Culloden
Note: This map only shows the position of Culloden village within the UK. If anybody can kindly provide a more exact location, this advice will be most welcome.
CULLODEN: Diversion airfield – later RLG (Relief Landing Ground) in WW2
Note: See listing for LEANACH for much more information
Operated by: 1930s: Highland Airways
Location: S of the B9006, about 4nm E of Inverness centre
Period of operation: Civil: About 1933 or 1934 to 1939. Military 1939 to 1945
NOTES: According to local historians Capt Freeson of Highland Airways, using LONGMAN AERODROME in Inverness (starting operations in 1933) was very concerned about sea fog and arranged to use a site at CULLODEN which he could divert to. This would have been close to and might easily have even been on (?) the infamous battleground of 1746.
It is also claimed this site was used as a RLG during WW2 by aircraft operating from both LONGMAN AERODROME and DALCROSS.
SOME HISTORY
I have often used the research into flying sites to expand my pitiful knowledge of British history, and did so in this case. I had been given to understand that this battle was a disgrace, a merciless slaughter, but also the last pitched battle fought on British soil. Very briefly ( I do hope I’ve got this correct?), the British forces were from the Royal family ‘House of Hanover’, or in other words basically German. Our present Royal family is mostly of German extraction of course. The Jacobites were supported by the French and Irish but also Englishmen from the Manchester Regiment.
The British or government side were mostly English but supported with Ulstermen and Hessians from Germany. The common story is that between 1500 and 2000 on the Jacobite side were killed or wounded, against 50 dead and 259 wounded (the latter obviously a very suspect amount being so exact?) on the government side. Recent geophysical surveys suggest the amount of dead on the Jacobite side, looking at the mass grave, is nearer to 300.
So there you have it; both a lesson in history and an airfield site little known about.
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