RAF Banff


(Boyndie Airstrip)

A former air base in N Aberdeenshire, RAF Banff is located 2 miles (3 km) southeast of Portsoy and 4½ miles (7 km) west of Banff. Opened in 1943 as a training base, but was transferred to Coastal Command in 1944. RAF, Commonwealth and Norwegian squadrons based here played an important role destroying enemy supply ships and U-boats in the North Sea. The base comprised three tarmac runways in a triangular configuration which remain visible today; a main runway oriented east-west and extending to 1831m (6007 feet) and two subsidiary runways oriented northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast both 1037m (3402 feet) in length. The concrete bases of the former hangars and a significant number of circular hardstands can still be seen, together with the control tower, a parachute packing building, part of the main store, several emergency air-raid shelters, the foundations of accommodation huts, and several other buildings.

A group of turbines which form the Boyndie Wind Farm now occupy the western and southern sections of the site, while other areas have been returned to agriculture. The RAF Banff Strike Wing Memorial is situated in the A98 road a half-mile (1 km) to the south.


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