RAF Skaebrae Air Base

The closure was a direct result of the post-war military drawdown and a significant reduction in the strategic threat to the United Kingdom. The primary mission of RAF Skaebrae was to defend the Scapa Flow naval base, which became less of a target after the end of WWII. With the reduced need for a large-scale fighter presence in Orkney, the base was deemed surplus to requirements.

The site is now privately owned and has reverted primarily to agricultural use, mainly for grazing livestock. The classic WWII triangular runway layout is still clearly visible from satellite imagery, though the paved surfaces have been removed or are covered by grass. Some sections of the perimeter track and the foundations of former buildings, such as hangars and accommodation blocks, can still be traced on the ground. The original control tower was demolished in the 1970s. The site is not publicly accessible.

RAF Skaebrae was a critically important Royal Air Force fighter station during World War II. Constructed rapidly after the outbreak of war, it officially opened in June 1940. Its primary mission was to provide air defence for the vital British Home Fleet anchored at the Scapa Flow naval base, which had been proven vulnerable by the sinking of HMS Royal Oak in 1939. As part of No. 13 Group, RAF Fighter Command, the station hosted numerous squadrons operating aircraft such as Hawker Hurricanes, Supermarine Spitfires, and Bristol Beaufighters. Pilots from Skaebrae were responsible for intercepting Luftwaffe reconnaissance flights and defending the fleet and islands from bombing raids, playing a crucial role in securing one of the UK's most important strategic assets.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF Skaebrae as an active airport. The Orkney Islands are well-served by the modern Kirkwall Airport (KOI), which handles all commercial and most general aviation traffic. The cost to restore the runways and build the necessary modern infrastructure at Skaebrae would be prohibitive, and there is no economic or logistical demand for a second major airfield in the area.