RAF Errol

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Perth and Kinross, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Errol | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof =  | location = Errol, Perth and Kinross | nearest_town =  | country = Scotland | image = Target Dossier for Errol, Perth, Scotland - DPLA - 6ebde1e7af75a930f975b1d50816e504 (page 1).jpg | alt = | caption = RAF Errol on a target dossier of the German Luftwaffe, 1943 | image2 =  | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Royal Air Force station | coordinates = {{coord|56|24|20|N|003|10|48|W|type:airport_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Scotland Perth and Kinross#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within | pushpin_label = RAF Errol | pushpin_label_position = | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = RAF Flying Training Command | open_to_public =  | site_other_label =  | site_other =  | site_area =  | code =  | built = {{Start date|1941}}/42 | used = August 1942 -{{End date|1948}} | builder = | materials = | height =  | length =  | fate =  | condition = | battles = European theatre of World War II | events = | past_commanders =  | garrison =  | occupants =  | designations = | website = | footnotes =   | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|5|m|0}} | r1-number = 00/00 | r1-length = {{Convert|1388|m|0}} | r1-surface = Tarmac | r2-number = 00/00 | r2-length = {{Convert|1046|m|0}} | r2-surface = Tarmac | r3-number = 00/00 | r3-length = {{Convert|1035|m|0}} | r3-surface = Tarmac | h1-number = | h1-length =  | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label =  | airfield_other =   }} '''Royal Air Force Errol''' or more simply '''RAF Errol''' is a former Royal Air Force station located near the village of Errol in Perth & Kinross, Scotland, on the north bank of the Firth of Tay approximately halfway between Perth and Dundee.

==History==

The airfield opened in January 1943.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.controltowers.co.uk/E/Errol.htm | title = RAF Errol | website=Controltowers.co.uk|date=1 May 2007}}</ref> Errol housed No. 305 Ferry Training Unit RAF as a special air training conversion unit for the Soviet crews receiving deliveries of Armstrong Whitworth Albemarles. This joint operation continued until April 1944, despite cancellation of Albemarle deliveries in September, 1943. The RAF station originally featured a control tower, 6 hangars, and three runways arranged in an 'A' shape which are still visible today from the air. The military role of Errol airfield ended in 1948, shortly after the end of World War II.

==Units==

The following units were here at some point: * No. 9 Gliding School RAF (May – November 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=163}} * No. 9 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit RAF (August 1942 – June 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=42}} * No. 260 Maintenance Unit RAF (June 1945 – July 1948){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=216}} * No. 271 Squadron RAF<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/errol/ |title=Errol |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> * 810 Naval Air Squadron<ref name="ABCT"/> * No. 1544 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF (January – March 1944){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=139}} * No. 1680 (Transport) Flight RAF (April – May & September 1944){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=144}}

==Post war== In 1988, the eastern section of the airfield was purchased by Morris Leslie Group as a site for auctioning plant. The site serves as their headquarters, and they created a mixed-use business park on the Errol side of the airfield.<ref name="Morris Leslie">{{Cite web|url=https://www.morrisleslie.com/group/our-story/our-history/|title=Our History – Our Story|website=Morrisleslie.com|access-date=1 November 2021}}</ref> {{As of|2007}} a haulage company and a garden supplies wholesaler are in residence.

Vintage car rallies and other events requiring large flat open spaces take place at the airfield throughout the year. A weekly car boot sale<ref>{{Cite web |title=Errol Car Boot Sale |url=https://carbootdirectory.co.uk/listings/errol-car-boot-sale/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=The Carboot Directory |language=en-GB}}</ref> is held every Sunday, which, in the summer months, is one of the largest in Scotland.

The western and core section of Errol Airfield is owned WL&JA Doe, a farming partnership at Muirhouses Farm, which has belonged to the Doe Family since 1911. Muirhouses Farm includes the majority and heart of Errol Airfield including the main runways, control tower, hangars, workshops, huts, gunner posts and air raid shelters.

Many of the buildings around the airfield are now derelict or in a state of poor repair. Only one runway appears to be in service for light aircraft for activities such as skydiving. <ref>https://www.errolairfield.co.uk</ref>

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R|last2=Hamlin|first2=J|last3=Halley|first3=J|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}

==External links== *Control Towers Website: [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/E/Errol.htm RAF Errol] *Photographs: [http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/275302/details/errol+airfield+watch+tower/ Photos and archaeological information of control tower.] *Photographs: [http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/norwichpaul/RAF%20Errol/ RAF Errol in the 1980s]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Errol}} Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom Category:Military airbases established in 1943 Category:Military airbases closed in 1948