotland Highlands
Coordinates	57°29′20″N 4°13′07″W
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Fighter Command
Site history
Built	1940
In use	1940-1945
Battles/wars	Second World War
Garrison information
Garrison	No. 13 (Fighter) Group

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

History

The airfield was built in 1933 as a civilian airport for Highland Airways to link Orkney and Wick to Inverness and the major rail links, the base was converted to an Royal Air Force base at the Outbreak of World War II, but didn't officially become an RAF base until 1941. The base itself was spotted and recognised the base by German Reconnosance Units, however, incorrectly noted it down as a seaplane base, which likely, saved Inverness from any major bombing by the Luftwaffe.[1]

Under the command of No. 13 (Fighter) Group, it hosted No. 70 (Signals) Wing Calibration Flight between 17 February 1941 and 25 August 1945.[2]

Operational Squadrons & Aircraft

Unit	From	To	Aircraft	Version	Notes
No. 241 Squadron RAF	Sep 1940	Apr 1942	Westland Lysander	MK. II	Formed from 'A' Flight of 614 Squadron.
No. 289 Squadron RAF	1 May 1939	Sep 1939	Avro Anson	?
No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron			Supermarine Spitfire	Mk. I
No. 526 Squadron RAF	June 1943	1 May 1945	Airspeed Oxford	MK. I	Absorbed into 527 Squadron
No. 527 Squadron RAF	1 May 1945	8 Nov 1945	de Havilland Dominie
No. 598 Squadron RAF	1 Dec 1943	12 Mar 1945	Airspeed Oxford	Mk. II
No. 614 Squadron RAF 'A' flight	8 Jun 1940	5 Mar 1941	Westland Lysander	Mk. II	Became 241 Squadron
782 Naval Air Squadron					[3]

Other units

No. 14 Group Target Towing Flight RAF[3] became No. 1491 (Target Towing) Flight RAF[4]
No. 1 (Coastal) Engine Control Demonstration Unit RAF[5] (19 Oct - 17 Nov 1943)
No. 1 Radio Servicing Section Calibration Flight RAF[6] became No. 70 Wing Calibration Flight RAF[7]
No. 13 Group Communication Flight RAF[3]
No. 14 Group Communication Flight RAF[3]
No. 56 Maintenance Unit RAF[3]
No. 70 (Signals) Wing RAF[3]

Longman Aerodrome c.1947, Junkers Ju 52 in mid right

Following the war, it was converted to general use under the title Longman Airfield until Inverness Airport became the primary hub in 1947, due to the airfield being regarded as too small for safe operations. Prior to its closure, it was served by the British European Airways, and its fleet of captured Ex-Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52. It is also believed that for some time, Hitler's personal Ju 52 (registration D-2600), was stored at the Longman after the war.

References

"Forgotten airfields". forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
RAFWeb.org (Retrieved 30 September 2009)
"Longman (Inverness)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
Lake 1999, p. 91.
Lake 1999, p. 50.
Lake 1999, p. 159.
Lake 1999, p. 290.

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[1] "Forgotten airfields". forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

[2] RAFWeb.org (Retrieved 30 September 2009)

[ABCT-3] "Longman (Inverness)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2020.

[FOOTNOTELake199991-4] Lake 1999, p. 91.

[FOOTNOTELake199950-5] Lake 1999, p. 50.

[FOOTNOTELake1999159-6] Lake 1999, p. 159.

[FOOTNOTELake1999290-7] Lake 1999, p. 290.