Longside Airfield


(RAF Peterhead)

Longside Airfield is located at Torterston, 2½ miles (4 km) east of Longside and 3 miles (5 km) west northwest of Peterhead in the Buchan district of Aberdeenshire. It began as RAF Peterhead in 1941 and operated until 1945. Today it is the base for Buchan Aero Club with one 500m (1640 feet) concrete runway, laid out on part of one of the former RAF runways. There is also a heliport which is occasionally used by the North Sea oil industry.

RAF Peterhead was a large base, with up to 2000 personnel with a range of different nationalities, several fighter and coastal protection squadrons, including Hurricane, Spitfire and Mustang aircraft. It was bombed by the Germans in 1941. Although most of the original buildings have been demolished (including the control tower which survived until 1969), several structures remain and the location of its three runways remains clear. In 2003, a memorial cairn was built by the Longside Branch of the Royal British Legion to commemorate those who served at RAF Peterhead.

This airfield should not be confused with RNAS Longside, a First World War airship station located 4 miles (6.5 km) to the southwest at Lenabo.


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