Banff
Runways: -
RWY 18/36 Asphalt 1280m x46m ,RWY 06/24 Asphalt 1280m x46m & RWY 12/30 Asphalt 1828m x46m.
Banff, or as known locally Boyndie, Was built for Coastal Command in 1942. Because or requirements for Northeast advanced bases, the airfield was offered to 24 Bomber Command which would require that they use it alongside 3 OTU. Through fears of congestion this was refused. With 3 OTU's HQ moving from Cranwell to Haverford West. Banff was then taken control by 21 Group Flying Training Command on April 5th 1943.
Towards the end of May, Oxfords were ferried up from Nottinghamshire. The unit at Banff had 3 BAT flights attached to it. These were 1512, 1542 at Dallachy and 1518 at Edzell. Fraserburgh was also used as a satellite airfield for Banff.
14 Pilot Advance Flying Unit based their until August 1944, when Coastal Command took over having moved most of there aircraft from the south to the north to continue anti-shipping and anti-U-boat operations against the German Navy. Station OC Group. Captain. The Hon. Max Aitken DSO DFC (son of Lord Beaverbrook) was handed over the station on 1st September 1944 he remained OC until May 1945. Main task to attack enemy U-boats and merchantman and other seaborne craft around Norway. The Banff Strike Wing operated Mainly Mosquitoes from October 1944 onwards. Due to the nature of the attack on vessels either 50 feet or from 2,000 feet diving at the vessel / U-boat firing cannon and machine guns and eight rocket projectiles 25 lb. or 60 lb. head the cost of lives were high. Between September 1944 and May 1945 - 80 aircrew lost their lives flying from RAF Banff higher than that of bomber Command for this period.
The airfield activity increases from mid 1944 as U-boats fled their bases in France and moved north. The operational Aircraft which in September consisted of Beaufighters of 144 & 404 Squadrons and mosquitoes of 235 squadron, these moved to Dallachy in October 1944. There were also mosquitoes of 248 & 333 Squadron (Norwegian). 143 Squadron (Beaufighters) came to Banff in October 1944 and converted to Mosquitoes in December 1944.
Squadrons: 144 Squadron (until Oct'44) 404 RCAF squadron (until Oct' 44) 235 Sqdn Mosquito Mk IV, 248 Sqdn, Mosquito Mk IV and one detachment of 'Tetse' (57 mm cannon / 6 pounder) Mosquitoes (C flight), from Nov' 44 - 281 Sqdn Detachment Warwicks (before move to Fraserburgh) 279 Squadron, 19 Squadron on detachment from Peterhead for two days. 1 RAF Film Unit Mosquito. From March 25, 1945 404 RCAF returned to retrain on Mosquitoes later in August 1945 489 RNZAF went to Banff for Mosquito training. In late 1944 the famous 'dambusters' visited the 'airfield having hit their target with Tall Boy bombs they returned to Lossiemouth but they ran out of space some Lancasters were diverted to Banff, as one landed still with its unused bomb attached it parked up in front of the Control Tower (still standing) when the tall boy dropped away from the underside bomb bay area/housing, luck was on the stations side it did not explode otherwise it would have taken half the base away! the station was out of bounds for two days while the bomb squad made it safe.
When Hostilities ended, The wing continued in Shipping protection until May 21st, this was to ensure that shipping went unhindered by possible U-boats which disregarded on were unaware of the German Surrender.
On June 1st 1945, 143 Squadron was renumbered 14 Squadron and moved to Cambrai/Epinoy, France, as part of BAFO (British Air Force of Occupation). The Squadron retained Mosquitoes until disbandonment on 31st March 1946. 333 Squadron Went to Norway in June and 235 & 248 Squadrons disbanded at Banff in July 1945. No 489 Squadron repositioned from Dallachy on June 16th 1945. 404 Squadron, which had come from Dallachy to convert to the Mosquito in March 1945, disbanded at Banff in May 1945.
The airfield closed in mid 1946, RAF Lossiemouth used the site for simulated bombing. In 1976 part of the airfield was reopened as a flying club. This club is now closed and the site is partly used as a carting track.
Milestones
April 5th 1943 Banff transferred to the control of 21 Group Flying Training Command April 21st 1943 Airfield Opened End May 1943 14 (P)AFU Oxfords arrived from Ossington August 1943 Two Horsa Gliders were displayed as part of Operation Tyndall February 12th 1944 BOAC Lodestar on Stockholm-Leuchers run diverted in. July 1944 Bulk of 19 Group Squadrons transferred North to combat U-Boat Withdrawal from French Bases September 1st 1944 On receipt of 14 Day notice from Coastal Command, 14 (P)AFU were to be moved from Banff August 31st 1944 14 (P)AFU was informed that it was being disbanded September 14th 1944 First Armed Recce of the Norwegian Coast took Place with 29 Mosquitoes and 19 Beaufighters October 1944 Beaufighter units left for Dallachy and Banff left to run Mosquitoes October 26th 1944 Banff Mosquitoes used Rocket Projectiles for the first time December 7th 1944 First encounter with Luftwaffe Fighters by Banff Wing January 15th 1945 6 Mosquitoes were lost attacking ships in Leirvik Harbour April 9th 1945 37 Mosquitoes attacked and sunk 3 U-Boats April 21st 1945 Chance Encounter with 18 Torpedo Carrying Junkers, 45 Mosquitoes reduced the number to 9 March 1945 404 Squadron arrived from Dallachy to covert to Mosquitoes May 4th 1945 Final Shipping Strike of the War in Keil Bay May 21st 1945 Mosquitoes ceased carrying out Convoy Escort Sorties May 25th 1945 404 Squadron Disbanded at Banff June 1st 1945 143 Squadron was renamed 14 Squadron June 1945 333 Squadron went to Norway, 235 & 248 Squadrons Disbanded at Banff June 16th 1945 489 Squadron repositioned from Dallachy March 31st 1946 14 Squadron Disbanded Mid June 1946 Airfield Close, continued to be used at target for Lossiemouth Units for simulated bombing Map Reference: - 29/620645
Access: - 6 Miles West of Banff on B9139
Sights: - Memorial in Lay-by off of A98, 3 Miles west of Banff. Along the Car Park each of the trees have a memorial stone to each of the squadrons. A book containing all the losses was placed in Banff Church
What's left: - The Airfield still has runways, control tower and various buildings, the dispersed sites still have ruins of buildings but the majority have gone. Almost every access to the Airfield has palocked gates.
ø one of the trees at the car park witha Squadron Stone ø The Strike Wing Memorial with the 14 (P)AFU memorial immediately behind it. ø One of the remaining Buildings (Picket Post) at Dispersed site 10 (Defence Unit) near the airfield ø Looking down one of the 3 runways at Banff ø The Old tower, to the left is the N.F.E. Store. "Banff Flying Club" is painted on the tower from 1976. ø The track from the Bomb Store, The Fuzing points are visible on this road at the sides if you walk down it. ø A view from the tower looking at the Fabric Store , M/T Office & Stores ø In Numerous books there was a picture taken from the watchtower where there is a line of Mosquitoes Taxing to the Runway, there are hangers, The Station proctor and The Fire Crew hut with it's little garden. This is basically the same photo some 54 Years later which doesn't have the same atmosphere as it did in May 1945.
Click here to read about an Ex 143 Squadron Navigator John Haddock
Click here for an excellent RAF Banff Site
www.hcs.dial.pipex.com/rafbanff.html http://fp.banffshiremuseum.plus.com/banff.htm
