Raf Edzell

RAF Edzell is a former Royal Air Force station located in one mile east of Edzell, Angus, Scotland. It was active for over fifty years, first as a RAF airfield during World War II, and later on lease to the United States Navy, From 1960 until its decommissioning in 1996, and final closure in 1997. It was also home to an AN /FRD-10 Circularly Disposed Antenna Array (CDAA), located in the southern quadrant formed between the crossing of the airfield's two 1500m runways. HistoryThe airfield was first established to the east of the village during World War I, and was disbanded in 1919. During the 1930s it operated as a civilian airfield, but the outbreak of World War II saw its return to service in 1940, as RAF Edzell. The airfield served as an aircraft maintenance facility, and by the end of the war held some 800 aircraft in reserve. In the late 1950s the site was used as a motor racing circuit, however only few races were held before it was reopened. One of the last sports car races on the circuit was won by the future double World GP Champion Jim Clark. The last motor racing meeting at Edzell took place on Saturday, 20 June 1959. RAF Edzell reopened in 1960, forming part of the United States Navy global High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) network, used to track various targets around the world. Up to 3, 000 personnel were said to have been stationed at RAF Edzell. The ending of the Cold War, and advances in technology rendered the HF network obsolete, and the station closed in October 1997, by which time staffing levels had fallen to 300 local, and 700 military personnel. This marked the end of 37 years of US Navy operations and 85 years of RAF service.

RAF Edzell is a former Royal Air Force station located in one mile east of Edzell, Angus, Scotland. It was active for over fifty years, first as a RAF airfield during World War II, and later on lease to the United States Navy, From 1960 until its decommissioning in 1996, and final closure in 1997. It was also home to an AN /FRD-10 Circularly Disposed Antenna Array (CDAA), located in the southern quadrant formed between the crossing of the airfield's two 1500m runways. HistoryThe airfield was first established to the east of the village during World War I, and was disbanded in 1919. During the 1930s it operated as a civilian airfield, but the outbreak of World War II saw its return to service in 1940, as RAF Edzell. The airfield served as an aircraft maintenance facility, and by the end of the war held some 800 aircraft in reserve. In the late 1950s the site was used as a motor racing circuit, however only few races were held before it was reopened. One of the last sports car races on the circuit was won by the future double World GP Champion Jim Clark. The last motor racing meeting at Edzell took place on Saturday, 20 June 1959. RAF Edzell reopened in 1960, forming part of the United States Navy global High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) network, used to track various targets around the world. Up to 3, 000 personnel were said to have been stationed at RAF Edzell. The ending of the Cold War, and advances in technology rendered the HF network obsolete, and the station closed in October 1997, by which time staffing levels had fallen to 300 local, and 700 military personnel. This marked the end of 37 years of US Navy operations and 85 years of RAF service.