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MHG18739 - Tain Airfield

Summary

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Type and Period (2)

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Full Description

Tain airfield was developed from a pre-war landing ground serving the Tain Bombing Ranges (NH88SW 14.01), part of which was used to build the complex. The airfield consists of three runways, from 4,350ft to 6,000ft in length with three dispersal areas, and Bellman, Blister and 'T2' type hangars the airfield was further extended when the west runway was lengthened. <1>

See also <2>

Tain airfield is situated to the S of Morrich More and occupies a large area to the N and S of the public road to Portmahomack. The three runways are still extant, with the main NE-SW strip now occupied by an oil pipeline fabricator, who have laid a large diameter pipe along the full length of the runway. The other runways are grass-grown as are the many hardstandings and parkways.
The airfield is recorded on vertical air photographs taken during 1945 as operational, (Visible on RAF 106G/UK/751 5083-5091, flown 1945) and the frames include the tracked target range, operations building and all the S part of the drome.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE) May 1997

The airfield was visited in 1999 as part of an in-depth study of the whole airfield by ASH Consulting with some areas of work sub-contracted to Alan Cruden Associates, Wordsworth Archaeological Services and Dalcairn Consultants. <3>

This airfield is situated at Fendon, with the main part of the group on the N side of the road between Tain and Portmahomack. Many buildings are still extant and the runways survives on both sides of the road. <4>

Many buildings extant. Bombing range to the North which is still in use. Operations block to the South still has some original signs. Photos. J A Guy, 20th Century Defences, (report nos. 1, 8 & 11)
A M Fox, Highland Council, 10.10.01.

Nicki Macrae posted photos of some of the airfield buildings on the Highland HER Facebook page in June 2011. <5>

See also:
NH88SW 14.01 Centred NH 8320 8390 Bombing Range
NH88SW 14.02 NH 8376 8356 Tracked Target Range
NH88SW 14.03 NH 8374 8330 Operations block
NH88SW 14.04 NH 830 815 Buildings
NH88SW 14.05 NH 8302 8169 Control Tower; Air-raid shelter
NH88SW 14.06 Centred NH 8560 8085 Military Camp
NH88SW 14.07 Centred NH 8455 8105 Military Camp
NH88SW 14.08 NH 8373 8330 and NH 8390 8340 Control Towers; Buildings
NH88SW 14.09 NH 8248 8191 Buildings
NH88SW 14.10 Centred NH 8080 8036 Radio station
NH88SW 14.11 Centred NH 8310 8250 Buildings; Bomb Store; Air-raid Shelters

Sources/Archives (5)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 8279 8185 (2431m by 2207m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH88SW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	TAIN

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