RAF Dounreay was built for RAF Coastal Command in 1944 but not used by them. Transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Tern II but not commissioned and on care and maintenance until 1954.

In 1955 the airfield was taken over by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...

 (UKAEA) for developing a fast breeder reactor. One runway was kept operational until the 1990s for transport to/from the site.