History RRH Benbecula

1 history

1.1 years
1.2 raf benbecula

1.2.1 airfield
1.2.2 radar station


1.3 weapons range

history
early years

an airfield has existed on benbecula since 1936 when scottish airways began operating known balivanich airfield, located on north west corner of island.

raf benbecula
airfield

between 1941 , 1942, during second world war, airfield became raf benbecula, when came under control of royal air force s coastal command. during period home aircraft carrying out patrols in atlantic, protecting shipping convoys german u-boats. such missions carried out lockheed hudson , latterly boeing b-17 flying fortress , vickers wellington.

it later became control centre nearby hebrides rocket range.

at s peak, raf benbecula had several thousand troops stationed @ station , @ several other sites around islands.

the following units based @ airfield @ point:

no. 36 squadron raf.
no. 179 squadron raf.
no. 206 squadron raf.
no. 220 squadron raf.
no. 304 squadron raf.
no. 455 squadron raf.

after second world war, airfield became benbecula airport, civilian airport serving outer hebrides.

radar station

although civilian airfield, military presence remained , raf benbecula name continued when radar station established. control , reporting centre, part of uk air surveillance , control system (asacs), constructed @ airfield linked raf buchan in aberdeenshire.

the station downgraded in late 1990s remote radar head , raf pulled-out of main airfield site @ benbecula. under command , control of raf buchan, responsibility transferred raf boulmer in northumberland in september 2004.

benbecula operated several radar types until type 92 (more known out-with raf service lockheed martin an/fps-117 ) came service in 1980s. type 92 replaced in 2015 new lockheed martin an/tps-77 system. new radar funded wind farm developers , installed in order reduce impact of interference wind turbines.

weapons range

the british army had large presence in outer hebrides, operating artillery range on south uist. role passed defence evaluation , research agency (eventually become qinetiq), remain @ benbecula , south uist sites, collectively known mod hebrides.