TheSurveyor
27-05-2010, 11:28 PM
History:
North of the village of Fordoun is a disused airfield that was active during World War II and was a two-runway satellite for Peterhead airfield
The base was active from 1942-44 primarily for flying the Airspeed Oxford - an RAF training aircraft.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4645337577_9312f1d04f.jpg
Part of the D-Day preparations involved tricking the Germans into believing that an attack would be launched from Scotland into Norway, and this plan included the display of dummy Boston and Spitfire aircraft at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Fordoun (Fordoun was specifically host to 22 dummy ‘Boston’ bombers in 1943).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/4645337527_ccf23567fe.jpg
This was further reinforced by a fleet of vans carrying radio transmitters, travelling around the country and passing messages from various locations to give the appearance of troops being massed in the area. These were all part of Operation Fortitude North.
Current Use:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4645402791_87cc8e1388.jpg
The B966 Road now cuts across the airfield. The Northern sections of the runways are used by sawmills, the Southern sections are used by a pipe management company serving the Oil & Gas sector in Aberdeen. Only buildings relating to WWII camps survive around the perimeter of the airfield - these buildings formed much bigger camps but many were demolished by local farmers and during the expansion of a nearby caravan site.
Camp1:
Base in foreground indicates more buildings used to be here, the surviving air raid shelters are guarded by peacocks.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4639906568_6e04465c6f.jpg
Camp2:
Now used by local farmer for storage.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4639364785_84abf52300.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4639916048_98515b9816.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4639931916_83c55acc64.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4639945460_4d8d0c04d5.jpg
On the B966 Road is a garage which repairs/services HGV's - apparently the central section was the brick built 2-bay fire station for the airfield - however it has been extended east and west with concrete blockwork with the original building hidden behind the modern(ish) sliding doors. Opposite the garage is the following building:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4640034854_f2e4047092.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/4640036112_2c8fa2402d.jpg
There are more buildings nearby which I have yet to photograph but will add to this report when done (been advised there is a watchtower on a nearby hilltop which was related to the airfield).
North of the village of Fordoun is a disused airfield that was active during World War II and was a two-runway satellite for Peterhead airfield
The base was active from 1942-44 primarily for flying the Airspeed Oxford - an RAF training aircraft.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4645337577_9312f1d04f.jpg
Part of the D-Day preparations involved tricking the Germans into believing that an attack would be launched from Scotland into Norway, and this plan included the display of dummy Boston and Spitfire aircraft at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Fordoun (Fordoun was specifically host to 22 dummy ‘Boston’ bombers in 1943).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/4645337527_ccf23567fe.jpg
This was further reinforced by a fleet of vans carrying radio transmitters, travelling around the country and passing messages from various locations to give the appearance of troops being massed in the area. These were all part of Operation Fortitude North.
Current Use:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4645402791_87cc8e1388.jpg
The B966 Road now cuts across the airfield. The Northern sections of the runways are used by sawmills, the Southern sections are used by a pipe management company serving the Oil & Gas sector in Aberdeen. Only buildings relating to WWII camps survive around the perimeter of the airfield - these buildings formed much bigger camps but many were demolished by local farmers and during the expansion of a nearby caravan site.
Camp1:
Base in foreground indicates more buildings used to be here, the surviving air raid shelters are guarded by peacocks.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4639906568_6e04465c6f.jpg
Camp2:
Now used by local farmer for storage.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4639364785_84abf52300.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4639916048_98515b9816.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4639931916_83c55acc64.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4639945460_4d8d0c04d5.jpg
On the B966 Road is a garage which repairs/services HGV's - apparently the central section was the brick built 2-bay fire station for the airfield - however it has been extended east and west with concrete blockwork with the original building hidden behind the modern(ish) sliding doors. Opposite the garage is the following building:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4640034854_f2e4047092.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3333/4640036112_2c8fa2402d.jpg
There are more buildings nearby which I have yet to photograph but will add to this report when done (been advised there is a watchtower on a nearby hilltop which was related to the airfield).