RAF Dallachy Air Base

Military Demobilization. The airfield was constructed as a temporary base for World War II operations. With the end of the war in Europe, the need for such a large number of airfields diminished rapidly, and RAF Dallachy was declared surplus to requirements as part of the UK's post-war military drawdown.

The site is no longer an active airfield. Much of the original triangular runway layout and perimeter tracks are still clearly visible from the air, though they are in a state of decay. The land has been repurposed for various uses. A significant portion of the site is now the Dallachy Industrial Estate, housing various local businesses. Other areas have returned to agricultural use. A waste management and landfill site also operates on part of the former airfield. Several original wartime buildings, including the control tower and some hangars, are still standing, albeit in a derelict condition. A memorial stone has been erected on-site to commemorate the personnel of the Dallachy Strike Wing who served and died during the war.

RAF Dallachy was a crucial air base for RAF Coastal Command during the latter part of World War II, opening in March 1943. Its primary and most famous role was as the home of the 'Dallachy Strike Wing'. This powerful, multinational force was tasked with conducting perilous anti-shipping operations against German convoys and naval assets along the coast of occupied Norway. The wing was comprised of several squadrons, including No. 144 Squadron (RAF), No. 404 Squadron (Royal Canadian Air Force), No. 455 Squadron (Royal Australian Air Force), and No. 489 Squadron (Royal New Zealand Air Force). They primarily flew the Bristol Beaufighter, a heavy fighter equipped with cannons and rockets, perfectly suited for low-level attacks on ships. The operations were extremely dangerous, culminating in a notable and costly event on February 9, 1945, known as 'Black Friday', where the wing suffered very heavy losses while attacking a German destroyer and its escort ships in a Norwegian fjord. The base stands as a testament to the bravery of the aircrews who flew these hazardous missions.

None. There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Dallachy as an airport. The site's current mixed-use for industrial, agricultural, and waste management purposes, combined with the derelict state of the original aviation infrastructure, makes any restoration for aviation use economically and logistically unfeasible.