{{Short description|Former RAF station in Perth, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Findo Gask<BR>No. 25 SLG | ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg | ensign_size = 90px | native_name = | partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> | location = Perth, Perth & Kinross | nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox --> | country = Scotland | image = | alt = | caption = | image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> | alt2 = | caption2 = | type = Satellite station | coordinates = {{coord|56|22|28|N|003|36|09|W|type:airport_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Scotland Perth and Kinross#UK | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Perth and Kinross | pushpin_label = RAF Findo Gask | pushpin_label_position = left | ownership = Air Ministry | operator = Royal Air Force | controlledby = RAF Flying Training Command | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> | site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> | code = <!--facility/installation code --> | built = {{Start date|1940}}/41 | used = June 1941 – {{End date|1948}}<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=https://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/findo-gask/ |title=Findo Gask |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=13 September 2022}}</ref> | builder = | materials = | height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level --> | length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs --> | fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter--> | condition = | battles = European theatre of World War II | events = | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> | occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> | designations = | website = | footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code --> <!-- begin airfield information --> | IATA = | ICAO = | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = | elevation = {{Convert|110|m|0}} | r1-number = 01/19 | r1-length = {{Convert|1005|m|0}} | r1-surface = Sommerfeld Tracking | r2-number = 07/25 | r2-length = {{Convert|1784|m|0}} | r2-surface = Sommerfeld Tracking | r3-number = 11/29 | r3-length = {{Convert|1143|m|0}} | r3-surface = Sommerfeld Tracking | h1-number = | h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} --> | h1-surface = | airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> | airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> <!-- end airfield information --> }} '''RAF Findo Gask''' was a Royal Air Force satellite station located {{convert|7|mi|abbr=on}} west of Perth, Scotland used during the Second World War.
==History== RAF Findo Gask was opened on 14 June 1941 as a Flying Training Airfield. It would appear that it had three runways made of Sommerfeld Track (a form of wire netting based surface). The tower is of the "Watch Office for All Commands" (12779/41) type, with an extra floor and reduced size front windows. There were eight hangars, One T2 hangar ({{convert|415|x|117|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}), three Blisters ({{Convert|85|xx|85|xx|20|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} in height), four Dorman Long Blisters ({{Convert|90|xx|90|xx|20|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=or}} in height).
There seems to have been a flooding problem at the airfield due poor drainage; it was often waterlogged and muddy and continued flooding led to the eventual abandonment of the airfield in 1944, when all training moved to RAF Tealing. The airfield also proved to be unsuitable for the North American Mustang.
In late 1944 the airfield was used by units from the Polish Army for training purposes.<ref>[http://www.controltowers.co.uk/F/Findo_Gask.htm RAF Findo Gask] Control Towers</ref>
After the war ended the airfield was designated as Camp 233, and the accommodation was used to house German prisoners of war, who worked the land in the area.<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1946/jul/31/findo-gask-airfield Extract from HL Deb 31 July 1946 vol 142 c1234WA]</ref>
The airfield was then home to a maintenance unit, No. 260 Maintenance Unit, and used as Equipment Disposal sub site from November 1945{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=216}} until 1948.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} A satellite of No. 44 Maintenance Unit RAF also used the site from August 1945{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=207}}
The Perth and District Motor Club held motorcycles races at Gask (also at Errol Aerodrome and Balado).<ref>[http://perthanddistrictmc.co.uk/club-info/ Club Info] Perth and District Motor Club. Retrieved 2013-11-17</ref>
There are no signs of the airfield runways today and the area is mainly used for agriculture, although one area of the airfield near the tower does appear to have had housing built on it.
The control tower, previously in a derelict state, is now being restored as a private home.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 15 unusual buildings for sale|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/buyingsellingandmoving/9775390/Top-15-unusual-buildings-for-sale.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215934/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/buyingsellingandmoving/9775390/Top-15-unusual-buildings-for-sale.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref>
==Operational units and aircraft== {|class="wikitable" ! Unit !Period ! Aircraft |- | No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron 'A' & 'C' Flights |26 October 1942 to 8 March 1943 |Westland Lysander |- |No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron 'B' Flight |15 December 1942 to 10 January 1943 |North American Mustang Mk. I |- |}
It was also used as a "Relief Landing Ground" from 12 July 1943 to 2 November 1944 for No. 9 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit based at RAF Errol.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=42}}
==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 == *[http://www.controltowers.co.uk/F/Findo_Gask.htm RAF Findo Gask] Control Towers Website *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102458/http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/309/309_story.html The History of No. 309 Polish Squadron]}} Polish Squadrons Remembered *[http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q51/norwichpaul/RAF%20Findo%20Gask/ photographs of RAF Findo Gask] *[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site...gask+airfield/ RCAHMS Photographs & Archaeological Data]
{{authority control}} {{Royal Air Force}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Findo Gask}} 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 1941 Category:Buildings and structures in Perth and Kinross Category:Royal Air Force satellite landing grounds Category:Military airbases closed in 1948