History
During the First World War the site was a base for naval airships, known as RNAS Luce Bay. The base was provided with one huge airship hangar.
RAF West Freugh opened in 1937 as an armament training camp. During the Second World War, it expanded to include training facilities for observers, navigators, and bomb aimers; and served as a base for the Bombing Trials Unit. The known history of units known at West Freugh is:
- 22 October 1939 - 10 Service Flying Training School formed. Moved November
- 4 November 1939 - 4 Air Observer School formed
- 11 January 1940 - re-designated 4 Bombing & Gunnery School
- 14 June 1941 - 4 Air Observer School reformed
- 11 June 1943 - re-designated 4 Observer Advanced Flying Unit
- 21 June 1945 - 4 Observer Advanced Flying Unit disbanded
- April 1957 - RAF West Freugh incident
- 2001 - Airfield closed, all RAF operations cease
- 2001 - operations taken over by QinetiQ
Read more about this topic: RAF West Freugh
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