Construction (1938–1939) Construction started during the summer of 1938, when 220 hectares (540 acres) of agricultural land were acquired to accommodate the airfield. Five farms were requisitioned: Newlands, Coulardbank, Greens, Smithfield and Kinnedar. The land was cleared of vegetation and buildings, and by spring 1939, several wooden huts had been constructed.
Group Captain P.E. Maitland was the first station commander and took up post in March 1939, with the station formally opening on 1 May 1939. The first unit to take up residence at Lossiemouth was
No. 15 Flying Training School (No. 15 FTS), initially equipped with thirteen
Airspeed Oxfords and five
Hawker Harts. Aircraft were stored in the open until the first hangars were completed in August 1939. That same month, tragedy struck when three crew members were killed during a mid-air collision between two Oxfords.
Second World War (1939–1945) At the outbreak of the
Second World War, a detachment of
Seaforth Highlanders was sent to Lossiemouth to guard the station, and anti-aircraft defences were installed. Flying activity increased, with No. 15 FTS receiving further aircraft, including Oxfords and Harts; the introduction of the
North American Harvard; and eleven
Fairey Battles delivered for storage. The first front-line aircraft to operate from Lossiemouth were a detachment of twelve
Vickers Wellington medium bombers belonging to
No. 99 Squadron. The squadron arrived in November 1939 to take part in attack missions targeting the
German cruiser , which was operating between Iceland and the
Shetland Isles. January 1940 saw detachments from
No. 44 Squadron and
No. 50 Squadron operating the
Handley Page Hampden medium bomber arriving to take part in offensive patrols over the
North Sea. However, the operation was short-lived due to adverse weather, with the aircraft departing in mid-February. of
No. 9 Squadron which operated from Lossiemouth during 1940 A detachment of
No. 9 Squadron spent a short period operating Wellingtons during April 1940, before their replacement by
No. 107 Squadron and
No. 110 Squadron, both equipped with the
Bristol Blenheim light bomber. The first loss to enemy action of an aircraft operating from Lossiemouth occurred during this period, when three Blenheims were shot down over Norway. It became apparent that the frequent detachments of bomber aircraft were disrupting the training programme at Lossiemouth. Therefore, due to the strategic importance of the station as a base for bomber aircraft, it was decided to relocate No. 15 FTS to
RAF Middle Wallop in Hampshire. On 27 April 1940, after the unit's departure, Lossiemouth transferred to
No. 6 Group of
RAF Bomber Command and
No. 20 Operational Training Unit (No. 20 OTU) was established, initially operating Wellingtons and
Avro Ansons.
No. 46 Maintenance Unit (No. 46 MU) was also formed in April 1940. The unit's role was to modify and fit out new aircraft before they were forwarded to front-line squadrons. A variety of aircraft were serviced, including
Hawker Hurricanes,
de Havilland Tiger Moths,
Hawker Audaxes, and a
de Havilland Hornet Moth. The unit primarily used six Robin and eight Super Robin hangars; however, due to a shortage of space, many aircraft were stored in fields outside the station. Lossiemouth's first satellite airfield, located at Bogs of Mayne to the south and known as
RAF Elgin, opened in June 1940. One officer and two aircrew were killed on 26 October 1940 when RAF Lossiemouth was attacked by the
Luftwaffe for the first time. The attack by three
Heinkel He 111 medium bombers destroyed two Blenheims and damage to two
Miles Magisters, two Tiger Moths and a Hurricane. Three hangars were also damaged, the resultant holes from cannon fire still visible today. One of the Heinkels crashed on the airfield, having either been hit by ground fire or destroyed by its own bombs. All four of the crew are buried in a Lossiemouth churchyard. To protect the area from further attacks, Hurricanes of
No. 232 Squadron were deployed to RAF Elgin. Flying activity in early 1941 was limited due to the poor condition of the airfield; however, improved weather in the spring saw increased flying activity by No. 20 OTU and No. 46 MU, as well as from continued bomber detachments. Operational sorties were predominantly undertaken by Blenheims of
No. 21 Squadron,
No. 82 Squadron, No. 110 Squadron and
No. 114 Squadron. By the winter of 1941, the airfield had become so muddy that the Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU were temporarily relocated to
RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. The increased activity by No. 46 MU resulted in two
satellite landing grounds (SLG) being established to store aircraft off-site. These were at
RAF Black Isle (No. 42 SLG), where
Bristol Beaufighters were kept and
RAF Leanach (No. 43 SLG) near
Culloden, where Hurricanes and
Supermarine Spitfires were stored. Lossiemouth was used during 1942 as a base to launch
several unsuccessful missions to sink the German
battleship , which at the time was operating in Norwegian
fjords. The first missions were undertaken in January 1942 by a detachment of thirteen
Short Stirlings of
No. 15 Squadron and
No. 149 Squadron and thirteen
Handley Page Halifaxes of
No. 10 Squadron and
No. 76 Squadron. Further attempts were made during April by
Avro Lancasters of No. 44 Squadron and No. 97 Squadron and Halifaxes of No. 10 Squadron. Lancasters of No. 9 Squadron later joined the operation. 1942 also saw numerous accidents involving No. 20 OTU aircraft, many of which resulted in death and serious injuries. These accidents were attributed to a combination of fatigued aircraft, inexperienced crews and poor weather. Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU were also involved in
strategic bombing raids on German cities throughout 1942, the training aircraft being required to help reach the target number of 1,000 bombers per raid. The airfield's first surfaced runways, (06/24 ; 09/27 ; 01/19 ), were constructed by an
engineering battalion of the
US Army Air Force in late 1942 and helped to reduce interruptions to flying as a result of the grass strips being affected by poor weather. A new control tower was also constructed. In September 1943, Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU's 'C' Flight moved to the second of the Lossiemouth satellite airfields,
RAF Milltown, located to the south-east. By 1943, maintenance work by 46 MU concentrated on Bristol Beaufighters and Lancasters. The SLG at RAF Leanach had been replaced with a new site at
Dornoch golf course, which became known as
RAF Dornoch (No. 40 SLG). No. 20 OTU received its official crest in 1943, with two examples cast in concrete being constructed at Lossiemouth and RAF Elgin. The crest at Lossiemouth no longer exists, and although little now remains of the airfield at Elgin, the concrete crest is a war memorial for those who served there. crew and their
Lancaster bomber following the successful operation launched from Lossiemouth against the German battleship
Tirpitz on 12 November 1944 Further operations against
Tirpitz took place between September and November 1944.
Operation Catechism finally resulted in the battleship being sunk near
Tromsø on 12 November 1944. Thirty-eight Lancasters of No. 9 Squadron and
No. 617 Squadron launched from Lossiemouth, Kinloss and Milltown and destroyed the vessel with
Tallboy bombs. Nearly 50 years later, No. 617 Squadron transferred to Lossiemouth and was based there between 1993 and 2014. During that time, examples of the Tallboy,
Grand Slam and
Up Keep (bouncing bomb) were on display within the squadron site. In July 1945, after the end of hostilities in Europe, No. 20 OTU was disbanded, and No. 46 MU continued to prepare aircraft for operations in the Far East. After the war ended, No. 46 MU began the enormous task of breaking up surplus aircraft for scrap. At one point, there were around 900 aircraft on the airfield awaiting disposal. On 28 July 1945, Lossiemouth was transferred to
No. 17 Group of
RAF Coastal Command, with the arrival of
No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit from the
Bahamas occurring shortly thereafter. By August 1945, the unit was operating forty-one
Consolidated Liberators, ten Halifaxes and a
North American Mitchell. The unit was disbanded in July 1946.
HMS Fulmar (1946–1972) Lossiemouth transferred from the Royal Air Force to the
Fleet Air Arm (FAA) on 2 July 1946 and became known as
Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Lossiemouth or '
HMS Fulmar'''
. On the FAA taking control, No. 46 MU moved to RAF Elgin. Lossiemouth was used as a basic training station for FAA pilots who then moved on to RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk
) in Cornwall for instrument training. RAF Milltown also transferred to the FAA and became known as HMS Fulmar II''. It operated as a
Deck Landing Training School, where students carried out the last stage of training before landing on aircraft carrier in the
Moray Firth. The first FAA squadron,
No. 766 Naval Air Squadron, arrived at Lossiemouth in August 1946 and operated
Supermarine Seafires and
Fairey Fireflies until its departure to RNAS Culdrose in 1953. In the late 1940s, to replace poor quality war-era facilities, seven hundred new married living-quarters were constructed in the nearby towns of Lossiemouth and
Elgin, with the first opening in September 1949. The practice of constructing living-quarters off-station differed from that of the RAF, which typically constructed such accommodation within the boundaries of their airfields. In 1952 and early 1953, Lossiemouth's runways were upgraded and extended to their present lengths; during that time aircraft temporarily operated from Milltown. The Naval Air Fighter and Strike Training School transferred to the station in 1953 and over the next decade a wide range of aircraft types operated from Lossiemouth in the training role, including Supermarine Seafires, Fairey Fireflys,
Hawker Sea Hawks,
Hawker Sea Furys,
Supermarine Scimitars,
de Havilland Sea Venoms and
Hawker Hunters. Four
Gloster Meteors were used as
target-towers. One of the first squadrons of the recently established
Federal Germany Navy was formed at Lossiemouth in May 1958 under the
NATO cooperative policy. No. 764 Naval Air Squadron was responsible for training German crews on twelve Sea Hawks, which operated in German Navy markings. A commissioning ceremony was attended by British and German naval and political figures. In 1958, it was announced that station facilities were to be upgraded for £3 million, including the refurbishment of living accommodation and the creation of the
Fulmar Club social club.
Princess Alexandra opened a new officers mess in July 1965. of
No. 700Z Squadron at RNAS Lossiemouth circa 1961 The
Blackburn Buccaneer arrived in March 1961 when
No. 700Z Naval Air Squadron was created as an Intensive Flying Trials unit to evaluate the aircraft's weapons, systems and performance. Initially, the squadron operated two aircraft, increasing to five by the end of 1961. The first operational Buccaneer squadron,
No. 801 Naval Air Squadron, was established on 17 July 1962, followed by
No. 809 Naval Air Squadron in January 1963 and
No. 800 Naval Air Squadron in March 1964. The Buccaneer was capable of delivering
nuclear weapons as well as conventional weapons for
anti-shipping warfare and was typically active over the
North Sea during its service. Buccaneers also embarked on aircraft carriers , , and . On 28 March 1967, Buccaneers from Lossiemouth bombed the shipwrecked
supertanker off the western coast of
Cornwall, to ignite the oil and avoid an environmental disaster. The mid-1960s saw further investment in facilities at Lossiemouth, including new living quarters and messes. The
1966 Defence White Paper saw the withdrawal of most British military forces stationed
East of Suez during the 1970s, reducing the need for aircraft carriers and fixed-wing naval aviation such as the Buccaneer. The aircraft had been considered by the RAF for a medium-range
interdictor and
tactical strike aircraft. As a result,
No. 736 Naval Air Squadron began training RAF air and ground crews on the Buccaneer in 1969. Between September 1967 and March 1970, the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated pilot,
Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown was station commander; it was his last command. The late 1960s saw the FAA reduce its activities at Lossiemouth, although
Fairey Gannets of
No. 849 Naval Air Squadron were transferred from
RNAS Brawdy to Lossiemouth on 13 November 1971. The Buccaneer force was reduced in size with several squadrons departing or disbanding in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The last Buccaneers, of No. 809 Naval Air Squadron, left on 25 September 1972, leaving the only Fleet Air Arm aircraft left being the Gannets and search and rescue helicopters.
Return of the Royal Air Force (1972–1991) of
No. 8 Squadron which was based at Lossiemouth from 1973 to 1991 The station was returned to Royal Air Force control on 28 September 1972, with the first RAF squadron operating from the new RAF Lossiemouth being 'D' Flight of
No. 202 Squadron in the helicopter search and rescue role.
Operation Granby During the 1991
Gulf War, personnel from all three Buccaneer squadrons took part in
Operation Granby, the aircraft's first combat operation. Hostilities ended in late February 1991, the Buccaneers having flown 218 sorties without loss, designating targets for other aircraft and later dropping 48 of their own
Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
Transition to Tornado (1991–1999) The replacement for the ageing Shackleton AEW.2, the
British Aerospace Nimrod AEW.3, suffered considerable development difficulties which culminated in the aircraft being cancelled during 1986. The RAF instead opted for an off-the-shelf purchase of the
Boeing Sentry AEW1. The last Shackletons were retired in July 1991, and No. 8 Squadron transferred to
RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, to equip with their new aircraft. landing at RAF Lossiemouth It was intended that the Buccaneer would remain in service until the end of the 1990s, having been extensively modernised in a process lasting up to 1989; however, the end of the
Cold War resulted in major changes in
British defence policy, with many aircraft being deemed surplus to requirements. As a consequence, to allow for the early retirement of the Buccaneer, twenty-six
Panavia Tornados were modified from GR1 to GR1B variant to enable the use of the
BAe Sea Eagle missile for
maritime strike operations. The reduction of the Buccaneer fleet began on 1 October 1991 when No. 237 OCU was disbanded, followed by No. 12 Squadron in September 1993.
No. 27 Squadron, then at
RAF Marham, disbanded and re-formed at Lossiemouth as No.12 Squadron, operating the Tornado GR1B. The last Buccaneers were withdrawn in April 1994 when No. 208 Squadron disbanded. No. 617 Squadron then transferred to Lossiemouth from RAF Marham in Norfolk, with the Tornado GR1B. After the closure of the
Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) at
RAF Cottesmore in 1999, the number of aircraft operated by No. 15 (R) Squadron increased.
21st century of
No. 16(R) Squadron landing at Lossiemouth To consolidate the Jaguar fleet in one location, No. 16(R) Squadron with eleven aircraft and around 100 personnel departed Lossiemouth for
RAF Coltishall in Norfolk in July 2000, bringing to an end Lossiemouth's 27-year association with the Jaguar.
No. 14 Squadron operating the Tornado GR1 arrived from
RAF Brüggen in Germany during January 2001, making Lossiemouth the busiest RAF fast-jet station.
F-35 Lightning II and threat of closure The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced in November 2005 that Lossiemouth would be the main operating base for the RAF's new
F-35 Lightning II fleet, which was expected to enter service in 2013. In 2010, the
Strategic Defence and Security Review cast doubt on whether the F-35 would be based at Lossiemouth raising fears in the local community that the station could close. Up to 7,000 people, including Scotland's
First Minister Alex Salmond and other politicians, took part in a march and rally in Lossiemouth on 7 November 2010 in support of retaining the RAF station. The local economy was heavily dependent on military spending. It was feared the closure of the station combined with the confirmed closure of nearby RAF Kinloss, would lead to economic uncertainty and unemployment. A petition with more than 30,000 signatures was delivered to
10 Downing Street by campaign members on 11 January 2011. In July 2011, the MOD announced that Lossiemouth would remain open, with the Tornados moving to RAF Marham.
RAF Leuchars in Fife would close and transfer to the
British Army, with Leuchar's
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s and responsibility for
Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North (QRA) moving to Lossiemouth. In March 2013, the MOD confirmed that the F-35 would be based at Marham.
From Tornado to Typhoon of
No. 617 Squadron over RAF Lossiemouth during 2009 After the Strategic Defence and Security Review, No. 14 Squadron disbanded on 1 June 2011, reducing the number of Tornados based at Lossiemouth. In 2012, a new combined
mess for junior ranks and senior non-commission officers was completed, replacing separate buildings constructed in the 1960s, which were demolished. Following the announcement in 2011 that Lossiemouth would remain open, £17 million was spent in 2013 refurbishing the airfield for the arrival of the Typhoon, with a further £70 million set aside for future developments. Quick Reaction Alert facilities were built in the northern
hardened aircraft shelter (HAS) complex; alterations were made to hangars 1 and 3; and new ground-support IT and communication systems installed. In March 2014, three Typhoons from RAF Leuchars arrived at Lossiemouth to take part in
Exercise Moray Venture, a week-long operation to test new facilities ahead of the aircraft's arrival later that year. building with a
Eurofighter Typhoon on the flight-line In preparation for the transition to the Typhoon, No.12 Squadron and No.617 Squadron disbanded on 1 April 2014, leaving No.15 (R) Squadron as the only remaining Tornado unit at Lossiemouth. The first Typhoon unit, No. 6 Squadron, transferred from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth on 20 June 2014. Nine aircraft arrived in formation in the shape of a number 6.
No. 1 Squadron followed on 8 September 2014, when responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert (North) was transferred from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth. The third Typhoon squadron based at Lossiemouth,
No. 2 Squadron, arrived in January 2015. In preparation of the squadron's arrival, work commenced in October 2014 to refurbish the southern HAS complex, which was formerly occupied by No. 617 Squadron. Nine aircraft shelters were refurbished, a hard-standing for a flight-line capable of accommodating eight aircraft was built, new floodlighting was installed, and the dining facilities improved. A headquarters building was constructed on the site of a Second World War-era K-type hangar (K20). The building accommodates engineering and logistics facilities, a survival equipment section, classrooms and office space. This allowed No. 2 Squadron to operate independently from other squadrons at Lossiemouth. In May 2015, construction began on a new section of
taxiway to provide improved access between the QRA facilities in the northern HAS site and runway 23/05. The new taxiway was constructed by 53 Field Squadron, part of
39 (Air Support) Engineer Regiment,
Royal Engineers, based at nearby Kinloss Barracks. The project was completed in September 2015. ZA602 F
MacRoberts Reply of
No.15(R) Squadron taxiing at Lossiemouth No. 15 (R) Squadron disbanded on 31 March 2017. Aircraft and crews were absorbed into front-line squadrons at RAF Marham where refresher training on the Tornado was carried out. To mark the occasion, on 17 March 2017, five Tornados from the squadron carried out a flypast of the
Leuchars Station,
Tain Air Weapons Range and
Aberdeen International Airport, before performing a simulated airfield strike on RAF Lossiemouth in front of base personnel, families and friends. A disbandment parade was held on 31 March 2017, signifying the end of twenty-four years of Tornado operations at Lossiemouth. Over 750 current and former squadron personnel attended the ceremony where the "Sands of Kuwait", a tune written to commemorate the 1991 Gulf War (the squadron's last battle honour), was played on the
bagpipes and a Tornado fly-past took place. The final infrastructure required to support the Typhoons was completed in June 2017, when
Rolls-Royce opened its Typhoon Propulsion Support Facility. The facility is operated by a combination of civilian and RAF personnel and provides engineering support for Typhoon
Eurojet EJ200 engines. On 4 March 2016, Lossiemouth was announced as the preferred option to accommodate an additional Typhoon squadron and 400 personnel. Four Typhoons were assigned to No. 9 Squadron (Designate) at Lossiemouth in February 2019. The unit re-equipped as an
aggressor and air defence squadron on 1 April 2019, thereby continuing in unbroken service upon the Tornado's retirement at RAF Marham.
End of search and rescue (SAR) operations Sea King HAR3 outside their hangar at Lossiemouth In 2006, the government announced its intentions to privatise the
RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) Force. A £1.6 billion ten-year contract to run the search and rescue service with new
AgustaWestland AW189 and
Sikorsky S-92 helicopters was agreed with
Bristow Helicopters in March 2013. SAR helicopter operations ceased at Lossiemouth and moved to
Inverness Airport, located to the west. 'D' flight of No. 202 Squadron disbanded on 1 April 2015, bringing nearly 43 years of search and rescue operations at Lossiemouth to an end. The Sea Kings had been a familiar sight in the skies above Scotland, having been involved in high-profile events such as the
Piper Alpha disaster and
Lockerbie bombing and regularly appearing in the media. A farewell party to be held by 'D' Flight personnel to thank the local community for their support was cancelled by RAF officials. There was widespread criticism of the decision but the RAF considered that the event could contravene
campaigning rules for the
UK general election, as it could be perceived as being political. Morayvia, a local charity bought the former Lossiemouth Sea King 'XZ592' from the Ministry of Defence in March 2015. The aircraft is now on display as part of
Morayvia's aviation museum at
Kinloss. In March 2015, the UK government ruled out Lossiemouth as well as nearby RAF Kinloss as candidates for a new
spaceport due to opposition from the Ministry of Defence, which cited over-riding operational factors. The decision was criticised by local politicians.
Arrival of Poseidon On 23 November 2015, the UK announced its intention to order nine new
Boeing MRA1 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. In June 2017, it was announced that
No. 120 Squadron would be the first Poseidon squadron. The unit reformed in early 2018 and by February 2019 air and ground crews from the unit and the Poseidon Line Squadron had commenced training with the
US Navy at
Naval Air Station Jacksonville,
Florida. To provide the infrastructure to support the Poseidon, the
Defence Infrastructure Organisation launched the Lossiemouth Development Programme in October 2016. The programme involved £350 million being invested in RAF Lossiemouth to upgrade buildings and airfield infrastructure to allow No. 9 Squadron and the Poseidon fleet to operate from Lossiemouth. Projects included: • Construction of a new hangar and support facility for the Poseidon fleet, known as the Poseidon Strategic Facility, begun in April 2018 and was completed in July 2020. The facility was built on the northern side of the airfield and includes maintenance facilities capable of accommodating three aircraft simultaneously, a tactical operations centre, training & simulation facilities and accommodation for two squadrons. The building was constructed by
Robertson Group with a contract value of £132m. In August 2021, it was named the 'Atlantic Building', reflecting its maritime warfare role. • As Lossiemouth's airfield was largely set up for fast-jet operations, the runways and associated operating surfaces required resurfacing and alterations to safely accommodate regular Poseidon operations. Work on the £75 million contract commenced in May 2020, with the airfield being closed between 10 August and 16 October 2020 whilst the intersection of the two runways was resurfaced. During the closure, routine Typhoon training operations were relocated to the airfield at Kinloss Barracks and the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Force for the north of the UK temporarily relocated to Leuchars Station. • Construction of a new
Crash, Fire and Rescue building to replace the existing building dating from the 1960s was completed in November 2022. Alongside the introduction of
Oshkosh Striker fire fighting vehicles, the new facilities for the
Defence Fire and Rescue Service provide the increased level of emergency cover required by the larger aircraft operating from Lossiemouth. • Seven new single living accommodation blocks were constructed to provide 426 en-suite bedrooms, with the final block being completed in April 2024. Each block is named after a former RAF airfield in the north east of Scotland:
Brackla,
Dalcross,
Dallachy,
Dyce,
Inverness,
Milltown and
Peterhead. • New waste water treatment plant, drainage and utility infrastructure. arrives at Lossiemouth on 13 October 2020 The RAF's first Poseidon arrived in the UK from the US in February 2020, initially operating from Kinloss. It was later joined by a second aircraft before both moved to their new home at Lossiemouth in October 2020. The fleet was completed in January 2022 when the ninth aircraft was delivered to Lossiemouth.
No. 201 Squadron reformed at Lossiemouth during 2021 as the second unit operating the Poseidon, sharing the fleet with No. 120 Squadron. A
basing agreement between the UK and US governments was reached in 2017 to allow the US Navy to routinely operate their own Poseidons from Lossiemouth. To facilitate the arrangement, the
US Department of Defense contributed £60m ($m) to the Lossiemouth Development Programme, including towards the runway and apron works. A hangar wash facility and austere barracks for the
US Navy were opened in May 2024, which are operated by
Commander Task Force 67 (CTF-67), part of the navy's
Sixth Fleet. In October 2024, as part of a wider defence agreement between Germany and the UK, it was announced that
German Navy Poesidons will periodically operate from Lossiemouth whilst conducting patrols of the North Atlantic. The Poseidon Line Squadron was rebadged as No. 203 Squadron in July 2025 to provide line engineering to the Poseidon fleet the
Boeing Wedgetail AEW1 once it is introduced into service. == Facilities ==