RAF Alness / RAF Invergordon

The closure was a direct result of the end of World War II and the subsequent large-scale reduction of military forces and bases. More strategically, the role of the flying boat in maritime patrol was being superseded by more advanced, long-range, land-based aircraft like the Avro Shackleton. This technological shift made large, specialized seaplane bases like RAF Alness redundant for the needs of the post-war Royal Air Force.

The site of the former RAF Alness has been completely redeveloped for civilian and industrial use. The land-based facilities are now occupied by the Alness Point Business Park and the Teaninich Industrial Estate. These estates are a major economic hub for the region, supporting the North Sea oil and gas industry and, more recently, the renewable energy sector (particularly offshore wind). While most of the original buildings are gone, some physical remnants of the base are still visible, including several of the large concrete slipways used to launch and recover the flying boats, which can be seen along the shoreline of the Cromarty Firth.

RAF Alness, often referred to as RAF Invergordon due to its location on the Cromarty Firth near the major naval base, was one of the most important flying boat bases in the United Kingdom during World War II.

- **WWI Origins:** The site was first used as a seaplane base, known as RNAS Novar, from 1917 to 1918.

- **WWII Operations:** Re-established in 1938 as tensions rose in Europe, it became a crucial base for RAF Coastal Command. Its primary role was to conduct anti-submarine patrols, maritime reconnaissance, and convoy escort missions over the North Sea and the North Atlantic. Its strategic location was vital for protecting the northern sea approaches to Britain and the important naval anchorage of the Home Fleet, which sometimes used the Cromarty Firth.

- **Aircraft:** The base was home to numerous squadrons operating iconic flying boats, most notably the Short Sunderland and the Consolidated PBY Catalina.

- **Key Role:** Squadrons from Alness played a critical part in the Battle of the Atlantic, hunting German U-boats and protecting vital supply convoys. They also flew missions to support the Norwegian resistance and provided air cover for special operations. The base was a hive of activity, with extensive on-shore facilities for maintenance, armament, and accommodation for thousands of personnel.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening RAF Alness as an airport. The site is now a thriving industrial and commercial port area, and the original aviation infrastructure is either gone or derelict. The military requirement for a large flying boat base no longer exists, and the region's civil aviation needs are well-served by the nearby Inverness Airport (INV). The site's current economic value as an industrial port far outweighs any potential for aviation revival.