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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherFonthill Media
ISBN-101781556091
ISBN-139781781556092
eBay Product ID (ePID)234402363
Product Key Features
Book TitleNorthern 'q' : the History of Royal Air Force, Leuchars
Number of Pages208 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2017
TopicMilitary Science, Military / Wars & Conflicts (Other), Military / Aviation
IllustratorYes
GenreTechnology & Engineering, History
AuthorIan Watson
FormatTrade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Length9.2 in
Item Width6.2 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2015-509470
Dewey Edition23
Dewey Decimal358.4/170941
SynopsisLeuchars was one of the oldest airfields in the UK, its links with military aviation go back to 1911. Following the outbreak of war in 1939 the station was identified as an ideal location to launch maritime operations under Coastal Command. From 1950-2015 Leuchars was on permanent guard with every type of operational interceptor in RAF service., Northern 'Q': The History of Royal Air Force, Leuchars takes its title from the long standing primary role as one of the oldest airfields in the UK. Leuchars began its links with military aviation as far back as 1911 with the arrival of the Royal Engineers who established a balloon squadron for reconnaissance training. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the station was identified as an ideal location to launch maritime operations under Coastal Command. By the end of the war, Leuchars, like so many other airfields, was under the threat of redundancy as many airfields were rendered surplus to requirements. The developing international situation placed a shift in defence with the Cold War and Leuchars was once more deemed to be in an ideal and vital position. From 1950, this corner of north-east Fife has been on permanent guard with every type of operational interceptor in RAF service. Now politics from austerity to Scottish independence, rather than sound judgement, is setting the agenda as the RAF leave for Lossiemouth in Moray., Northern 'Q': The History of Royal Air Force, Leuchars takes its title from the long standing primary role as one of the oldest airfields in the UK. Leuchars began its links with military aviation as far back as 1911 with the arrival of the Royal Engineers who established a balloon squadron for reconnaissance training. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the station was identified as an ideal location to launch maritime operations under Coastal Command. By the end of the war, Leuchars, like so many other airfields, was under the threat of redundancy as many airfields were rendered surplus to requirements. The developing international situation placed a shift in defense with the Cold War and Leuchars was once more deemed to be in an ideal and vital position. From 1950, this corner of northeast Fife has been on permanent guard with every type of operational interceptor in RAF service. Now politics from austerity to Scottish independence, rather than sound judgment, is setting the agenda as the RAF leave for Lossiemouth in Moray., Northern 'Q' takes its name from the long-standing 'quick response' air defence interceptor role, for many years maintained by the RAF base at Leuchars, on the Fife coast just north of St Andrews. Round-the-clock readiness is maintained to respond to threats approaching United Kingdom airspace from the north-particularly from the USSR during the Cold War period. RAF Leuchars is one of the oldest remaining active airfields in the United Kingdom. The area began its connection with military aviation in 1911, when a unit of the Royal Engineers established a hot-air balloon squadron at nearby Tentsmuir Forest. The Leuchars airfield became operational in 1920, initially under the RNAS, but post-war restructuring brought it under RAF control shortly after. However, the airfield's main responsibility remained in training Fleet Air Arm aviators destined to operate from the Navy's carriers. Following the outbreak of war in 1939, the station transferred to the RAF's recently formed Coastal Command, becoming a fully operational air base, predominantly for anti-submarine warfare duties. By the end of the war, Leuchars-like so many other airfields-was in danger of redundancy. However, its strategic position on the Scottish coast and the growing threat from the USSR saved it from this fate. In 1950, RAF Leuchars passed to Fighter Command and has remained operational since then, equipped with every type of operational interceptor in RAF service. Now in 2015, economic and political concerns have conspired to end the RAF's operational presence at Leuchars, and the station looks towards a new future as an Army base. Book jacket.
LC Classification NumberUG635.G72N688 2017
