Building record MAB30032 - CAIRNBULG AIRFIELD

Disused airfield (X6FR, also known as Fraserburgh Airfield and Inverallochy Airfield) which was originally built as a Fighter Command satellite of Peterhead airfield (NK04NE0027), and was opened on December 6th 1941.

Disused airfield (X6FR, also known as Fraserburgh Airfield and Inverallochy Airfield) which was originally built as a Fighter Command satellite of Peterhead airfield (NK04NE0027), and was opened on December 6th 1941. It consisted of three runways, three dispersed sleeping sites, a communal area and a technical site with one T2 hangar. The first aircraft on the site were Swordfish biplanes of 823 Squadron. In May 1942 a new OTU was formed at Fraserburgh to train Spitfire and Mosquito pilots. Additional aircraft hangers, buildings and air-raid shelters were added in the dispersal areas. The airfield was used by the training unit until the end of 1944 when it was taken over by Coastal Command, who brought in Warwicks for air-sea rescue operations. It closed in November 1945, but was used as a training centre for Polish Army units from late 1945 for around 2 years. The site was used by Aberdeen Gliding Club throughout the 1950s. Numerous structures are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1946 The technical site, on the west side of the airfield had at least 30 buildings including parachute store and a type T2 transportable aircraft hangar, and at least six emergency air-raid shelters (see also NK06SW0255, NK06SW0256). The south dispersal area (centred NK 0393 6383) included two blister-type aircraft hangars, two E-plan dispersals, at least seven buildings, a small tower and an emergency air-raid shelter. The east dispersal area (centred NK 0458 6460) shows three blister hangars, five huts and three E-plan blast pens. There was another small dispersal area circa 400m to the northwest (the site now occupied by a housing estate). An accommodation camp on the northwest perimeter (centred NK 0355 6465) comprised at least 28 by 1946 (the site is now largely under a housing estate). The control tower stood at circa NK 0355 6413. The Battle HQ for the site lay to the west of the airfield – see NK06SW0103). The two runways are now blocked by poultry houses and almost all of its original buildings have been demolished, leaving only a few solitary huts and the parachute store. The airfield is still clearly visible in aerial images, and although portions of the runways have been lost, their outlines are still complete. To the north of the site, a housing estate now occupies a portion of the ground with the former airfield perimeter road, encroaching on the ends of two of the runways. To the west are the remains of an extensive accommodation and administration camp and transmitting station (NK06SW0035) and a W. A. A. F. accommodation area (NK06SW0036).

SMITH, D, 1983, ACTION STATIONS 7, 108-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3237.

CARTER, S, 1996, GOWANFOLD FORESTRY SURVEY, REPORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB2356.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/CT53,55, AAS/00/04/CT53,55 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12633.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G12/28-30, AAS/00/04/G12/28-30 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12632.

Feb 15 2000 , AAS/00/04/G13/2,3, AAS/00/04/G13/2,3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12634.

Nov 11 1993 , AAS/93/15/G31/12-15, AAS/93/15/G31/12-15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15105.

Nov 11 1993 , AAS/93/15/G32/1-5, AAS/93/15/G32/1-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB15106.

Record last edited

Mar 13 2026 2:31PM