| RAF Oban | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Oban, Argyll and Bute | |
 <div style="position: absolute; top: Expression error: Missing operand for *.%; left: 266.7%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> RAF Oban | |
| Type | Royal Air Force station |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Air Ministry |
| Controlled by |
 Royal Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940 |
| In use | 1940-1945 |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
RAF Oban is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) flying boat base located at the northern end of the island of Kerrera, in Ardantrive Bay west of Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland during the Second World War.
History[]
Oban was surveyed by the RAF in the 1930s as a suitable base for flying boat operations. A fuel depot was set up on the island of Kerrera[citation needed] while No. 209 Squadron RAF began utilising the facilities operating the Supermarine Stranraer flying-boat in October 1939.[1] An aircraft servicing area, new slip and jetty were constructed on the island.[citation needed]
The base became operational in September 1938, with Headquarters based at Dungallan House, Oban.[citation needed] No. 209 Squadron re-equipped with Saro Lerwick flying-boats were based at RAF Oban.[1] Aircrew based at RAF Oban were billeted in the main seafront hotels at Oban.[citation needed] No. 210 Squadron RAF equipped with the Short Sunderland replaced No. 209 Squadron in July 1940.[1]
Anti submarine patrols, convoy escorts as part of 18 Group Coastal Command and ferry services were carried out from the base.[citation needed] No. 228 Squadron RAF,[2] No. 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force,[citation needed] No. 422 and 423 Squadrons Royal Canadian Air Force,[3] No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF.[4]
No. 302 Ferry Training Unit and No. 4 Flying Coat Servicing Unit served at the base.[5]
A Flying Boat Maintenance Unit located to the north east at Ganavan provided maintenance for aircraft utilising the base. The base was reverted to care and maintenance on 28 April 1945.[citation needed]
Commanding officers[]
- Group Captain J.H.O. Jones - September 1938.[citation needed]
- Group Captain J H Chaplin - December 1943.[citation needed]
References[]
Citations[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jefford 1988, p. 70.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 74.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 91.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 87.
- ↑ "Oban (Ganavan Sands)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/oban-ganavan-sands. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
Bibliography[]
- Jefford, C.G, MBE, BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Oban. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The original article can be found at RAF Oban and the edit history here.