Building record MAB6547 - MILLTOWN AIRFIELD

Former World War II airfield.

First developed as a 'Q' site (dummy airfield) for RAF Lossiemouth. The 'Q' site was abandoned in October 1941, and a proper airfield was built in its place. Three runways were laid out along with 27 hard-standings around the perimeter track and two hangars.

In June 1943, Milltown became a satellite for 20 OTU's Wellingtons. There were several accidents on site, most were minor, except for two incidents. The first, on 25 October 1943, when a Wellington crashed on overshooting the runway, killing the four crew. The second, on 26 May 1944, when a Wellington from Milltown crashed into the sea, close enough to shore to leave the fin protruding above the shallow water (exact location unknown).

20 OTU left Milltown in September 1944, at which time the station was taken over by Coastal Command. The first squadron on site was 224 with Liberators MkVIs from St Eval. 224 squadron remained at Milltown until July 1945, when they were replaced by 111 OTU from the Bahamas with Liberators and Halifaxes. Along with 1674 HCUI, 111 OTU were the last RAF unit to use Milltown.

The Royal Navy took over control of Milltown in 1946. The station became HMS Fulmar 11, an offshoot of HMS Fulmar at Lossiemouth. At this time, a mirror landing installation was installed so that student pilots could carry out Mirror Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings. HMS Fulmar 11 was closed for flying in March 1977 and is now a radio transmitter site used by 81 Signals Unit.

A Level 1 Standing Building Survey of the airfield was carried out by Addyman Archaeology in October 2021 ahead of proposed development. This included photographic recording of the runways, and of the post-airfield structures including radar masts, now comprising concrete mast bases. In the southwestern part of the airfield was a structure constructed of soil-filled ammunition boxes, which had comprised of two rooms and windows, a corrugated iron roof and had largely collapsed on one side. A pillbox of Yarnold-Sangar type was recorded on its west side. At the south of the airfield was a small concrete installation of unknown function. A further circular brick structure, likely to be the base of a World War II pillbox of Norcon type and a small square building were also recorded at the south side. The runways and perimeter roads of the military airfield were constructed from concrete, generally in 4 m by 4 m panels, which in places had worn, exposing the internal structure.

See also MAB6704 for BattLE/Station Headquarters.

SMITH, D, 1983, ACTION STATIONS 7, 151-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3237.

FOUNDATIONS ARCHAEOLOGY, 2017, MILLTOWN AIRFIELD, MILLTOWN, MORAY, SCOTLAND: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB4111.

RPS GROUP, 2021, LAND AT MILLTOWN, MORAY: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB3197.

ADDYMAN ARCHAEOLOGY, 2021, MILLTOWN AIRFIELD LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAY: HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING, SBS (Bibliographic reference). SAB8362.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2022, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 22 (2021), p.127 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8314.

Jul 16 2001 , AAS/01/5/CT3-10, AAS/01/5/CT3-10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31642.

Jul 16 2001 , AAS/01/5/G6/18-27, AAS/01/5/G6/18-27 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31641.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/CT, AAS/97/12/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31371.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/CT190, AAS/97/12/CT190 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB33154.

Oct 9 1997 , AAS/97/12/G27/15, AAS/97/12/G27/15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31370.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2026 6:55PM