Dumfries
Note: This map shows the location of the TINWALD DOWNS airfield.
DUMFRIES:
NOTES: Venue 22nd September 1931 for CD Barnard Air Tours. I’d assume they perhaps used the “TINWALD DOWNS” site but can this be confirmed? The same question applies to the venue used by Sir Alan Cobham’s 1934 Tour who displayed in/near Dumfries on the 1st May. On the 8th July 1935 Cobham’s No.2 Tour visited DUMFRIES, also using the “TINWALD DOWNS” site perhaps? Without too much doubt, they used the old WW1 site known as HEATHHALL airfield and later to become RAF DUMFRIES in WW2.
DUMFRIES: Military aerodrome (Previously known as HEATHHALL, (in WW1), TINWALD DOWNS and TINWALD DOWN FARM, also mentioned in this Guide separately, and apparently used by aircraft in WW1 collecting urgent spares from the Arrol-Johnston aero engine factory)
RAF DUMFRIES: 1940 to 1957
A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY
A BONUS ITEM
Mike Holder tracked down this article published in The Scotsman on the 17th July 1929
Picture by the author
Military users: WW2: RAF Flying Training Command 29 Group
10 AFU [Advanced Flying Unit] (Avro Ansons)
29 Group Comms Flt
215 MU (Packing Depot) 220 MU (Barrack & Clothing Depot)
18 MU (Aircraft Storage Unit)
Location: 2nm NNE of Dumfries
Period of operation: 1940 to 1957
Runways: WW2: 18/36 1189x46 hard 09/27 914x46 hard
NOTES: It has been a major problem in compiling this 'Guide' in trying to figure out what so many sites are actually named? It would appear in early 2021, that all the sites I have listed for DUMFRIES are pretty much all the same - more or less. So, for example, the WW1 site is known as both HEATHHALL airfield and TINWALD DOWNS FARM Landing Ground are pretty much the same site?
HEATHHALL
It appears that this was the original name for the airfield on Tinwald Downs Farm, adjacent to the Arrol Johnston factory. In WW1 the factory moved from making motor car to aero engines, and eventually to complete aircraft. It seems that the Landing Ground was intended for use by aircraft delivering urgent spare parts. It appears that the aircraft built here were shipped by rail to MOOR PARK (RENFREW) aerodrome for final assembly and flight testing.
It would also appear that after WW1, the site became unused, and possibly Sir Alan Cobham was the first to reuse it on the 16th July 1929 during his Municipal Aerodrome Campaign.
RAF DUMFRIES
Apparently this site was originally planned to be an Aircraft Storage Unit. And indeed, by 1945 this site was being used for aircraft storage, with one of the runways being made redundant for open storage.
I’d have thought that during WW2 RAF DUMFRIES would have been a bit of a ‘backwater’ aerodrome to say the least. But with 1346 RAF personnel based here, (including 445 WAAFs which I have to say seems a heavily disproportionate number for some reason in those times), it is obvious this was a very active aerodrome. The clue to all this activity is of course listed above with just some (?) of the units based here. This aerodrome is a good example of something I have pointed out elsewhere. That the people involved in actually flying in the RAF were, (and still are), just the visible ‘tip of the iceberg’ of a massive logistical and administrative military enterprise
Another example for the duties of 18 MU involves receiving twenty four Fairey Battles from RAF SHAWBURY in July 1940. What did they do with these obsolete aircraft?
Andy Wilson
This comment was written on: 2020-05-24 19:08:18Hello Team. I am a Volunteer at the Brooklands Museum and am researching an aspect of Vickers Wellington disposal after WW2. Would I be correct in assuming many Wellingtons were scrapped at Dumfries? If so, do you have any idea as to how many, and any identification of aircraft “disposed”? Thank you for your attention Regards Andy
Dick Flute
This comment was written on: 2020-05-24 20:11:02Hi Andy, Afraid I cannot help here. But will certainly keep this posted. Hopefully some kind soul will know. Best regards, Dick
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