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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

factoids

List of Royal Air Force stations>Royal Air Force station| code = | site_area = 95 hectares| height = Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)>Ministry of Defence| operator = Royal Air ForceNo. 22 Group RAF>No. 22 Group (Training)| open_to_public = | condition = European theatre of World War IICold War| events = | current_commander = | past_commanders= | garrison = Volunteer Gliding Squadron>No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron2010}}| IATA = | ICAO = EGKT| FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | r1-number = 00/00| r1-length = | r1-surface = Concrete| r2-number = 00/00| r2-length = | r2-surface = Concrete| website = }}Royal Air Force Kirknewton, otherwise known as RAF Kirknewton, is a Royal Air Force station at Whitemoss, a mile south east of Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland. It is retained by the Ministry of Defence, as Kirknewton Airfield and is home to 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.WEB,weblink Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 – Annex A, 3 July 2009, GOV.UK, Ministry of Defence, 2, 19 November 2017,

History

Primarily an RAF radar station, RAF Kirknewton was home to a variety of units during the Second World War. No. 289 Squadron RAF was formed there as an anti-aircraft co-operation unit on 20 November 1941. In June 1943, RAF Kirknewton was the site of an outstanding act of bravery when Sqn Ldr Peter Guy Ottewill rescued two airmen from a burning Bristol Beaufighter, earning a George Medal.WEB, Obituary: Group Captain Peter Ottewill, The Daily Telegraph, 13 February 2003,weblink 13 April 2014, RAF Kirknewton was also used as a temporary prisoner of war Camp for German officers during the War, while they were awaiting transfer to the USA.WEB,weblink David Hitt, Kirknewton 1952–1966, Scott Mcintosh (East of Scotland Aviation Research), 2009-08-22, During the War the area in trees to the west of the airfield (which has now been redeveloped for housing) was used for additional accommodation and was known as Ritchie Camp.WEB,weblink Secret Scotland, 2011-05-14, From 1952 to 1966, Kirknewton was home to several small United States Air Force units tasked with providing mobile radio facilities in Britain.BOOK, Scottish Airfields in the Second World War: The Lothians, 1, Scottish Airfields in the Second World War, Martyn, Chorlton, Countryside Books, 2008, 9781846741067, These units included 6952nd Security Group, formerly the 6952nd Radio Squadron Mobile, United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS). Around 500 American service personnel were tasked with the interception of voice and Morse signals, including military and commercial naval traffic, with priority being given to signals involving Soviet radar and air operations. The airfield returned to UK control during the late 1960s.WEB,weblink Kirknewton Airfield, Canmore, en, 19 November 2017, Between 1968 and 1986, some of the airfield buildings were used by the battalions resident in Ritchie Camp as mechanical transport workshops and garaging. The airfield was used for driver training and for low level tactical training.As part of the Future Force 2020 budgetary announcement in July 2011, Kirknewton was to have been developed into a major British Army base to host a Multi-Role Brigade and both Dreghorn Barracks and Redford Barracks were earmarked for disposal.WEB,weblink Defence Basing Review (Standard Note SN06038), Taylor, Claire, 15 November 2011, House of Commons, House of Commons Library, 2014-04-13, However plans to develop Kirknewton as an army barracks were scrapped in March 2013.WEB,weblink BBC News – Army bases: Fewer than expected troops to return to Scotland, 2013-03-05, Bbc.co.uk, 2014-04-13,

Current use

Kirknewton houses No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, flying a fleet of three Grob Viking T1 gliders and providing flying experience and training to members of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.Several private recreational planes are also based at the airfield.

Units

Current units based at Kirknewton Airfield.No. 22 Group (Training) RAF

• No. 2 Flying Training School
  • No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron – Grob Viking T1

See also

• Armed forces in Scotland
• Military history of Scotland
• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• United States Air Force in the United Kingdom

References

{{reflist}}

External links

• UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Kirknewton (EGKT)

{{Royal Air Force}}