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View Full Version : RAF Fordoun, Aberdeenshire. Report 27/05/10



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).

ZombieSazza
28-05-2010, 09:19 AM
Nice write up and pics, loving this :thumb

You need to take me here btw :D

TheSurveyor
28-05-2010, 12:26 PM
was a driveby rather than a planned visit - plenty other sites around there that have not been reported on here before.

ZombieSazza
28-05-2010, 12:36 PM
Aye? Sounds like a weekend plan to me :)

TheSurveyor
28-05-2010, 01:03 PM
got shown inside the old fire station building - all the internal walls were knocked down to allow for its current use i.e. repairing/servicing HGV's. some old wrecks parked outside which i've uploaded into the 'interesting transportation' thread - mechanic said one of them dated from when the airfield was in use but wasn't related.

TheSurveyor
29-05-2010, 01:36 AM
Aye? Sounds like a weekend plan to me :)

Did you upload anything from our RAF Dallachy trip (Control Tower) or any subsequent visits you made?

TheSurveyor
02-06-2010, 12:38 AM
Possible Ops Building:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/4659138091_430e63c962.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4659142845_2ed1316075.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4659139909_dd5b81d0f1.jpg

Hangar1:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4659768270_16f95b8aff.jpg

Hangar2: ('Died' last winter)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4659760406_6c94e1097f.jpg

***Report to follow for RAF Stracathro***

ZombieSazza
02-06-2010, 05:19 PM
No, never went back as never had the time and the Dallachy pictures I have are shit, maybe do that some weekend we're in the Moray area?

Went this weekend with TS (and complained the whole time as I was ill and grumpy :lol: )


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4663783862_92fe5af773.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4663784446_a49b248f29.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4663162453_f217754266.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4663782934_66571f9604.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4663160329_38fd9f9be4.jpg

Was pretty pissed off when I saw this

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4663160681_4a9b86e249.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4663160017_d6e684fd50.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4663781644_836c0579c7.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4663781832_f5916d5af9.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4663162939_9e4ae21098.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4663162669_7c1aa07845.jpg

lost
02-06-2010, 09:22 PM
Looks utterly dismal! Nice to get some history though.