NJ3563 : Perimeter track, RAF Dallachy, Moray
taken 8 years ago, near to Nether Dallachy, Moray, Scotland
RAF Dallachy was constructed between 1942 and 1943 and flying began on 25th June 1943. Initially it was used by Flying Training Command flying Oxfords. Operational flying began the following year under Coastal Command. Dallachy Strike Wing comprised four Beaufighter squadrons with one each from the RAF and the air forces of Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Raids were conducted against shipping in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coast.
On 9th February 1945, known as Black Friday, nine Beaufighters, six of which were from the Canadian squadron, were lost on a raid at Førde Fjord in Norway against a destroyer, a mine sweeper and escorting vessels. The destroyer was blown up and the minesweeper damaged. This incident and all the Dallachy Strike Wing aircrew who died during the war are commemorated on the NJ3563 : Dallachy Strike Wing Memorial at Bogmoor village to the west of the airfield.
The airfield became a Territorial Army training base in November 1945 which continued until 1958. It was used for gliding in the 1980s and, at the time of writing (2017), part of the airfield is used
for flying by a model aircraft club.
Remains of the airfield which can still be seen include the two runways, much of the perimeter track, many hardstandings, part of the operations block and the control tower. A section of the perimeter track, to the north of the airfield, has been converted to public highway and is called Beaufighter Road.
Primary source: Action Stations 7, Military Airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland by David J Smith