RAF Kinloss
Royal Air Force Kinloss, or more simply RAF Kinloss, is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north east of Scotland, UK.
| RAF Kinloss | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinloss, Moray in Scotland | |||||||
Nimrod aircraft parked at RAF Kinloss. | |||||||
Power to the Hunter | |||||||
RAF Kinloss Location in Moray | |||||||
| Coordinates | 57°38′58″N 003°33′38″W | ||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||
| Area | 666 hectares | ||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Strike Command * No. 18 Group RAF RAF Air Command * No. 1 Group RAF | ||||||
| Condition | Closed | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1938 | ||||||
| In use | 1939–2012 | ||||||
| Fate |
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| Garrison information | |||||||
| Past commanders | Group Captain James Johnston (final station commander) | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: FSS, ICAO: EGQK, WMO: 03066 | ||||||
| Elevation | 6.7 metres (22 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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The RAF station opened on 1 April 1939 and served as a training establishment during the Second World War. After the war it was handed over to Coastal Command to monitor Soviet ships and submarines in the Norwegian Sea. Until 2010 it was the main base for the RAF's fleet of Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR.2 maritime patrol aircraft. It was intended that the MR2 would be replaced by the Nimrod MRA.4, but the MRA4 was cancelled in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010. As a result, Kinloss became surplus to RAF requirements and regular flying operations ceased on 31 July 2011.
In November 2011, the Ministry of Defence and 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group of the British Army announced that 930 personnel from 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) would move from Waterbeach Barracks, near Cambridge, to Kinloss in summer 2012. The first personnel of 39 Engineer Regiment arrived in June 2012, with the majority arriving in July 2012. The airfield is maintained as a relief landing site by Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4s from nearby RAF Lossiemouth.
On 26 July 2012 the RAF Ensign was lowered for the last time, and replaced by the flag of 39 Engineer Regiment, marking the establishment of Kinloss Barracks.