RAF Kirknewton
Encyclopedia
RAF Kirknewton is a Royal Air Force
station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian
, Scotland
.
Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the war. No. 289 Squadron RAF
was formed there as an anti-aircraft co-operation unit on 20 November 1941.
RAF Kirknewton was used as a temporary POW Camp for German officers during WWII, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA.
From 1952 to 1966, Kirknewton was home to several small United States Air Force
units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain.
It now houses No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
flying a fleet of eight Grob
Viking gliders to provide flying experience and training to members of the Air Cadet Organisation.
During the 1970's the area in trees to the west of the airfield (which now seems to be the home of some very up market housing) was used by the Army and known as Ritchie Camp
. The unit in residence also had the run of the airfield site for driver training and other military activities. The units there included the Black Watch and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
.
The new Kirknewton "super-barracks" will replace the Dreghorn
and Redford barracks
, which are to be sold off.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian
Kirknewton, West Lothian
Kirknewton is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. Its population is about 2200 . It lies south of the A71 from Edinburgh to Livingston, and north of the A70, the high-level road that runs along the north side of the Pentland Hills from Edinburgh to Carnwath and Lanark...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Primarily an RAF radar base, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the war. No. 289 Squadron RAF
No. 289 Squadron RAF
No. 289 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti-aircraft cooperation unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed at RAF Kirknewton on 17 November 1941 and was equipped with Lysanders and Blenheims, Hurricanes and Hudsons to provide practice for the...
was formed there as an anti-aircraft co-operation unit on 20 November 1941.
RAF Kirknewton was used as a temporary POW Camp for German officers during WWII, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA.
From 1952 to 1966, Kirknewton was home to several small United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain.
It now houses No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
flying a fleet of eight Grob
Grob
Grob may refer to:People:* Gertrude Grob-Prandl , a Wagnerian soprano from Vienna* Henri Grob , a Swiss chess master* Jakob Grob , a Swiss rower* Konrad Grob , a Swiss painter...
Viking gliders to provide flying experience and training to members of the Air Cadet Organisation.
During the 1970's the area in trees to the west of the airfield (which now seems to be the home of some very up market housing) was used by the Army and known as Ritchie Camp
Ritchie Camp
Ritchie Camp served RAF Kirknewton, a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland during World War II...
. The unit in residence also had the run of the airfield site for driver training and other military activities. The units there included the Black Watch and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
The future
As part of the Future Force 2020 budgetary announcement in July 2011, Kirknewton is to be developed into a major Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade. The first units are expected to move in to Kirknewton in 2016-17. Additional troops will be stationed in Glencorse BarracksGlencorse Barracks
-History:Glencorse Barracks date from 1803, when they were first used to hold prisoners, then known as Greenlaw Military Prison, during the Napoleonic Wars before being bought outright from the private estate on which they stood . The only surviving building from that time is the former Guardroom,...
.
The new Kirknewton "super-barracks" will replace the Dreghorn
Dreghorn Barracks
Dreghorn Barracks are located in Edinburgh, Scotland. The barracks are situated at the southern edge of the city, south of Colinton, and adjacent to the Edinburgh City Bypass. The present barracks complex was largely built in 1937–1939 to designs by William Alexander Ross. The barracks were...
and Redford barracks
Redford Barracks
Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks are located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland....
, which are to be sold off.
External links
- Photo Archive An Edinburgh based reminiscence group's collection of people's photo albums. This links shows USAF personnel on the base and the neighbouring Inn.