Their Past, Your Future: War Detectives



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Royal Air Force Tain
Highland memoirs WW2: Royal Air Force, Tain (text & image) : Class visit

RAF Tain’s history dates back to 1913 when the war office surveyed a site at Tain for possible use as an aerial Naval base to compliment the Cromarty Firth fortifications. Due to its excellent weather record and proximity to Kinloss and Lossiemouth, Tain Range was constructed between the wars and used by both RAF and FAA aircraft. In 1940 an airfield with 3 runways was built close to the Range.

Tain airfield opened officially on 16th September 1941 as a Fighter Sector Station. Along with Lossiemouth, Tain had been designated as a forward base for bombers attacking the battleship Tirptz when it was based at Trondheim in Norway. The first operation by 12 Halifaxs on 30th March 1942 was unsuccessful and one aircraft failed to return. In April 1942 two raids were carried out on the Tirptz, a number of bombs were dropped but no results observed due to the battleship’s smoke screen.

The USAAF had an interest in Tain as an advanced strike base and arrived in October 1942 to extend the runway. The station was transferred to coastal command in February 1943 and although no squadrons were permanently stationed there, the airfield was used as an advanced base for attacking shipping in the Norwegian area.

World War 2 Tanks make ideal bombing practice!

A fake train and station have been built to be used as targets

In 1943 a Torpedo refresher school was formed. This was to keep crew up to date with the torpedo training and both RAF and FAA crews used the facilities. In May 1944 the NE/SW runway was extended in preparation for the arrival of the Liberators.

One of the first actions by 66 squadron Liberators from Tain was fought on26th June 1944. A U-boat was spotted on the surface. Two attacks were made, and on the second, three depth charges exploding on the starboard side of the U-boat caused it to turn over and sink. The Liberator had been damaged by gunfire and had to land at Stornoway where it was found that a shell had gone through the main spar.

After six years of flying operation Tain reverted to its original role as a weapons range and now it is one of the busiest and most important ranges in the U.K, used by RAF,USAAF, and Nato planes.

bomb craters