View source for RAF Elgin

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force airfield in Moray, Scotland}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF Elgin
| ensign = File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign_size = 90
| native_name = 
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = 
| nearest_town = [[Miltonduff]], [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Moray]]
| country = [[Scotland]]
| image = File:Bogs of Mayne Memorial near Elgin - geograph.org.uk - 121216.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = The site of RAF Elgin during 2006, including the No. 20 Operational Training unit memorial
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force satellite station]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|57|37|31.5|N|3|20|57.1|W|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map = Scotland Moray#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Moray
| pushpin_label = RAF Elgin
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| ownership = [[Air Ministry]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[RAF Bomber Command]]
* [[No. 2 Group RAF]]
* [[No. 6 Group RAF|No. 6 (T) Group RAF]]
* [[No. 91 Group RAF|No. 91 (OTU) Group RAF]]{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=89}}
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code -->
| built = {{Start date|1940}}
| used = June 1940 – {{End date|1947}}
| builder = [[Royal Engineers]]
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = Returned to agricultural use
| condition = 
| battles = [[European theatre of World War II]]
| events = 
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = 
| ICAO = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 
| elevation = {{Convert|30|m|0}}{{sfn|Falconer|2012|p=89}}
| r1-number = N/S 
| r1-length = {{Convert|1280|m|0}}
| r1-surface = Grass
| r2-number = E/W 
| r2-length = {{Convert|1143|m|0}}
| r2-surface = Grass
| r3-number = SE/NW
| r3-length = {{Convert|1005|m|0}}
| r3-surface = Grass
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
}}
'''Royal Air Force Elgin''' or more simply '''RAF Elgin''' also known as '''Bogs of Mayne''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|satellite station]] located approximately {{Convert|1.5|km|mile|abbr=}} south west of [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]] in [[Moray]], [[Scotland]]. It opened in 1940 as a satellite airfield of [[RAF Lossiemouth]] and was used throughout the [[World War II|Second World War]], predominantly by bomber aircraft of No. 20 Operational Training Unit. Towards the end of the war it was used by [[No. 46 Maintenance Unit RAF|No. 46 Maintenance Unit]], before it closed in 1947. The site was returned to agricultural use, although several airfield buildings and a memorial remain.

==History==
=== Establishment ===
RAF Elgin was built as a satellite landing ground (SLG) for [[RAF Lossiemouth]] which was approximately {{Convert|8.85|km|mile|abbr=}} to the north. Construction work was undertaken by the [[Royal Engineers]] and the site opened in early June 1940.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=75}}
[[File:Target Dossier for Elgin, Moray, Scotland - DPLA - 644453afc9283f901c1962ea4946340d (page 1).jpg|thumb|RAF Elgin on a target dossier of the German [[Luftwaffe]], 1940|left]]
The airfield was located approximately {{Convert|1.5|km|mile|abbr=}} south west of [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]] in [[Moray]]. It was situated on agricultural land known as '''Bogs of Mayne''', situated between the [[River Lossie]] to the east and the B9010 Elgin to [[Forres]] road to the west. The main site extended to {{Convert|180.5|hectare|acre|abbr=}}, with a further {{Convert|6.50|hectare|acre|abbr=}} used for domestic accommodation and administrative buildings, between Wester Manbeen Cottages and [[Miltonduff]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Elgin Airfield|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/81853/elgin-airfield|access-date=30 January 2021|website=Canmore|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|language=en}}</ref>{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=75}} The airfield had three grass runways: north/south ({{Convert|1280|m|ft|abbr=}} in length), east/west ({{Convert|1143|meter|ft|abbr=}}) and south east/north west ({{Convert|1005|meter|ft|abbr=}}). Two hangars were located at the south west side of the airfield, a B1 and a T2 type, and a [[Magazine (artillery)|bomb store]] was located to the south of the north–south runway.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=|pp=75, 78}} Twenty concrete [[Hardstand|hard-standings]] for the parking of aircraft were created around the northern and western boundaries.<ref name=":0" /> The airfield was unusual in that it had its own [[Water supply|water works]], consisting of dam across a stream and an underground pumping station.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=|pp=75, 78}}

=== Operations ===
Due to the threat of invasion by [[Nazi Germany]], when completed the airfield was obstructed by the Royal Engineers to prevent enemy landings.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=75}} Once the threat reduced, the first flying unit arrived on 13 August, when [[No. 57 Squadron RAF|No. 57 Squadron]] relocated from RAF Lossiemouth to create space for the expansion of [[No. 20 OTU|No. 20 Operational Training Unit]] (No. 20 OTU). The squadron operated the [[Bristol Blenheim]] light-bomber in the anti-shipping role. It moved to [[RAF Wyton]] in November. During this period, the airfield was also used by Lossiemouth-based Blenheims belonging to [[No. 21 Squadron RAF|No. 21 Squadron]], as well as [[Westland Lysander]]s of [[No. 614 Squadron RAF|No. 614 Squadron]] operating from [[RAF Inverness|RAF Longman]] on coastal patrols.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=76}}

On 26 October, RAF Lossiemouth was attacked by three [[Heinkel He 111]] of the {{Lang|de|[[Luftwaffe]]}}.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=110}} To protect the area from further attacks, [[Hawker Hurricane]]s of [[No. 232 Squadron RAF|No. 232 Squadron]] were deployed to RAF Elgin from [[RAF Skitten]]. The Hurricanes carried out air defence duties until April 1941, when they moved to [[RAF Montrose]] without having encountered any enemy aircraft. They were replaced by detachments of Hurricanes from [[No. 17 Squadron RAF|No. 17 Squadron]], normally based at [[RAF Sumburgh]] and [[RAF Castletown|RAF Castleton]].{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=76}}
[[File:Vickers Wellington - RAF Bomber Command 1940 HU104763.jpg|left|thumb|A [[Vickers Wellington]] of the type flown by No. 20 Operational Training Unit]]
A-Flight of No. 20 OTU, equipped with the [[Vickers Wellington]] medium-bomber, began using RAF Elgin for training on 18 April. Flying continued throughout 1941 and 1942, with the airfield predominantly used by the unit's Wellington and [[Avro Anson]] training aircraft. [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley]] medium-bombers belonging to [[No. 19 OTU]] based at nearby [[RAF Kinloss]] also occasionally visited. Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU were also involved in [[Strategic bombing during World War II|strategic bombing raids]] on German cities during 1942, the training aircraft being required to help reach the target number of 1,000 bombers per raid.{{Sfn|Hughes|1999|p=76}}{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=112}} No. 19 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit from [[Inverness Airport|RAF Dalcross]] used the airfield during 1943, flying the [[Airspeed Oxford]] training aircraft.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=77}}

1944 saw the peak of activity, with 1,087 RAF personnel and 234 members of the [[Women's Auxiliary Air Force]] based at the airfield.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=78}}

To improve aircraft manoeuvring area surfaces, some areas of the airfield benefited from [[Sommerfeld tracking|bar and rod tracking]]. However, the combination of ground conditions and the high frequency of flying led to drainage problems. To address the issue, a full bar and rod system was installed by [[Airfield Construction Branch RAF|No. 5016 Airfield Construction Squadron]] in 1944, with further work undertaken in March 1945.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=78}}

=== Draw-down and closure ===
On 28 July 1944, [[No. 46 Maintenance Unit RAF|No. 46 Maintenance Unit]] became the primary user of the airfield when No. 105 Sub Storage Unit was established. The unit was tasked with the storage of [[Avro Lancaster]] bombers and [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]] trainer aircraft. After the end of hostilities in Europe, the airfield was placed into a care and maintenance status on 24 June 1945.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=78}} In January 1947, No. 105 SSU transferred to [[No. 45 Maintenance Unit RAF|No. 45 Maintenance Unit]], based at RAF Kinloss. RAF Elgin closed later that year.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=78}}<ref name=":0" />

== No. 20 Operational Training Unit memorial ==
[[File:20 OTU Memorial.jpg|thumb|234x234px|No. 20 Operational Training unit memorial during 2012|left]]
During 1943, No. 20 Operational Training Unit was awarded its [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|heraldic badge]]. A concrete version of the badge was created and still remains at the site of RAF Elgin. A concrete badge was also present at RAF Lossiemouth, but it is unknown whether this was the same badge as is now present at the RAF Elgin site, having potentially been relocated when control of RAF Lossiemouth transferred to the [[Fleet Air Arm]] in 1946. The badge has been in its current position since 1968, when it was relocated by the farmer of the surrounding land.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=77}} A plaque was added in 1992 which states:<ref>{{Cite web|title=War Memorials Register – RAF Elgin / Bogs O'Mayne 20 Operational Training Unit|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/78193|access-date=9 February 2020|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en}}</ref><ref group=Note name=Note01/>

{{Blockquote|text=Erected on the site of R.A.F. Elgin (Bogs of Mayne) a satellite airfield for Nº 20 O.T.U. Lossiemouth between 1940 and 1945. Wellington aircraft used this airfield for training and also as a departure point for the thousand bomber raids summer 1942. Other aircraft using the airfield included Blenheims, Whitleys, Hurricanes, Lysanders and Oxfords. The airfield closed in 1946.

PLAQUE PRESENTED BY RAF LOSSIEMOUTH ON 15TH MAY 1992|title=|source=No. 20 Operational Training Unit memorial}}

== Post-military use ==
[[File:Former airfield buildings at Bogs of Mayne near Elgin - geograph.org.uk - 121219.jpg|thumb|Former airfield buildings adjacent to the B9010 road during 2006]]
The airfield was returned to agricultural use after its closure in 1947. The main airfield buildings such as hangars and the control tower have been demolished as have the perimeter tracks.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=78}} Two brick and concrete buildings thought to be used for motor transport and engineering repairs exist on the east side of the B9010 road, with a third being demolished in 2016 to allow construction of an agricultural shed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Planning – Application Summary – Proposed new dairy and cattle court at Wester Manbeen Farm Elgin Moray IV30 8TN (16/00829/APP)|url=https://publicaccess.moray.gov.uk/eplanning/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=O7O3DZBGN1300|access-date=9 February 2021|website=Moray Council}}</ref> Other buildings, both intact and ruined, exist within surrounding fields and woodland, including a former [[Decontamination|decontamination building]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 May 2016|title=Elgin Airfield – Public Photo Contribution|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/81853/contribution/elgin-airfield/CAN1_56194|access-date=9 February 2021|website=Canmore|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|language=en}}</ref>

Part of the former airfield is now used as a sand and gravel [[quarry]], operated by [[Tarmac (company)|Tarmac]] and known as Cloddach Quarry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cloddach Sand and Gravel Quarry|url=https://tarmac.com/locations/cloddach-sand-and-gravel-quarry/|access-date=6 February 2020|website=Tarmac|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=Note|refs=<ref name=Note01>The memorial plaque states the airfield closed during 1946, whereas other sources indicate a closure year of 1947.</ref>}}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last1=Falconer|first1=J|title=RAF Airfields of World War 2 |year=2012 |publisher= Ian Allan Publishing|location= UK|isbn=978-1-85780-349-5}}
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Hughes|1999}}|reference=Hughes, Jim (1999). ''A Steep Turn to the Stars''. Peterborough, GMS Enterprises. {{ISBN|978-1-870384-71-1}}}}

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elgin}}
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1940]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Elgin, Moray]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Moray]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1940]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport in Moray]]