View source for RAF Lossiemouth

{{Short description|Royal Air Force main operating base in Moray, Scotland}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=RAF Lossiemouth
|ensign=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
|native_name=
|partof=
|location=
|nearest_town=[[Lossiemouth]], [[Moray]]
|country=Scotland
|image=File:Eurofighter Typhoon, ZK312 (19451923880).jpg
|caption=A [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon FGR4]] in [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] markings taking off from runway 23 at Lossiemouth
|image2= RAF Lossiemouth badge.png
|image2_size = 150px
|caption2={{Language with name/for|gd|Thoir an aire|Be careful|break=yes}}
|pushpin_map=Scotland Moray#UK
|pushpin_label=RAF Lossiemouth
|pushpin_map_caption=Shown within Moray
|coordinates={{Coord|57|42|19|N|003|20|21|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
|type= Main Operating Base
|code=
|site_area= {{convert|580|ha|acres}}<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-estates-development-plan-dedp-2009|title=Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A|date=3 July 2009|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|page=A3|access-date=21 April 2016}}</ref>
|height=
|ownership=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
|operator= [[Royal Air Force]]
|controlledby=[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group (Air Combat)]]
|open_to_public=
|condition= Operational
|built={{Start date|1938}}–1939
|builder=
|used= *1939–1946 (Royal Air Force) 
*1946–1972 ([[Fleet Air Arm]])
*1972 – present (Royal Air Force) <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
|materials=
|fate=
|battles=
|events=
|current_commander=[[Group Captain]] Sarah Brewin
|past_commanders=<!-- past notable commander(s) -->
|garrison=
|occupants=
Flying units:
* [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]]
* [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]]
* [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]]
* [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] 
* [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]]
* [[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]]
* [[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 201 Squadron]]
''See [[#Based units|Based units]] section for full list.''
|elevation={{Convert|12.5|m|0}}
|IATA=LMO
|ICAO=EGQS
|FAA=
|TC=
|LID=
|GPS=
|WMO=03068
|r1-number=05/23
|r1-length={{Convert|2764|m|0}}
|r1-surface=[[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
|r2-number=10/28
|r2-length={{Convert|1850|m|0}}
|r2-surface=[[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
|website = {{Official website|https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/ }}
|footnotes='''Source''': UK MIL AIP Lossiemouth<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=31 December 2020|title=UK MIL AIP Lossiemouth AD-2 EGQS|url=https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/ad/EGQS-Lossiemouth-Combined.pdf|access-date=15 January 2021|website=UK Military AIP|publisher=No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit}}</ref>
}}
'''Royal Air Force Lossiemouth''' or more commonly '''RAF Lossiemouth''' {{Airport codes|LMO|EGQS}} is a military airfield located on the western edge of the town of [[Lossiemouth]] in [[Moray]], north-east [[Scotland]].

Lossiemouth is one of the largest and busiest fast-jet [[List of Royal Air Force stations|station]]s in the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and known for its close proximity to flight training areas in Scotland and its favourable local flying conditions. Since the closure of [[Leuchars Station|RAF Leuchars]] in 2015, Lossiemouth is the only operational RAF station in Scotland and is one of two main operating bases for the [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4]] in the United Kingdom. It is home to four front-line fast jet units which operate the Typhoon: [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]], [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]], [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] and [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]]. All four Squadrons contribute to the [[Quick Reaction Alert|Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North]] capability which provides continuous protection of UK airspace. 

The station is also home to [[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]] and [[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 201 Squadron]], both flying the [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Poseidon MRA1]] in the [[Maritime patrol aircraft|maritime patrol]] role. No. 8 Squadron will operate the RAF's new fleet of three [[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing Wedgetail AEW1]] [[airborne early warning and control]] aircraft, with aircrew training expected to commence in 2025. [[No. 42 Squadron RAF|No. 42 Squadron]] is the operational conversion unit for the Poseidon and Wedgetail. There are a number of non-flying units at RAF Lossiemouth including [[No. 5 Force Protection Wing RAF|No. 5 Force Protection Wing]] and an [[Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service|RAF Mountain Rescue Service]] team.

The airfield opened in 1939 and was operated by the RAF, predominantly as part of [[RAF Bomber Command|Bomber Command]], until 1946 when it transferred to the [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) and became known as '''RNAS Lossiemouth''' or '''HMS ''Fulmar'''''. Lossiemouth was used as a training station by the FAA until it was handed back to the RAF in September 1972, after which it has largely operated as a fast-jet base.

==History==
=== Construction (1938–1939) ===
Construction started during the summer of 1938, when {{convert|220|ha|acre|abbr=off}} of agricultural land was acquired to accommodate the airfield. The land was cleared of vegetation and buildings and by the spring of 1939 several wooden huts were present. [[Group captain|Group Captain]] P.E Maitland was the first station commander and took up post in March 1939, with the station formally opening on 1 May 1939.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|pp=4–6}}  The first unit to take up residence at Lossiemouth was [[No. 15 Flying Training School RAF|No. 15 Flying Training School]] (No. 15 FTS), initially equipped with thirteen [[Airspeed Oxford]]s and five [[Hawker Hart]]s.{{sfn|Smith|1983|p=142}} Aircraft were stored in the open until the first hangars were completed in August 1939. That same month tragedy struck when three crew members were killed during a mid-air collision between two Oxfords.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=6}}

===Second World War (1939–1945)===
At the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]], a detachment of [[Seaforth Highlanders]] was sent to Lossiemouth to guard the station, and anti-aircraft defences were installed. Flying activity increased, with No. 15 FTS receiving more Oxfords and Harts and the introduction of the [[North American T-6 Texan|North American Harvard]]; eleven [[Fairey Battle]]s were also delivered for storage. The first front-line aircraft to operate from Lossiemouth were a detachment of twelve [[Vickers Wellington]] bombers belonging to [[No. 99 Squadron RAF|No. 99 Squadron]]. They arrived in November 1939 to take part in attack missions targeting the [[nazi Germany|German]] [[cruiser]] {{ship|German cruiser|Deutschland||2}}, which was operating between Iceland and the [[Shetland|Shetland Isles]].{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=6}} January 1940 saw detachments comprising [[Handley Page Hampden]]s from [[No. 44 Squadron RAF|No. 44 Squadron]] and [[No. 50 Squadron RAF|No. 50 Squadron]] arriving to take part in offensive patrols over the [[North Sea]]. However, the operation was short-lived as a result of bad weather, with the aircraft returning to their home base in mid-February.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=6}}
[[File:Vickers-wellington-bomber-01.png|left|thumb|[[Vickers Wellington|Wellington bombers]] of [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]] which operated from Lossiemouth during 1940]]
A detachment of [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]] spent a short period of time operating Wellingtons during April 1940, before being replaced by [[No. 107 Squadron RAF|No. 107 Squadron]] and [[No. 110 Squadron RAF|No. 110 Squadron]], both equipped with [[Bristol Blenheim]]s. During this period the first loss to enemy action of an aircraft operating from Lossiemouth occurred when three Blenheims were shot down over Norway.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|pp=6–7}}

It soon became apparent that the frequent detachments of bomber aircraft were disrupting the training programme at Lossiemouth, and therefore, due to the strategic importance of the station as a base for bomber aircraft, it was decided to relocate No. 15 FTS to [[RAF Middle Wallop]] in Hampshire. On 27 April 1940, after the unit's departure, Lossiemouth transferred to [[No. 6 Group RAF|No. 6 Group]] of [[RAF Bomber Command]] and [[No. 20 OTU|No. 20 Operational Training Unit]] (No. 20 OTU) was established, initially operating Wellingtons and [[Avro Anson]]s.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=7}}

[[No. 46 Maintenance Unit RAF|No. 46 Maintenance Unit]] (No. 46 MU) was also formed in April 1940. No. 46 MU's role was to modify and fit out new aircraft before they were forwarded to front-line squadrons. A variety of aircraft were serviced, including [[Hawker Hurricane]]s, [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s, [[Hawker Audax]]es, and a [[de Havilland Hornet Moth]]. The unit primarily used six [[Robin hangar|Robin]] and eight [[Super Robin hangar]]s; however, due to a shortage of space, many aircraft were stored in fields outside the station.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=7}} Lossiemouth's first satellite airfield, located at Bogs of Mayne {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the south and known as [[RAF Elgin]], opened in June 1940.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p = 7}}

One officer and two aircrew were killed on 26 October 1940 when RAF Lossiemouth was attacked by the ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' for the first time. The attack by three [[Heinkel He 111]] bombers resulted in the destruction of two Blenheims and damage to two [[Miles Magister]]s, two Tiger Moths and a Hurricane. Three hangars were also damaged, the resultant holes from cannon fire still visible today.<ref name="online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?redirect=y&refno=NJ26NW0045|title=Aberdeenshire Council Sites and Monuments Record – Moray – NJ26NW0045 – RAF Lossiemouth|date=18 February 2016|website=Aberdeenshire Council|language=en|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> One of the Heinkels crashed on the airfield, having either been hit by ground fire or destroyed by its own bombs. All four of the crew are buried in a Lossiemouth churchyard.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=110}} As a result of the raid, Hurricanes of [[No. 232 Squadron RAF|No. 232 Squadron]] were deployed to RAF Elgin to protect the area from attacks.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=9}}
[[File:20_OTU_Memorial.jpg|thumb|The No. 20 Operational Training Unit memorial at [[RAF Elgin|Bogs of Mayne]]]]
Flying activity in early 1941 was limited due to the poor condition of the airfield; however improved weather in the Spring increased activity from No. 20 OTU and No. 46 MU, as well as from continued bomber detachments. Operational sorties were predominately undertaken by Blenheims of [[No. 21 Squadron RAF|No. 21 Squadron]], [[No. 82 Squadron RAF|No. 82 Squadron]], No. 110 Squadron and [[No. 114 Squadron RAF|No. 114 Squadron]]. By the winter of 1941, the airfield had become so muddy that the Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU were temporarily relocated to [[RAF Lakenheath]] in Suffolk.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=111}} The increased activity by No. 46 MU resulted in two [[List of Royal Air Force Satellite Landing Grounds|satellite landing grounds (SLG)]] being established to store aircraft off-site. These were at [[RAF Black Isle]] (No. 42 SLG) where [[Bristol Beaufighter]]s were kept and [[RAF Leanach]] (No. 43 SLG) near [[Culloden, Highland|Culloden]], where Hurricanes and [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s were stored.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=9}}

Lossiemouth was used during 1942 as a base to launch [[List of Allied attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz|several unsuccessful missions]] to sink the German [[battleship]] {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2}}, which at the time was operating in Norwegian [[fjord]]s. The first missions were undertaken in January 1942 by a detachment of thirteen [[Short Stirling]]s of [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 Squadron]] and [[No. 149 Squadron RAF|No. 149 Squadron]] and thirteen [[Handley Page Halifax]]es of [[No. 10 Squadron RAF|No. 10 Squadron]] and [[No. 76 Squadron RAF|No. 76 Squadron]]. Further attempts were made during April by [[Avro Lancaster]]s of No. 44 Squadron and No. 97 Squadron and Halifaxes of No. 10 Squadron. Lancasters of No. 9 Squadron later joined the operation.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=10}} 1942 also saw numerous accidents involving No. 20 OTU aircraft, many of which resulted in death and serious injuries. These accidents were attributed to a combination of fatigued aircraft, inexperienced crews and poor weather.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=10}} Wellingtons of No. 20 OTU were also involved in [[Strategic bombing during World War II|strategic bombing raids]] on German cities throughout 1942, the training aircraft being required to help reach the target number of 1,000 bombers per raid.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=112}} The airfield's first surfaced runways, (06/24 {{convert|1828|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}; 09/27 {{convert|1371|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}; 01/19 {{convert|1280|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}), were constructed by an [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|engineering battalion]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces|US Army Air Force]] in late 1942 and helped to reduce interruptions to flying as a result of the grass strips being affected by poor weather. A new control tower was also constructed.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=10}}

In September 1943, Wellingtons of 'C' Flight No. 20 OTU, moved to the second of the Lossiemouth satellite airfields, [[RAF Milltown]], located {{convert|3|mi|km}} to the south-east. By now No. 46 MU were concentrating their work on Bristol Beaufighters and Lancasters and the SLG at RAF Leanach had been replaced with a new site at [[Dornoch]] golf course, which became known as [[RAF Dornoch]] (No. 40 SLG).{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=11}} No. 20 OTU received its official crest in 1943, with two examples cast in concrete being constructed at Lossiemouth and RAF Elgin. The crest at Lossiemouth no longer exists and although little now remains of the airfield at Elgin, the concrete crest is a war memorial for those who served there.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Elgin Airfield {{!}} Canmore|url = http://canmore.org.uk/site/81853/elgin-airfield|website = canmore.org.uk|access-date =8 November 2015}}</ref>{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=11}}
[[File:Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Bomber_Command_CH17863.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|A [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 Squadron]] crew and their [[Avro Lancaster|Lancaster bomber]] following the successful operation launched from Lossiemouth against the German battleship ''[[German battleship Tirpitz|Tirpitz]]'' on 12 November 1944]]
Further operations against ''Tirpitz'' took place between September and November 1944. [[Operation Catechism]] finally resulted in the German battleship being sunk near [[Tromsø]] on 12 November 1944. Thirty-eight Lancasters of No. 9 Squadron and [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 Squadron]] launched from Lossiemouth, Kinloss and Milltown and destroyed the vessel with [[Tallboy (bomb)|Tallboy bombs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommandtirpitznovember121944.cfm|title=Tirpitz, November 12 1944|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323063336/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommandtirpitznovember121944.cfm|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> Nearly 50 years later, No. 617 Squadron transferred to Lossiemouth and was based there between 1993 and 2014. During that time examples of the Tallboy, [[Grand Slam (bomb)|Grand Slam]] and [[Bouncing bomb|Up Keep]] (bouncing bomb) were on display within the squadron site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stv.tv/news/north/204963-kids-get-a-true-sense-of-history-when-they-tour-the-lossiemouth-base/|title=Pupils get a true sense of history during tour of Moray RAF base|date=10 December 2012|website=STV News|language=en|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061819/https://stv.tv/news/north/204963-kids-get-a-true-sense-of-history-when-they-tour-the-lossiemouth-base/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In July 1945, after the end of hostilities in Europe, No. 20 OTU was disbanded and No. 46 MU continued to prepare aircraft for operations in the Far East. After the war ended, No. 46 MU began the enormous task of breaking-up surplus aircraft for scrap. At one point there were around 900 aircraft on the airfield awaiting disposal.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=13}} On 28 July 1945, Lossiemouth was transferred to [[No. 17 Group RAF|No. 17 Group]] of [[RAF Coastal Command]], with the arrival of [[No. 111 OTU|No. 111 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit]] from the [[Bahamas]] occurring shortly thereafter. By August 1945, the unit was operating forty-one [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator]]s, ten Halifaxes and a [[North American B-25 Mitchell|North American Mitchell]]. The unit was disbanded in July 1946.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=13}}

=== HMS ''Fulmar'' (1946–1972) ===
Lossiemouth transferred from the Royal Air Force to the [[Fleet Air Arm]] (FAA) on 2 July 1946 and became known as '''Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Lossiemouth''' or '''HMS ''Fulmar'''''.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=13}} On the FAA taking control, No. 46 MU moved to RAF Elgin. Lossiemouth was used as a basic training station for FAA pilots who then moved on to [[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|RNAS Culdrose (HMS ''Seahawk'')]] in Cornwall for [[Instrument flight rules|instrument training]]. RAF Milltown also transferred to the FAA and became known as HMS ''Fulmar II''. It operated as a [[Carrier-based aircraft|Deck Landing]] Training School, where the last stage of training was practised before students could land on {{HMS|Theseus|R64|6}} in the [[Moray Firth]].<ref name=":8">{{cite web |title=RAF Lossiemouth – History |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/history.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110513/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/history.cfm |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=21 December 2015 |website=RAF Lossiemouth |publisher=Royal Air Force}}</ref> The first FAA squadron, [[766 Naval Air Squadron|No. 766 Naval Air Squadron]], arrived at Lossiemouth in August 1946 and operated [[Supermarine Seafire]]s and [[Fairey Firefly|Fairey Fireflies]] until its departure to RNAS Culdrose in 1953.{{sfn|Hughes|1999|p=116}} In the late 1940s, to replace poor quality war-era facilities, seven hundred new married living-quarters were constructed in the nearby towns of Lossiemouth and [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], with the first opening in September 1949. The practice of constructing living-quarters off-station differed from that of the RAF, which typically constructed such accommodation within the boundaries of their airfields. In 1952 and early 1953, Lossiemouth's runways were upgraded and extended to their present lengths; during that time aircraft temporarily operated from Milltown.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=15}}

The Naval Air Fighter and Strike Training School transferred to the station in 1953 and over the next decade many aircraft types operated from Lossiemouth in the training role, including Supermarine Seafires, Fairey Fireflys, [[Hawker Sea Hawk]]s, [[Hawker Sea Fury]]s, [[Supermarine Scimitar]]s, [[de Havilland Sea Venom]]s and [[Hawker Hunter]]s.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=22}} Four [[Gloster Meteor]]s were used as target-towers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Hampshire|first=A. Cecil|year=1958|title=Training the Naval Fighter Pilot|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200161.html|journal=Flight|volume=1 August|pages=165–167}}</ref> One of the first squadrons of the recently established [[German Navy|Federal Germany Navy]] was formed at Lossiemouth in May 1958 under the NATO cooperative policy. No. 764 Naval Air Squadron had responsibility for training German crews on twelve Sea Hawks, which operated in German Navy markings. A commissioning ceremony was attended by British and German naval and political figures.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205164258|title=German Naval Air Squadrons Commissioned|website=Imperial War Museum|access-date=17 November 2016}}</ref> In 1958 it was announced that station facilities were to be upgraded at a cost of £3 million, including the refurbishment of living accommodation and the creation of the ''Fulmar Club'' social club. [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]] opened a new officers mess in July 1965.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=16}}
[[File:Buccaneer_700Z_Lossiemouth_NAN3_62.jpg|thumb|A [[Blackburn Buccaneer|Buccaneer S.1]] of [[700 Naval Air Squadron|No. 700Z Squadron]] at RNAS Lossiemouth circa 1961]]
The [[Blackburn Buccaneer]] arrived in March 1961 when [[700 Naval Air Squadron|No. 700Z Naval Air Squadron]] was created as an Intensive Flying Trials unit to evaluate the aircraft's weapons, systems and performance. Initially, the squadron operated two aircraft, increasing to five by the end of 1961.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1 February 1962|title=Up among the 700Z men|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200163.html|journal=Flight International}}</ref> The first operational Buccaneer squadron, [[801 Naval Air Squadron|No. 801 Naval Air Squadron]], was established on 17 July 1962, followed by [[809 Naval Air Squadron|No. 809 Naval Air Squadron]] in January 1963 and [[800 Naval Air Squadron|No. 800 Naval Air Squadron]] in March 1964.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=22}} The Buccaneer was capable of delivering [[nuclear weapon]]s as well as conventional weapons for [[anti-shipping warfare]] and was typically active over the [[North Sea]] during its service. Buccaneers also embarked on aircraft carriers {{HMS|Victorious|R38|6}}, {{HMS|Eagle|R05|2}}, {{HMS|Ark Royal|R09|2}} and {{HMS|Hermes|R12|2}}.{{sfn|Bishop and Chant|2004|p=|pp=65, 71–72, 74}} On 28 March 1967, Buccaneers from Lossiemouth bombed the shipwrecked [[Oil tanker|supertanker]] {{SS|Torrey Canyon||2}} off the western coast of [[Cornwall]], to ignite the oil and avoid an environmental disaster. The mid-1960s saw further investment in facilities at Lossiemouth including new living quarters and messes.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=16}}

The [[1966 Defence White Paper]] saw the withdrawal of most British military forces stationed [[East of Suez]] during the 1970s, reducing the need for aircraft carriers and fixed-wing naval aviation such as the Buccaneer. The aircraft had been considered by the RAF for a medium-range [[interdictor]] and [[Fighter bomber|tactical strike]] aircraft. As a result, [[736 Naval Air Squadron|No. 736 Naval Air Squadron]] began training RAF air and ground crews on the Buccaneer in 1969.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=16}} Between September 1967 and March 1970, the Fleet Air Arm's most decorated pilot, [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Eric Brown (pilot)|Eric 'Winkle' Brown]] was station commander; it was his last command.<ref>Eric Brown, "Wings on My Sleeve", Airlife publications (1978), p. 272</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19670913&id=AH9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=3589,1956920&hl=en|title=New Commander of R.N.A.S Lossiemouth|date=13 September 1967|work=The Glasgow Herald|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/12167611/Captain-Eric-Winkle-Brown-obituary.html|title=Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown – obituary|date=16 February 2016|website=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref> The late 1960s saw the FAA reduce its activities at Lossiemouth, although [[Fairey Gannet AEW.3|Fairey Gannets]] of [[849 Naval Air Squadron|No. 849 Naval Air Squadron]] were transferred from [[RNAS Brawdy]] to Lossiemouth on 13 November 1971. The Buccaneer force was reduced in size with several squadrons departing or disbanding in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The last Buccaneers, of No. 809 Naval Air Squadron, left on 25 September 1972, leaving the only Fleet Air Arm aircraft left being the Gannets and search and rescue helicopters.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=16}}

=== Return of the Royal Air Force (1972–1991) ===
[[File:Avro_696_Shackleton_AEW2,_UK_-_Air_Force_AN1633415.jpg|left|thumb|A [[Avro Shackleton|Shackleton AEW.2]]  of [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] which was based at Lossiemouth from 1973 to 1991]]
The station was returned to Royal Air Force control on 28 September 1972, with the first RAF squadron operating from the new RAF Lossiemouth being 'D' Flight, [[No. 202 Squadron RAF|No. 202 Squadron]] in the helicopter search and rescue role.<ref name=":8" /> The Jaguar Conversion Team arrived in May 1973 to train the RAF's first [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] crews. It was later designated [[No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit RAF|No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit]] on 1 October 1974. By late 1974, [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] and [[No. 54 Squadron RAF|No. 54 Squadron]] were both operating the Jaguar.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=19}}

In August 1973, [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] and their twelve [[Avro Shackleton|Avro Shackleton AEW.2s]], operating as [[Airborne early warning and control|airborne early warning (AEW)]] aircraft, moved to Lossiemouth from nearby [[RAF Kinloss]]. The Shackleton was an interim aircraft for the RAF AEW requirement, which saw the gradual replacement of Fleet Air Arm's Fairey Gannets, culminating in the disbandment of No. 849 Naval Air Squadron in November 1978.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=19}} Towards the end of the 1970s, two non-flying defence units took up residence at the station, starting with the arrival in December 1978 of [[No. 48 Squadron RAF Regiment]] equipped with [[Rapier missile|Rapier surface-to-air missiles]]. July 1979 saw the formation of [[No. 2622 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2622 (Highland) Royal Air Force Auxiliary Regiment]] for ground defence.<ref name=":8" /> From 1978 to 1980, No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit operated the Hawker Hunter from Lossiemouth.<ref name=":8" />

The Buccaneer made a return to Lossiemouth in the 1980s as a RAF maritime strike aircraft, the first arriving in November 1980 when [[No. 12 Squadron RAF|No. 12 Squadron]] transferred from [[RAF Honington]] in Suffolk, followed by [[No. 208 Squadron RAF|No. 208 Squadron]] in July 1983. The remainder of the RAF Buccaneer fleet arrived in October 1984 when [[No. 237 Operational Conversion Unit RAF|No. 237 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)]], took up residence.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=19}} Although the Buccaneer training unit, No. 237 OCU also had a reserve role of overland [[Laser designator|laser designation]] in support of RAF Jaguars.<ref name="raf-gulf-ops">{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/GulfWarBuccaneerOperations.cfm|title=Gulf War Buccaneer Operations|last=Cope|first=Bill|website=Royal Air Force|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016003311/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/GulfWarBuccaneerOperations.cfm|archive-date=16 October 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref>

=== Operation Granby ===
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| caption1 = A [[Blackburn Buccaneer|Buccaneer S.2B]] in [[Gulf War]] colours
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During the 1991 [[Gulf War]], personnel from all three Buccaneer squadrons took part in [[Operation Granby]], the aircraft's first combat operation.<ref name="raf-gulf-ops" /> Following a short-notice decision to deploy to the [[Middle East]], the first batch of six aircraft were brought to readiness in under 72 hours, including the adoption of desert-pink camouflage and additional war-time equipment. The first six aircraft departed from Lossiemouth for [[Muharraq Airfield|Muharraq]] in [[Bahrain]] at 04:00 on 26 January 1991. Twelve Buccaneers operated as laser designators and it became common for each attack formation to comprise four [[Panavia Tornado|Tornados]] and two Buccaneers; each Buccaneer carrying a [[Pave Spike]] laser designator pod, one as a spare in case of equipment failure.<ref name=raf-gulf-ops /> The Buccaneer force became known as the ''{{'}}Sky Pirates{{'}}'' in reference to the maritime history of the Buccaneer. Each aircraft had a [[Jolly Roger]] flag painted on its port side, alongside [[nose art]] featuring female characters. In recognition of their Scottish roots, the Buccaneers were also named after [[Speyside single malt|Speyside whisky]] such as ''[[Glenfiddich]]'', [[Glen Elgin distillery|''Glen Elgin'']] and [[The Macallan distillery|''The Macallan'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/RAFbaseslistduringOperationGranby.cfm|title=RAF bases list during Operation Granby|website=Royal Air Force|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010005531/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/RAFbaseslistduringOperationGranby.cfm|archive-date=10 October 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref> Hostilities ended in late February 1991, the Buccaneers having flown 218 sorties without loss, designating targets for other aircraft and later dropping 48 of their own [[Paveway|Paveway II laser-guided bombs]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gething|first=Michael J|date=March 1994|title=The Buccaneer Bows Out: Valediction for the Sky Pirate|journal=Air International|publisher=Key Publishing|volume= 46| issue = 3|pages=137–144|issn=0306-5634}}</ref>

=== Transition to Tornado (1991–1999) ===
The replacement for the ageing Shackleton AEW.2, the [[British Aerospace Nimrod AEW3|British Aerospace Nimrod AEW.3]], suffered considerable development difficulties which culminated in the aircraft being cancelled during 1986, for an off-the-shelf purchase of the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|Boeing Sentry AEW1]]. The last Shackletons were retired in July 1991 and No. 8 Squadron transferred to [[RAF Waddington]] in Lincolnshire, to equip with their new aircraft.{{sfn|Hughes|1993|p=19}}
[[File:RAF_-_Tornadoes_-_RAF_Lossiemouth_-_220606.jpg|left|thumb|Several [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR4]] landing at RAF Lossiemouth]]
It was intended that the Buccaneer would remain in service until the end of the 1990s, having been extensively modernised in a process lasting up to 1989; however the end of the [[Cold War]] resulted in major changes in [[Options for Change|British defence policy]], with many aircraft being deemed surplus to requirements. As a consequence, to allow for the early retirement of the Buccaneer, twenty-six [[Panavia Tornado|Panavia Tornado GR1s]] were modified to GR1B standard to allow the use of the [[Sea Eagle (missile)|BAe Sea Eagle]] missile for [[Anti-surface warfare#Air ASuW|maritime strike]] operations.{{sfn|Jefford et al.|2005|p=115}} The reduction of the Buccaneer fleet began on 1 October 1991 when No. 237 OCU was disbanded, followed by No. 12 Squadron in September 1993. [[No. 27 Squadron RAF|No. 27 Squadron]], then at [[RAF Marham]], disbanded and re-formed at Lossiemouth as No.12 Squadron, operating the Tornado GR1B.<ref name=":8" />

In 1992, No. 237 Field Squadron of the [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] was formed with responsibility for Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). This squadron became part of No. 76 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) of the [[Royal Engineers]], responsible for ADR in the north of England and across Scotland.<ref name=":8" /> The Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit, renamed [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 (Reserve) Squadron]], arrived from RAF Honington in Suffolk on 1 November 1993.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/15squadron.cfm|title=15(R) Squadron|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714062827/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/15squadron.cfm|archive-date=14 July 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref> The last Buccaneers were withdrawn in April 1994 when No. 208 Squadron disbanded. No. 617 Squadron then transferred to Lossiemouth from RAF Marham in Norfolk, with its Tornado GR1Bs.<ref name=":8" /> No. 48 Squadron RAF Regiment and their Rapiers left Lossiemouth for RAF Honington on 1 July 1996.<ref name=":8" /> Group Captain [[Graham Miller (RAF officer)|Graham Miller]] was station commander between 1995 and 1998 and later achieved the rank of [[Air Marshal]], holding the post of Deputy Commander at [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples|Allied Joint Force Command]] in [[Naples]] from 2004 until his retirement in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=A016EB8E-1143-EC82-2EA5684312F642D6|title=RAF – News|date=3 December 2007|website=Royal Air Force|language=en|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061816/https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=A016EB8E-1143-EC82-2EA5684312F642D6|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the closure of the [[Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment|Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE)]] at [[RAF Cottesmore]] in 1999, the number of aircraft operated by No. 15 (R) Squadron increased.<ref name=":8" /> The squadron became the RAF Tornado GR4 [[Operational conversion unit|Operational Conversion Unit]], training pilots and weapon systems operators for posting to front-line Tornado squadrons at Lossiemouth and RAF Marham. The squadron accepted aircrew straight from advanced flying training at [[RAF Leeming]] and [[RAF Valley]] and provided refresher courses for experienced aircrew returning to the Tornado GR4, following other tours of duty. The squadron also trained aircrew officers from foreign nations posted to the UK on two to three-year exchange tours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/xvrsqn.cfm|title=XV(R) Sqn|website=RAF Lossiemouth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429125609/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/xvrsqn.cfm|archive-date=29 April 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
[[File:Royal_Air_Force_Sepecat_Jaguar_T4_Lofting-1.jpg|thumb|A [[SEPECAT Jaguar|SEPECAT Jaguar T4]] of [[No. 16 Squadron RAF|No. 16(R) Squadron]] landing at Lossiemouth]]
To concentrate the Jaguar fleet in one place, No. 16(R) Squadron with eleven aircraft and around 100 personnel departed Lossiemouth for [[RAF Coltishall]] in Norfolk in July 2000, bringing to an end Lossiemouth's 27-year association with the Jaguar.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/842622.stm|title=Jaguars high-tail it to new home|date=20 July 2000|website=BBC News|access-date=6 April 2017}}</ref> After the arrival of [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron]] and its Tornado GR1s from [[RAF Brüggen]] in Germany during January 2001, Lossiemouth became the busiest fast-jet station in the RAF.<ref name=":8" /> In May 2001, [[No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment]] was re-established, to join No. 2622 RAuxAF Squadron, under the new [[No. 5 Force Protection Wing|No. 5 Force Protection Wing Headquarters]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/otherunits.cfm|title=Other Units|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

==== F-35 Lightning II and threat of closure ====
The Ministry of Defence announced in November 2005 that Lossiemouth would be the main operating base for the RAF's new [[F-35 Lightning II]] fleet, which was expected to enter service in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4444352.stm|title=RAF bases receive aircraft boost|date=17 November 2005|website=BBC News|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> In 2010, the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] (SDSR) cast doubt on whether the F-35 would be based at Lossiemouth and raised fears in the local community that the station could close. On 7 November 2010 up to 7,000 people took part in a march and rally in Lossiemouth in support of retaining the RAF station, including Scotland's [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] and other politicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-11704860|title=Thousands join march to support RAF Lossiemouth|date=7 November 2010|website=BBC News|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref> With Moray being the area in Scotland most dependent on military spending, it was feared the closure of RAF Lossiemouth and the confirmed closure of nearby RAF Kinloss, would lead to economic uncertainty and unemployment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/8199721/RAF-Lossiemouth-to-be-saved-at-expense-of-Leuchars.html|title=RAF Lossiemouth to be saved at expense of Leuchars|last1=Harding|first1=Thomas|last2=Johnson|first2=Simon|date=14 December 2010|website=Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref> A petition with more than 30,000 signatures was delivered to [[10 Downing Street]] by campaign members on 11 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-12151206|title=RAF Lossiemouth petition lands at 10 Downing Street|date=11 January 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref>

In July 2011, the Ministry of Defence announced that Lossiemouth would remain open with Lossiemouth's Tornados moving to RAF Marham. [[RAF Leuchars]] in Fife would close and transfer to the [[British Army]], with Leuchar's [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s]] and responsibility for [[Quick Reaction Alert|Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North (QRA)]] moving to Lossiemouth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14182729|title=RAF to pull out of Leuchars as RAF Lossiemouth stays|date=18 July 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-14189327|title=Threatened RAF Marham Tornado base to stay open|date=18 July 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=2 September 2015}}</ref> In March 2013, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the F-35 Lighting II would be based at Marham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-21931535|title=RAF Lossiemouth loses Joint Strike Fighter bid|date=25 March 2013|website=BBC News|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-estate-rationalisation-update|title=Defence Estate rationalisation update|date=25 March 2013|work=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

====From Tornado to Typhoon====
[[File:Tornado_GR4_Over_RAF_Lossiemouth_MOD_45150789.jpg|alt=|thumb|A [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR4]] of [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 Squadron]] over RAF Lossiemouth during 2009]]
After the SDSR, No. 14 Squadron disbanded on 1 June 2011, reducing the number of Tornados based at Lossiemouth.<ref name=":15">{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=74B85889-5056-A318-A87ED530D06F3677|title=Squadrons Disbanded|date=1 March 2011|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806155145/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=74B85889-5056-A318-A87ED530D06F3677|archive-date=6 August 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> In 2012, a new combined [[mess]] for junior ranks and senior non-commission officers was completed, replacing separate buildings constructed in the 1960s, which were demolished.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2012 |title=RAF Lossiemouth CO makes a right old mess of former Navy building |url=https://stv.tv/news/north/203631-raf-lossiemouth-co-makes-a-right-old-mess-of-former-navy-building/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517234644/https://stv.tv/news/north/203631-raf-lossiemouth-co-makes-a-right-old-mess-of-former-navy-building/ |archive-date=17 May 2017 |access-date=17 April 2017 |website=STV News |language=en}}</ref>

Following the announcement in 2011 that Lossiemouth would remain open, £17 million was spent in 2013 refurbishing the airfield for the arrival of the Typhoon, with a further £70 million set aside for future developments. Quick Reaction Alert facilities were built in the northern [[hardened aircraft shelter]] (HAS) complex and alterations were made to hangars 1 and 3 and new ground-support IT and communication systems.<ref name="P&J-16-9-15">{{cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/338915/1-squadron-arrive-at-raf-lossiemouth-in-formation/|title=1 Squadron arrive at RAF Lossiemouth in formation|last=Mackenzie|first=Ruth|date=9 September 2014|website=Press and Journal|publisher=[[Aberdeen Journals]]|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/154719/mod-quizzed-on-87-million-for-raf-lossiemouth/|title=MoD quizzed on £87 million for RAF Lossiemouth|last1=Alexander|first1=Michael|date=9 August 2014|website=The Courier|publisher=[[DC Thomson|DC Thomson & Co.]]|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref> In March 2014, three Typhoons from RAF Leuchars arrived at Lossiemouth to take part in ''Exercise Moray Venture'', a week-long operation to test new facilities ahead of the aircraft's arrival later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/News/Early-glimpse-of-RAF-Lossiemouth-Typhoons-21032014.htm|title=Early glimpse of RAF Lossiemouth Typhoons|last1=Rollo|first1=Sarah|date=21 March 2014|website=The Northern Scot|publisher=Scottish Provincial Press|access-date=16 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083413/http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/News/Early-glimpse-of-RAF-Lossiemouth-Typhoons-21032014.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:1919103B_5056_A318_A803EDC3C46EC8F6.jpg|left|thumb|The [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 (AC) Squadron]] building with a [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] on the flight-line]]
In preparation for the transition to the Typhoon, No.12 Squadron and No.617 Squadron disbanded on 1 April 2014, leaving No.15 (R) Squadron as the only remaining Tornado unit at Lossiemouth.<ref name=":16">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/farewell-for-now-to-2-historic-raf-squadrons|title=Farewell (for now) to 2 historic RAF squadrons|date=28 March 2014|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10729956/Rain-on-Dambusters-parade-cancels-final-flypast.html|title=Rain on Dambusters parade cancels final flypast|last1=Copping|first1=Jasper|date=28 March 2014|website=Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref>  The first Typhoon unit, No. 6 Squadron, transferred from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth on 20 June 2014. Nine aircraft arrived in formation in the shape of a number 6.<ref name=":17">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-27929645|title=Typhoons leave RAF Leuchars for Lossiemouth base|date=20 June 2014|website=BBC News|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref> [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]] followed on 8 September 2014, when responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert (North) was transferred from RAF Leuchars to Lossiemouth.<ref name=":9">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/typhoon-aircraft-relocate-to-raf-lossiemouth|title=Typhoon aircraft relocate to RAF Lossiemouth|date=20 June 2014|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref>

The third Typhoon squadron based at Lossiemouth, [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]], arrived in January 2015.<ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=31590D76-5056-A318-A80BB04872F6D154|title=II (Army Co-operation) Squadron have begun initial operations at their home base of RAF Lossiemouth, following their stand-up as a Typhoon squadron earlier this year|date=30 March 2015|website=RAF Lossiemouth|access-date=16 September 2015}}</ref> In preparation of the squadron's arrival, work commenced in October 2014 to refurbish the southern HAS complex, which was formerly occupied by No. 617 Squadron. Nine aircraft shelters were refurbished, a hard-standing for a flight-line capable of accommodating eight aircraft was built, new flood-lighting was installed and the dining facilities were improved. A new headquarters building was constructed on the site of a World War II era K-type hangar (K20). The building has space for engineering and logistics facilities, a survival equipment section, classrooms and office space. This allowed No. 2 Squadron to operate independently from other squadrons at Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/typhoon-facilities-at-raf-lossiemouth-ready-for-take-off-after-23m-investment-01022016|title=Typhoon facilities at RAF Lossiemouth ready for take-off after £23m investment|last=Pickering|first=Helen|date=1 February 2016|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209003226/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/typhoon-facilities-at-raf-lossiemouth-ready-for-take-off-after-23m-investment-01022016|archive-date=9 February 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref>

In May 2015, construction began on a new {{convert|250|×|16|m|yd|abbr=on}} section of [[taxiway]] to provide improved access between the QRA facilities in the northern HAS site and runway 23/05. The new taxiway was constructed by 53 Field Squadron, part of [[39 Engineer Regiment (United Kingdom)|39 (Air Support) Engineer Regiment]], [[Royal Engineers]], based at nearby Kinloss Barracks.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lt Bergman and SSgt Murray|date=October 2015|title=Runway Construction|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Oct_2015_Sapper.pdf|url-status=dead|journal=The Sapper|publisher=Regimental Headquarters, Royal Engineers, British Army|pages=280–283|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717143631/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Oct_2015_Sapper.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2016|access-date=11 June 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The project was completed in September 2015.{{sfn|No.1 AIDU|2016|p=AD 2 - EGQS - 1 - 15}}
[[File:ZA602-F_Tornado_GR-4_RAF_(20250123219).jpg|thumb|[[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR4]] ZA602 F ''{{'}}MacRoberts Reply{{'}}''  of [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No.15(R) Squadron]] taxiing at Lossiemouth]]
No. 15 (R) Squadron disbanded on 31 March 2017. Aircraft and crews were absorbed into front-line squadrons at RAF Marham where refresher training on the Tornado was carried out.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/article/66936/raf-draws-down-tornado-training|title=RAF draws down Tornado training|last=Warnes|first=Alan|date=13 January 2017|website=IHS Janes 360|access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref> To mark the occasion, on 17 March 2017, five Tornados from the squadron carried out a flypast of the former RAF base at Leuchars, the weapons range at RAF Tain and [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen International Airport]], before performing a simulated airfield strike on RAF Lossiemouth in front of base personnel, families and friends. A disbandment parade was held on 31 March 2017, signifying the end of twenty-four years of Tornado operations at Lossiemouth. Over 750 current and former squadron personnel attended the ceremony where the "Sands of Kuwait", a tune written to commemorate the 1991 Gulf War (the squadron's last battle honour), was played on the [[bagpipes]] and a Tornado fly-past took place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1198233/end-of-an-era-as-lossiemouth-tornados-touch-down-for-last-time/|title=End of an era as Lossiemouth Tornados touch down for last time|last=Mackay|first=David|date=18 March 2017|work=Press and Journal|access-date=3 April 2017|publisher=[[Aberdeen Journals]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

The final infrastructure required to support the Typhoons was completed in June 2017, when [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls-Royce]] opened its Typhoon Propulsion Support Facility; this is operated by a combination of civilian and RAF personnel and provides engineering support for Typhoon [[Eurojet EJ200]] engines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/specialist-engine-facilities-for-typhoon-jets-at-raf-lossiemouth|title=Specialist engine facilities for Typhoon jets at RAF Lossiemouth|date=2 November 2015|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence and Defence Infrastructure Organisation|language=en|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref>

On 4 March 2016 Lossiemouth was announced as the preferred option to accommodate an additional Typhoon squadron and 400 personnel.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/853237/boost-for-lossiemouth-as-400-personnel-to-arrive-with-new-typhoons/|title=Boost for Lossiemouth as 400 personnel to arrive with new Typhoons|last=Liddle|first=Andrew|date=5 March 2016|website=Press and Journal|publisher=Aberdeen Journals|access-date=7 March 2016}}</ref> Four Typhoon FGR4s were assigned to No. 9 Squadron (Designate) at Lossiemouth in February 2019.<ref name="MAM">{{cite web|title=Military Aircraft Markings Update Number 165, February 2019|url=http://www.militaryaircraftmarkings.co.uk/updates/MAMupdate165-2019.pdf|access-date=13 February 2019|publisher=Military Aircraft Markings|archive-date=14 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002809/http://www.militaryaircraftmarkings.co.uk/updates/MAMupdate165-2019.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The unit re-equipped as an [[Aggressor squadron|aggressor]] and air defence squadron operating Typhoon Tranche 1 on 1 April 2019, thereby continuing in unbroken service upon the Tornado's retirement at RAF Marham.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|last=Royal Air Force|date=1 April 2019|title=IX(B) Sqn Pennant|url=https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/videos/372709483327405/|access-date=1 April 2019|website=Facebook}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=14 March 2019|title=Tornado Squadrons Disbandment Parade|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/tornado-squadrons-disbandment-parade/|access-date=14 March 2019|website=RAF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=1 April 2019|title=On its 101st birthday the Royal Air Force now has an additional squadron equipped with the Typhoon FGR4.|url=https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/posts/10157256597854885 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/26035834884/10157256597854885 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=1 April 2019|publisher=Royal Air Force (Facebook)}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 May 2019|title=Fourth Quick Reaction Alert Squadron for RAF Lossiemouth|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/fourth-quick-reaction-alert-squadron-for-raf-lossiemouth/|access-date=4 May 2019|website=Royal Air Force}}</ref>

==== End of search and rescue (SAR) operations ====
[[File:202_Sqn_Sea_kings_lossiemouth.jpg|left|thumb|Two 'D' Flight [[No. 202 Squadron RAF|No. 202 Squadron]] [[Westland Sea King|Sea King HAR3]] outside their hangar at Lossiemouth]]
In 2006, the government announced its intentions to privatise the [[RAF Search and Rescue Force|RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) Force]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4753961.stm|title=Private bids plan for air rescue|date=9 May 2006|website=BBC News|access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref> In March 2013, a £1.6 billion ten-year contract to run the search and rescue service with new [[AgustaWestland AW189]] and [[Sikorsky S-92]] helicopters was agreed with [[Bristow Helicopters#Search and Rescue|Bristow Helicopters]] in March 2013. SAR helicopter operations in the north-east of Scotland ceased at Lossiemouth and moved to [[Inverness Airport]], located {{convert|30|mi|km}} to the west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21934077|title=Bristow Group to take over UK search and rescue from RAF|date=26 March 2013|website=BBC News|access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref> 'D' flight of No. 202 Squadron disbanded on 1 April 2015 and its [[Westland Sea King|Sea King HAR3s]] were stored at RAF Valley, Anglesey, bringing nearly 43 years of search and rescue operations at Lossiemouth to an end. The Sea Kings had been a familiar sight in the skies above Scotland, having been involved in the [[Piper Alpha|Piper Alpha disaster]], [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie bombing]] and appearing in local and national media.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=http://news.stv.tv/north/316386-last-raf-sea-king-helicopter-leaves-lossiemouth-as-bristow-takes-over/|title=End of an era as last Sea King rescue helicopter leaves Lossiemouth|last=Foote|first=Chris|date=7 April 2015|website=STV News|access-date=17 September 2015|archive-date=2 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002171430/http://news.stv.tv/north/316386-last-raf-sea-king-helicopter-leaves-lossiemouth-as-bristow-takes-over/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A farewell party to be held by 'D' Flight personnel to thank the local community for their support, was cancelled by RAF officials. There was widespread criticism of the decision but the RAF considered that the event could contravene [[Purdah (pre-election period)|campaigning rules]] for the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|UK general election]], as it could be perceived as being political.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/raf-lossiemouth-heroes-farewell-party-grounded-1-3726723|title=RAF Lossiemouth heroes' farewell party grounded|last=Munro|first=Alastair|date=24 March 2015|website=The Scotsman|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref> Morayvia, a local charity bought the former Lossiemouth Sea King 'XZ592' from the Ministry of Defence in March 2015. The aircraft is now on display as part of Morayvia's Science and Technology Experience Project at [[Kinloss, Scotland|Kinloss]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-33009240|title=Bid to home retired Sea King in Moray is successful|date=4 June 2015|website=BBC News|access-date=17 September 2015}}</ref>

In March 2015, the UK government ruled out Lossiemouth as well as nearby RAF Kinloss as candidates for a new [[spaceport]] due to opposition from the Ministry of Defence, which cited over-riding operational factors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2015 |title=Summary and government response to the consultation on criteria to determine the location of a UK spaceport |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/408414/uk-spaceport-government-response.pdf |access-date=24 September 2015 |website=gov.uk |publisher=Department of Transport}}</ref> The decision was criticised by local politicians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McArdle |first=Helen |date=3 March 2015 |title=Anger as Moray bases axed from spaceport shortlist, as Prestwick remains in the running |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13204140.Anger_as_Moray_bases_axed_from_spaceport_shortlist__as_Prestwick_remains_in_the_running/ |access-date=24 September 2015 |website=Herald Scotland}}</ref>

==== Arrival of Poseidon ====
On 23 November 2015, the UK announced its intention to order nine new [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Boeing MRA1 Poseidon]] maritime patrol aircraft.<ref name="DefenceReview">{{cite news |title=National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478933/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD_Review_web_only.pdf |agency=UK Ministry of Defence |date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124082813/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478933/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD_Review_web_only.pdf |archive-date=24 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2017, it was announced that [[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]] would be the first Poseidon squadron.<ref name=":202">{{Cite news|last=Hendry|first=Ben|date=14 July 2017|title=New era dawns as RAF Lossiemouth forms Poseidon squadron|work=Press and Journal|publisher=Aberdeen Journals|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1288071/new-era-dawns-as-raf-lossiemouth-forms-poseidon-squadron/|access-date=15 July 2017}}</ref> The unit reformed in early 2018 and by February 2019 air and ground crews from the unit and the Poseidon Line Squadron had commenced training with the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] at [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]], [[Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 March 2018|title=Royal Air Force 120 Squadron Standard Reinstatement|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/120-squadron-standard-reinstatement/|access-date=18 March 2019|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 February 2019|title=P-8A Poseidon Personnel Start Training|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/news/p-8a-poseidon-personnel-start-training/|access-date=18 March 2019|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref>

To provide the infrastructure to support the Poseidon, the [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]] launched the Lossiemouth Development Programme in October 2016. The programme involved £350&nbsp;million being invested in RAF Lossiemouth to upgrade buildings and airfield infrastructure to allow No. 9 Squadron and the Poseidon fleet to operate from Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2024 |title=£350 million programme to upgrade RAF Lossiemouth completed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/350-million-programme-to-upgrade-raf-lossiemouth-completed |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=[[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]] |language=en}}</ref> Projects included:

* Construction of a new hangar and support facility for the Poseidon fleet, known as the Poseidon Strategic Facility, begun in April 2018 and was completed in July 2020. The {{Convert|33,000|sqm|sqft|abbr=}} facility was built on the northern side of the airfield and includes maintenance facilities capable of accommodating three aircraft simultaneously, a tactical operations centre, training & simulation facilities and accommodation for two squadrons. The building was constructed by [[Robertson Group]] with a contract value of £132m.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 April 2018|title=Defence Secretary launches £132m Scots sub-hunting aircraft home|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/defence-secretary-launches-132m-scots-sub-hunting-aircraft-home/|access-date=22 April 2018|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2020|title=Poseidon facility handed over to the Ministry of Defence|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/news/poseidon-facility-handed-over-to-the-ministry-of-defence/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref> In August 2021, it was named the 'Atlantic Building', reflecting its maritime warfare role.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dewar|first=Caitlyn|date=1 September 2021|title=RAF Lossiemouth facility named in tribute to Battle of Atlantic heroes|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19552223.raf-lossiemouth-100m-facility-named-battle-atlantic-heroes/|access-date=6 September 2021|website=The Herald|publisher=Herald & Times Group|language=en}}</ref>

* As Lossiemouth's airfield was largely set-up for fast-jet operations, the runways and associated operating surfaces required resurfacing and alterations to safely accommodate regular Poseidon operations. Work on the £75 million contract commenced in May 2020, with the airfield being closed between 10 August and 16 October 2020 whilst the intersection of the two runways was resurfaced. During the closure, routine Typhoon training operations were relocated to the airfield at Kinloss Barracks and the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Force for the north of the UK temporarily relocated to Leuchars Station.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 July 2020|title=Next phase of runway resurfacing sees airfield closed at RAF Lossiemouth|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/news/next-phase-of-runway-resurfacing-sees-airfield-closed-at-raf-lossiemouth/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref> 
* Construction of a new [[Fire station|Crash, Fire and Rescue building]] to replace the existing building dating from the 1960s was completed in November 2022. Alongside the introduction of [[Oshkosh Striker]] fire fighting vehicles, the new facilities for the [[Defence Fire and Rescue Service]] provide the increased level of emergency cover required by the larger aircraft operating from Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackay |first=David |date=2021-08-12 |title=RAF Lossiemouth: New £9million fire station to allow crews to get across base in just two minutes |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/3386182/raf-lossiemouth-new-9million-fire-station-to-allow-crews-to-get-across-base-in-just-two-minutes/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=New RAF Lossiemouth fire station completed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-raf-lossiemouth-fire-station-completed |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=[[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]] |language=en}}</ref>
* Seven new single living accommodation blocks were constructed to provide 426 en-suite bedrooms, with the final blocking being completed in April 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2024 |title=Major accommodation upgrade completed at RAF Lossiemouth |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-accommodation-upgrade-completed-at-raf-lossiemouth |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Defence Infrastructure Organisation |language=en}}</ref> Each block is named after a former RAF airfield in the north east of Scotland: [[RAF Brackla|Brackla]], [[RAF Dalcross|Dalcross]], [[RAF Dallachy|Dallachy]], [[RAF Dyce|Dyce]], [[RAF Inverness|Inverness]], [[RAF Milltown|Milltown]] and [[RAF Peterhead|Peterhead]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=5 June 2023 |title=New RAF Lossiemouth Single Living Accommodation Named to Celebrate The Royal Air Force's Heritage In Scotland |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/news/new-raf-lossiemouth-single-living-accommodation-named-to-celebrate-the-royal-air-forces-heritage-in-scotland/ |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Royal Air Force}}</ref>
* New waste water treatment plant, drainage and utility infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAF Lossiemouth - Drainage & Utilities Works |url=https://www.laganaviation.com/projects/raf-lossiemouth |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure |language=en-GB}}</ref>

[[File:P-8A_Poseidon_arrives_at_RAF_Lossiemouth_for_the_first_time_MOD_45166981.jpg|thumb|The RAF's second [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Poseidon MRA1]] arrives at Lossiemouth on 13 October 2020]]
The RAF's first Poseidon arrived in the UK from the US in February 2020, initially operating from Kinloss. It was later joined by a second aircraft before both moved to their new home at Lossiemouth in October 2020.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=13 October 2020|title=RAF Poseidon MRA1 arrives at RAF Lossiemouth for the first time|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/news/raf-poseidon-mra1-arrives-at-raf-lossiemouth-for-the-first-time/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref> The fleet was completed in January 2022 when the ninth aircraft was delivered to Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=11 January 2022 |title=RAF completes Poseidon fleet, as ninth P-8A arrives in UK |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/raf-completes-poseidon-fleet-as-ninth-p-8a-arrives-in-uk/147074.article |access-date=7 March 2022 |website=Flight Global |publisher=DVV Media International |language=en}}</ref> [[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 201 Squadron]] reformed at Lossiemouth during 2021 as the second unit operating the Poseidon, sharing the fleet with No. 120 Squadron.<ref>{{Cite web |title=201 Squadron |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/201-squadron/ |access-date=7 March 2022 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en-gb}}</ref>

A [[Visiting forces agreement|basing agreement]] between the UK and US governments was reached in 2017 to allow the US Navy to routinely operate their own Poseidons from Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hendry |first=Ben |date=2017-07-29 |title=US Navy to routinely use RAF Lossiemouth for Poseidon training |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1298266/us-navy-to-routinely-use-raf-lossiemouth-for-poseidon-training/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref> To facilitate the arrangement, the [[United States Department of Defense|US Department of Defense]] contributed £60m (${{To USD|60|GBR|year=|r=0}}m) to the Lossiemouth Development Programme, including towards the runway and apron works.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Steven |date=2018-08-22 |title=US sub hunters to operate from RAF station in Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45269999 |access-date=2024-11-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> A hangar wash facility and austere barracks for the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] were opened in May 2024, which are operated by [[United States Sixth Fleet#Task Force 67 land-based maritime patrol aircraft|Commander Task Force 67 (CTF-67)]], part of the navy's [[United States Sixth Fleet|Sixth Fleet]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edy |first=Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron |date=2 May 2024 |title=NAS Sigonella, U.K. RAF unveil new facility in Lossiemouth |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/470137/nas-sigonella-uk-raf-unveil-new-facility-lossiemouth |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service |publisher=Department of Defense |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2024, as part of a wider defence agreement between Germany and the UK, it was announced that [[Marineflieger|German Navy]] Poesidons will periodically operate from Lossiemouth whilst conducting patrols of the North Atlantic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-23 |title=German aircraft to track Russian subs off UK coast as countries sign new defence pact |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/nato/uk-germany-defence-deal-open-new-artillery-factory-and-deploy-german-aircraft-scotland |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=Forces News |language=en}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
[[File:RAF_Lossiemouth_-_geograph.org.uk_-_227074.jpg|left|thumb|The southern [[hardened aircraft shelter]] complex in 2006]]
The RAF Lossiemouth site extends to {{convert|580|ha|acres|abbr=on}}<ref name="auto1"/> and accommodates two runways, the main runway (05/23) is {{convert|2764|m|ft yd|abbr=on}} long and the secondary runway (10/28) is {{convert|1850|m|ft yd|abbr=on}} long.<ref name="auto"/> Hangars at Lossiemouth date from the Second World War and comprise three C-type, one J-type, six L-type, four K-type and a [[Bellman hangar|Bellman type]]. The northern HAS complex has nine shelters and QRA facilities and the southern complex has a further nine shelters. Both HAS complexes were constructed in the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/285721/lossiemouth-airfield-dispersal-area|title=Lossiemouth Airfield, Dispersal Area|website=Canmore|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Former WW2 Aircraft Hangar Silverhills.jpg|thumb|Former Super Robin hangar now in agricultural use at Silverhills Farm.]]
The airfield boundary has changed over the years and several former Super Robin hangars, dating from the Second World War are outside the current airfield boundary, although they are no longer in military use. An example is within the grounds of [[Gordonstoun|Gordounston School]]. Former airfield dispersals are also evident in the same vicinity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/285724/lossiemouth-airfield-dispersal-areas|title=Lossiemouth Airfield, Dispersal Areas|website=Canmore|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> During the Second World War the airfield was defended with eight [[Pillbox (military)|pillboxes]], at least six of them [[British hardened field defences of World War II#Type 27|Type 27]] pillboxes, one rectangular and the other [[British hardened field defences of World War II#Type 22|Type 22]] or [[British hardened field defences of World War II#Type 24|Type 24]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/156952|title=Lossiemouth Airfield, Pillbox|website=Canmore|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|language=en|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk" />

[[BAE Systems]] operates the Typhoon Training Facility (North), which is home to four Emulated Deployable Cockpit Trainer (EDCT) [[flight simulator]]s. The expansion of the facility from two to four EDCTs was completed in April 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/typhoon-training-facility-expanded-at-raf-lossiemouth/|title=Typhoon Training Facility expanded at RAF Lossiemouth|last=Allison|first=George|date=9 April 2018|work=UK Defence Journal|access-date=22 April 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> During the Tornado's tenure at Lossiemouth, the station was home to two Tornado GR4 flight simulators, operated by [[Thales Group|Thales UK]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/united-kingdom/news/thales-welcomes-successful-end-afghan-simulator-support|title=Thales welcomes successful end to Afghan simulator support|date=3 December 2014|website=Thales Group|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

Aviation fuel is supplied to Lossiemouth through a {{convert|40.6|mi|km|abbr=on}}-stretch of the [[CLH Pipeline System]] which connects the airfield to a fuel depot in [[Inverness]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/527029/security-fears-raf-lossiemouth-pipeline-sell-off/|title=Security fears over RAF Lossiemouth pipeline sell-off|last=Ross|first=Calum|date=21 March 2016|website=Press and Journal|publisher=[[Aberdeen Journals]]|access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>

== Role and operations ==
RAF Lossiemouth's mission statement is "Sustain Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North and deliver global operations".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/|title=Welcome to RAF Lossiemouth|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|access-date=21 December 2017}}</ref>

The Engineering & Logistics Wing is responsible for maintaining engineering support and supply including weapons and survival equipment on aircraft. It is also responsible for the maintenance and repair of aircraft not currently flying on squadrons and the station support equipment and vehicles.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/wings.cfm|title=RAF Lossiemouth – Wings|website=RAF Lossiemouth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302050304/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/wings.cfm|archive-date=2 March 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> The Operations Wing plans and controls all flying and major exercises on station and manages all activities that have a direct impact on flying operations. This includes intelligence gathering, weather forecasting and communications systems.<ref name=":6" /> The Base Support Wing manages all support functions for the station's infrastructure and personnel, such as health and safety, medical centre, non-flying training, accommodation, family support and the deployment of Station personnel.<ref name=":6" />

Moray Flight of [[No. 602 Squadron RAF|No. 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)]] was established in 2013 to support NATO maritime patrol aircraft and the UK Maritime Air Operations Centre when deployed to Lossiemouth. The unit is also supporting the introduction of the P-8A Poseidon at Lossiemouth.<ref name=":21">{{Cite news|url=http://forcespublishing.co.uk/flipbooks/Lossie/index.html|title=602 Sqn – Moray Flight, Kipper Corner|date=April 2017|work=Lossie Lighthouse|publisher=Forces and Corporate Publishing|page=40|access-date=25 May 2017|archive-date=30 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730214003/http://forcespublishing.co.uk/flipbooks/Lossie/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

RAF Lossiemouth is the parent station of [[RAF Tain|Tain Air Weapons Range]] which is located approximately {{Convert|40|km|0}} to the north west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/flyinginfo/tain.cfm|title=RAF Lossiemouth – Tain Range|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815080027/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/flyinginfo/tain.cfm|archive-date=15 August 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=19 April 2017}}</ref>

With the closure of nearby RAF Kinloss and the transfer of the station to the British Army in July 2012, the RAF Kinloss [[Mountain rescue|Mountain Rescue Team]] (MRT) became the RAF Lossiemouth MRT. The team continued to operate from their purpose-built base at [[Kinloss Barracks]] for over two years, until they moved into a 'D' Flight No. 202 Squadron hangar in February 2015.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18752720|title=RAF Kinloss mountain rescue team 'to relocate'|date=8 July 2012|website=BBC News|access-date=27 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavywhalley.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/we-follow-in-the-footsteps-of-giants-raf-lossiemouth-mrt-are-now-based-at-raf-lossiemouth-at-last/|title=We follow in the footsteps of giants – RAF Lossiemouth Mrt are now based at RAF Lossiemouth at Last.|date=21 February 2015|website=heavywhalley|access-date=27 October 2015}}</ref>

=== Command ===
Group Captain Sarah Brewin was appointed as the Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth on 19 July 2024, taking over from Group Captain Jim Lee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2024 |title=RAF Lossiemouth |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=785893540377503&id=100068705917356&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=hPhuHBMBPXiFMkIG |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=Facebook |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2017 a [[spaniel]] named Dee was made the official station [[mascot]] and given the rank of [[Sergeant#United Kingdom|Sergeant]]. Dee is a former [[Royal Air Force Police|RAF Police]] working dog and specialised in [[Explosive detection#Dogs|explosives detection]]. He retired from operational duties when his leg was amputated as a result of an injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1291614/meet-the-three-legged-dog-who-rose-through-raf-ranks-to-become-sergeant/|title=Meet the three-legged dog who rose through RAF ranks to become sergeant|last=Hendry|first=Ben|date=20 July 2017|work=Press and Journal|access-date=22 July 2017|publisher=Aberdeen Journals|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Typhoon operations ===
[[File:RAF_QRA_Typhoon_Intercepting_Russian_Bear_Aircraft_MOD_45158137.jpg|alt=A No. 6 Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 intercepts a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear'.|left|thumb|upright=1.4|A [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] [[Eurofighter Typhoon variants|Typhoon FGR4]] intercepts a [[Russian Air Force]] [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tupolev Tu-95 'Bear']]]]
The Typhoon FGR4 provides the RAF with a multi-role combat capability for air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict. Lossiemouth Typhoon squadrons have operated against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] in Iraq and Syria as part of [[Operation Shader]] and have participated in the NATO [[Baltic Air Policing]] mission where they operated from [[Ämari Air Base|Ämari air base]] in Estonia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/791481/raf-lossie-jets-tackle-terrorists/|title=RAF Lossiemouth jets tackle terrorists in Syria|last=Henry|first=Ben|date=30 December 2015|website=Press and Journal|publisher=[[Aberdeen Journals]]|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/updatedroyal-air-force-typhoons-fly-in-to-estonia-for-nato-baltic-air-policing-13052015|title=Updated-Royal Air Force Typhoons fly in to Estonia for NATO Baltic Air Policing|date=13 May 2015|website=Royal Air Force|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517073908/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/updatedroyal-air-force-typhoons-fly-in-to-estonia-for-nato-baltic-air-policing-13052015|archive-date=17 May 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

Lossiemouth's four Typhoon squadrons are responsible for maintaining the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North mission (QRA(I)N). Aircraft and crews are held at a high state of readiness, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond to unidentified aircraft approaching UK airspace. QRA missions range from civilian airliners which have stopped responding to air traffic control, to intercepting Russian aircraft such as the [[Tupolev Tu-95|Tupolev Tu-95 Bear]] and [[Tupolev Tu-160|Tu-160 Blackjack]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-34880523|title=RAF Lossiemouth fighter jets scrambled over Russian planes|date=20 November 2015|website=BBC News|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

=== No. 5 Force Protection Wing ===
[[File:RAF Police Patrolling Camp Bastion in Foxhound Vehicle MOD 45157205.jpg|alt=No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment Foxhound vehicle on patrol at the perimeter of Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in 2014.|thumb|[[No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment]] [[Ocelot (vehicle)|Foxhound]] vehicle on patrol at the perimeter of [[Camp Shorabak|Camp Bastion]], [[Afghanistan]] in 2014]]
No. 5 Force Protection Wing HQ provides operational planning, command and control to two RAF Regiment field squadrons attached to the wing, No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment and No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron's (RAuxAF), whose purpose is to protect RAF bases at home and abroad from ground attack.<ref name=":13" /> No. 2622 Squadron consists primarily of RAF Regiment gunners also trained as infantry and has a limited number of personnel in support duties. The unit provides officers and gunners to supplement the regular RAF Regiment on overseas operations and exercises. It is the only squadron in the RAF or RAuxAF to have its own Pipes and Drums band, which formed in 1999 and is open to both Service and civilian members. It is also the only operational squadron to have spent its existence based at Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/2622history.cfm|title=2622 (Highland) Squadron History|website=RAF Lossiemouth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227123455/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/2622history.cfm|archive-date=27 December 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> Both squadrons have seen action on [[Operation Telic]] in Iraq and [[Operation Herrick]] in Afghanistan, with No. 51 Squadron also involved in Operation Shader against ISIS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/otherunits.cfm|title=RAF Lossiemouth – Other Units|website=RAF Lossiemouth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501171020/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/otherunits.cfm|archive-date=1 May 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

No. 4 RAF Police Squadron also falls under the command of the wing and has responsibility for policing and security in Scotland and northern England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/force-protection/raf-police/|title=RAF Police – Squadrons and Units|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb|access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>

=== Air Training Corps – Highland Wing ===
Lossiemouth is home to the Highland Wing of the Air Training Corps. A new Air Cadet Regional Centre was opened in October 2014, which contains the Highland Wing headquarters, activity centre with a flight simulator, radio communications training room, IT Suite and several briefing rooms. Overnight residential accommodation for 48 cadets and 8 adult staff is also provided. The centre was named after and opened by retired Group Captain Phil Dacre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=FBBA95D8-5056-A318-A8B1231AC462AA9C|title=Formal opening of the DACRE Regional Activity Centre at RAF Lossiemouth|date=16 October 2014|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418082353/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=FBBA95D8-5056-A318-A8B1231AC462AA9C|archive-date=18 April 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref>

==Based units==
Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Lossiemouth.<ref name="RAF Lossiemouth">{{Cite web |date=16 April 2023 |title=RAF Lossiemouth |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-lossiemouth/ |access-date=15 June 2021 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Highland Wing, Air Training Corps|url=http://www.air-cadets-squadron-finder.org/air-cadets-wing-details.php?wing=highland-wing-air-training-corps&sqn=|access-date=15 June 2021|website=air-cadets-squadron-finder.org}}</ref>

=== Royal Air Force ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group (Air Combat)]]'''

* Combat Air Force
** [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]] – [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon FGR4]]
** [[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]] – Typhoon FGR4
** [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] – Typhoon FGR4
** [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]] – Typhoon FGR4
* [[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance|ISTAR]] Force
**ISTAR Air Wing
***[[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] – Wedgetail AEW1 (from 2025)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/e-7-wedgetail-to-enter-service-next-year/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Wedgetail%20Full%20Business%20Case,the%20RAF%20in%20autumn%202025.%E2%80%9D |title=E-7 Wedgetail to enter service next year |website= U.K. Defence Journal |first=George|last=Allison|date=16 March 2024}}</ref>
***[[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]] – [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Poseidon MRA1]]
***[[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 201 Squadron]] – Poseidon MRA1
***[[No. 42 Squadron RAF|No. 42 (TB) Squadron]] - Poseidon MRA1 & Wedgetail AEW1 (OCU)<ref name="LOS-REFORM23">{{cite web|url=https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/number-42-squadron-reforms-at-raf-lossiemouth/|title=Number 42 Squadron reforms at RAF Lossiemouth|publisher=RAF|access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref>
*** Poseidon Line Squadron (PLS)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Jonathan|date=12 June 2021|title=RAF Lossiemouth personnel take part in annual RAFA Rides fundraiser|url=https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/raf-lossiemouth-personnel-take-part-in-annual-rafa-rides-fun-241086/|access-date=15 June 2021|website=Northern Scot|language=en}}</ref>
*** Poseidon Tactical Operations Centre (TOC)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chorley|first=Flt Lt Dan Chorley|date=29 July 2020|title=Next phase of runway resurfacing sees airfield closed at RAF Lossiemouth|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/|access-date=15 June 2021|website=Royal Air Force|language=en-gb}}</ref>
{{col-break}}
'''[[No. 2 Group RAF|No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)]]'''
*Air Security Force
**No. 2 RAF Police & Security Wing
*** No. 4 RAF Police (Typhoon) Squadron Headquarters
*Combat and Readiness Force 
** [[No. 5 Force Protection Wing RAF|No. 5 RAF Force Protection Wing]]
*** No. 5 Force Protection Wing Headquarters
***[[No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
***[[No. 2622 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment]]
*Support Force
**[[No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing RAF|85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing]]
***[[Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service|RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Team]]
*[[Royal Air Force Music Services|RAF Music Services]]
**RAF Lossiemouth Voluntary Band
'''[[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 (Training) Group RAF]] '''
* [[Air Training Corps]] – Highland Wing Headquarters
{{col-end}}

== Future ==

=== E-7 Wedgetail ===
In December 2020, the RAF announced that its new fleet of [[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW1]] aircraft were to be based at Lossiemouth. The [[Airborne early warning and control]] aircraft will replace the [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|E-3D Sentry AEW1]] fleet which was retired in 2021 and was operated by [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] at [[RAF Waddington]] in [[Lincolnshire]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mackay|first=David|date=19 December 2020|title=RAF Lossiemouth: UK's new Wedgetail fleet destined for Moray|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/2750908/raf-lossiemouth-wedgetail-fleet/|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Press and Journal|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=8 Squadron |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/8-squadron/ |access-date=16 April 2023 |website=Royal Air Force}}</ref> As of early 2023, the arrival date for the aircraft had been delayed to 2024.<ref name=":4" />

The construction of technical facilities to support Wedgetail operations started in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ruby |date=2022-10-03 |title=Turf cutting signals first step in preparing RAF Lossiemouth for arrival of UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet |url=https://des.mod.uk/tuf-cutting-ceremony-for-uk-e7-wedgetail-fleet/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Defence Equipment & Support |language=en-GB}}</ref> Two new single living accommodation blocks, to be named Tain and Alness, are to be planned.<ref name=":0" /> 

== Previous units and aircraft ==
List of past, present and future flying units and major non-flying units permanently based at Lossiemouth.

'''Source:''' Unless otherwise indicated details sourced are from: Hughes, Jim. (1993), ''Airfield Focus 11: Lossiemouth''. Peterborough, GMS Enterprises. {{ISBN|1 870384 24 5}}, pp.&nbsp;22–23
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! scope="col" style="width: 30px;" |Service
! scope="col" style="width: 300px;" |Unit
! scope="col" style="width: 350px;" |Aircraft / Role
! scope="col" style="width: 175px;" |From
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" |Date From
! scope="col" style="width: 150px;" |Date To
! scope="col" style="width: 180px;" |To
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 15 Flying Training School RAF|No. 15 Flight Training School]] (15 FTS)
|[[North American T-6 Texan variants|North American Harvard]], [[Airspeed Oxford]], [[Hawker Hart]], [[Miles Master]]
|Formed
|1 May 1939
|20 April 1940
|[[AAC Middle Wallop|RAF Middle Wallop]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 46 Maintenance Unit
|Various
|Formed
|15 April 1940
|15 February 1947
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 20 Operational Training Unit
|[[Vickers Wellington]], [[Avro Anson]], [[Westland Lysander]], [[Miles Martinet]]
|Formed
|27 May 1940
|17 July 1945
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 57 Squadron RAF|No. 57 Squadron]]
|[[Bristol Blenheim]]
|[[RAF Wyton]]
|24 June 1940
|13 August 1940
|[[RAF Elgin]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 21 Squadron RAF|No. 21 Squadron]]
|Bristol Blenheim
|[[RAF Watton]]
|24 June 1940
|29 October 1940
|RAF Watton
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 82 Squadron RAF|No. 82 Squadron]]
|Bristol Blenheim
|[[RAF Bodney]]
|18 April 1941
|3 May 1941
|RAF Bodney
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 21 Squadron
|Bristol Blenheim
|RAF Watton
|27 May 1941
|14 June 1941
|RAF Watton
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 21 Squadron
|Bristol Blenheim
|RAF Watton
|7 September 1941
|21 September 1941
|RAF Watton
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 111 Operational Training Unit
|[[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator]], [[Handley Page Halifax]], Vickers Wellington
|[[The Bahamas]]
|27 July 1945
|1946
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|Station Flight
|Various
|Formed
|June 1946
|February 1973
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 766 Naval Air Squadron
|[[Fairey Firefly]], [[Hawker Sea Fury]], [[Supermarine Seafire]], North American Harvard, Miles Martinet
|[[RNAS Rattray]]
|4 August 1946
|3 October 1953
|[[RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)|RNAS Culdrose]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 764 Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Sea Fire, Fairey Firefly
|Re-formed
|18 May 1953
|23 September 1953
|RNAS Yeovilton
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[804 Naval Air Squadron|No. 804 Naval Air Squadron]]
|[[Hawker Sea Hawk]]
|[[RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)|RNAS Lee-on-Solent]]
|30 October 1953
|10 May 1955
|[[HMS Eagle (R05)]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 736 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk, [[Supermarine Scimitar]]
|RNAS Culdrose
|4 November 1953
|26 March 1965
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 738 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Fury, Hawker Sea Hawk, [[De Havilland Sea Venom]]
|RNAS Culdrose
|9 November 1953
|1 January 1964
|[[RNAS Brawdy]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[802 Naval Air Squadron|No. 802 Naval Air Squadron]]
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|RNAS Lee-on-Solent
|23 November 1953
|13 September 1956
|RNAS Ford
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 759 Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Sea Fire, Hawker Sea Fury, [[Gloster Meteor]], [[De Havilland Vampire|De Havilland Sea Vampire]]
|RNAS Culdrose
|28 November 1953
|12 October 1954
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 801 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|14 March 1955
|10 October 1956
|[[HMS Centaur (R06)]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[811 Naval Air Squadron|No. 811 Naval Air Squadron]]
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|16 March 1955
|16 May 1956
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 810 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|4 July 1955
|6 August 1956
|[[HMS Bulwark (R08)]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 804 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|6 February 1956
|27 January 1958
|[[HMS Ark Royal (R09)]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 803 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|14 January 1957
|31 March 1958
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 806 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk
|Re-formed
|14 January 1957
|13 April 1959
|HMS Eagle (R05)
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 764 Naval Air Squadron
|Hawker Sea Hawk, [[Westland Wyvern]], Supermarine Scimitar, [[Hawker Hunter]]
|[[RNAS Ford]]
|24 June 1957
|27 July 1972
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 803 Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Re-formed
|3 June 1957
|1 October 1966
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 807 Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Re-formed
|1 October 1958
|15 May 1961
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[800 Naval Air Squadron|No. 800 Naval Air Squadron]]
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Re-formed
|1 July 1959
|25 February 1964
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 804 Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Re-formed
|1 March 1960
|15 September 1961
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[700 Naval Air Squadron|No. 700Z Naval Air Squadron]]
|[[Blackburn Buccaneer]]
|Formed
|7 March 1961
|15 January 1963
|Re-designated 809 NAS
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 801 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Re-formed
|17 July 1962
|27 May 1965
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 809 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Former 700Z NAS
|15 January 1963
|26 March 1965
|Re-designated 736 NAS
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 800 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Re-formed
|18 March 1964
|23 February 1972
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 800B Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Formed
|9 September 1964
|25 May 1965
|HMS Eagle (R05)
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 764B Naval Air Squadron
|Supermarine Scimitar
|Formed
|26 Match 1965
|23 November 1965
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[700 Naval Air Squadron|No. 700B Naval Air Squadron]]
|Buccaneer
|Formed
|9 April 1965
|30 September 1965
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 750 Naval Air Squadron
|Sea Venom
|[[RAF Hal Far|RAF Hal-Far]], Malta
|23 June 1965
|26 September 1972
|RNAS Culdrose
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 801 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Re-formed
|14 October 1965
|21 July 1970
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 809 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Re-formed
|27 January 1966
|5 October 1971
|[[RAF Honington]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|No. 803 Naval Air Squadron
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|Re-formed
|3 July 1967
|18 December 1969
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[849 Naval Air Squadron|No. 849 Naval Air Squadron]]
|[[Fairey Gannet]]
|RNAS Brawdy
|19 November 1970
|15 December 1978
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[849 Naval Air Squadron|No. 849D Naval Air Squadron]]
|Fariey Gannet
|RNAS Brawdy
|9 December 1970
|26 January 1972
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|FAA
|[[849 Naval Air Squadron|No. 849B Naval Air Squadron]]
|Fariey Gannet
|[[RAF Luqa]], Malta
|16 December 1970
|15 December 1978
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|Jaguar Conversion Team
|[[SEPECAT Jaguar]]
|Formed
|30 May 1973
|1 October 1974
|Re-designated [[No. 226 OCU RAF|No. 226 OCU]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]]
|[[Avro Shackleton AEW.2|Avro Shackleton AEW2]]
|[[RAF Kinloss]]
|14 August 1973
|1 July 1991
|[[RAF Waddington]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 54 Squadron
|SEPECAT Jaguar
|Re-formed
|29 March 1974
|15 August 1978
|[[RAF Coltishall]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 226 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)
|SEPECAT Jaguar
|Former Jaguar Conversion Team
|1 October 1974
|November 1991
|Re-designated as [[No. 16 Squadron RAF|No. 16 (Reserve) Sqn]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]]
|SEPECAT Jaguar
|Re-formed
|2 October 1974
|15 November 1974
|RAF Coltishall
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 2 Tactical Weapons Unit
|Hawker Hunter, [[BAE Systems Hawk|Hawker Siddeley Hawk]]
|Formed
|31 July 1978
|1 August 1980
|[[RAF Chivenor]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 202 Squadron RAF|No. 202 Squadron (D Flight)]]
|[[Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)|Westland Whirlwind HAR10]], [[Westland Sea King|Westland Sea King HAR3]]
|[[RAF Finningley]]
|August 1978
|1 April 2015<ref name=":19" />
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF Regt.
|No. 48 Squadron (RAF Regiment)
|[[Rapier (missile)|BAe Dynamics Rapier Anti-Aircraft Missile]]
|Re-formed
|December 1978
|1 July 1996
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAuxAF
|[[No. 2622 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 2622 RAuxAF Squadron]]
|Airfield Ground Defence
|Formed
|July 1979
|Present|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 12 Squadron RAF|No. 12 Squadron]]
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|RAF Honington
|1 November 1980
|1993
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 208 Squadron RAF|No. 208 Squadron]]
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|RAF Honington
|July 1983
|31 March 1994
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 237 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)
|Blackburn Buccaneer
|RAF Honington
|18 October 1984
|1 October 1991
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 16 (Reserve) Squadron
|SEPECAT Jaguar
|Former 226 OCU
|November 1991
|20 July 2000<ref name=":12" />
|RAF Coltishall
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|TA
|No. 237 Field Squadron (Territorial Army)
|Airfield Damage Repair
|Formed
|1992<ref name=":8" />
|21 May 1999
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 12 Squadron
|[[Panavia Tornado|Panavia Tornado GR1B/4]]
|Re-formed
|1 October 1993<ref name=":8" />
|1 April 2014<ref name=":16" />
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 (Reserve) Squadron]]
|Panavia Tornado GR1/4
|Former 45(R) Squadron at [[RAF Marham]]
|1 November 1993<ref name=":11" />
|31 March 2017<ref name=":18" />
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 Squadron]]
|Panavia Tornado GR1B/4
|RAF Marham
|April 1994<ref name=":8" />
|1 April 2014<ref name=":16" />
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron]]
|Panavia Tornado GR4
|[[RAF Bruggen|RAF Brüggen]], Germany
|January 2001<ref name="raf-page-history">{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/aboutus/history.cfm|title=RAF Lossiemouth, Station History|website=RAF Lossiemouth|access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref>
|1 June 2014<ref name=":15" />
|Disbanded
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF Regt.
|[[No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment|No. 51 Squadron (RAF Regiment)]]
|Airfield Ground Defence
|RAF Honington
|June 2001<ref name=":13" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 602 Squadron RAF|Moray Flight - No. 602 RAuxAF Squadron]]
|Maritime Operations Support
|Formed
|2013<ref name=":21" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 6 Squadron
|[[Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4]]
|[[RAF Leuchars]]
|January 2015<ref name=":17" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]]
|Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
|RAF Leuchars
|September 2014<ref name=":9" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 2 Squadron RAF|No. 2 Squadron]]
|Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
|Re-formed
|12 January 2015<ref name=":10" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Team
|Mountain Rescue Team
|Former RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team
|February 2015<ref name=":14" />
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 120 Squadron RAF|No. 120 Squadron]]
|[[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Boeing Poseidon MRA1]]
|Re-formed
|1 April 2018<ref name="p8-announce">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defence-secretary-announces-new-maritime-patrol-aircraft-squadrons|title=Defence Secretary announces new Maritime Patrol Aircraft squadrons|date=13 July 2017|website=GOV.UK|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No. 9 Squadron]]
|Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
|Re-formed
|1 April 2019<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/videos/372709483327405/|title=IX(B) Sqn Pennant|last=Royal Air Force|date=1 April 2019|website=Facebook|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|[[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 201 Squadron]]
|Boeing Poseidon MRA1
|Re-formed
|2021<ref name="RAF Lossiemouth"/>
|Present
|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|RAF
|No. 8 Squadron
|[[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing Wedgetail AEW1]]
|RAF Waddington
|2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=8 Squadron |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/squadrons/8-squadron/ |access-date=16 April 2023 |website=Royal Air Force}}</ref>
|Present
|
|}

== Heritage ==

=== Station badge and motto ===
RAF Lossiemouth's [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|badge]], awarded in May 1974, features a [[snowy owl]] facing forwards with expanded wings pointed downwards. The owl sits on two crossed [[Claymore|claymore swords]]. The snowy owl can be found in Scotland and compared to humans have a well-developed ability to see at night. This symbolised the use [[radar]] for the [[Airborne early warning and control|airborne early warning]] mission carried out by No. 8 Squadron which was based at Lossiemouth when the badge was awarded. The owl also reflects the wisdom being provided by the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit at the time. The claymores, a type of historic Scottish sword, represent the location of the station in Scotland and the potential for attack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lossiemouth |url=https://www.rafht.co.uk/index.php/2016/06/17/lossiemouth/ |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=RAF Heraldry Trust |language=en-US}}</ref>

The station's [[motto]], {{Lang|gd|Thoir an aire}}, translates from [[Scottish Gaelic]] as "Be careful".{{sfn|Pine|1983|p=232}}

== Community relations and media ==
[[File:The 2009 Raft Race at Lossiemouth - geograph.org.uk - 1441677.jpg|thumb|The 2009 Lossiemouth Raft Race]]
The RAF and local community of Moray enjoy good relations, as demonstrated in 1992 by the station receiving the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of Moray]] from the then Moray District Council. The freedom was granted in recognition of the role RAF Lossiemouth has played in the defence of the nation and in particular, the greatly valued contribution which has been made by the station to the day-to-day life of Moray.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=D95D8FB7-5056-A318-A8BFF06496D9392E|title=Show of Community Support at Freedom of Moray Parade|date=9 November 2009|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628001638/http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFlossiemouth/newsweather/index.cfm?storyid=D95D8FB7-5056-A318-A8BFF06496D9392E|archive-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> The connections between RAF Lossiemouth and Moray were further strengthened on the signing of the [[Military Covenant|Armed Forces Covenant]] between Moray Council, other community partners and the RAF in 2012 and again in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moray.gov.uk/newsroom/news.html#/pressreleases/a-new-covenant-between-morays-community-leaders-and-its-local-armed-forces-has-been-signed-1595855|title=A new covenant between Moray's community leaders and its local Armed Forces has been signed|date=7 October 2016|website=Moray Council|language=en|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> The co-operation was recognised in November 2016 when the Ministry of Defence awarded Moray Council an award for its supportive attitude towards the armed forces.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/1087888/moray-councils-support-of-armed-forces-recognised-with-mod-award/|title=Moray Council's support of armed forces recognised with MoD award|last=Mackay|first=David|date=18 November 2016|work=Press and Journal|access-date=13 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The RAF contributes to the local community in spending, employment and activities in the wider community. In 2010, [[Highlands and Islands Enterprise]] wrote that RAF Lossiemouth contributed £90.3m to the local economy and supported 3,370 jobs in Moray.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hie.co.uk/common/handlers/download-document.ashx?id=b54c1a27-0085-43a5-8651-87fe6b41d0f5|title=Economic Impact of RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth Final Report to Highlands & Islands Enterprise|date=August 2010|website=Highlands and Islands Enterprise|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref>

The RAF organise the annual charity Lossiemouth Raft Race, in which military and civilian teams race home-made rafts along the [[River Lossie]], adjacent to Lossiemouth's East Beach. The race was established in 1976 and is attended by thousands of onlookers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/News/Crowds-flock-to-Lossie-Raft-Race-15082011.htm|title=Crowds flock to Lossie Raft Race|date=18 August 2011|website=The Northern Scot|publisher=Scottish Provincial Press Ltd.|access-date=13 April 2017|archive-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414084110/http://www.northern-scot.co.uk/News/Crowds-flock-to-Lossie-Raft-Race-15082011.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> A Family and Friends Day also takes place where military families and civilians with connections to the station are invited to a small air-show, held each May.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/938561/red-arrows-put/|title=Red Arrows put on display for Lossiemouth crowds|last=Mackay|first=David|date=6 June 2016|work=Press and Journal|access-date=13 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The RAF have also provided photo opportunities for [[Aircraft spotting|aviation enthusiasts]] during exercises such as [[Exercise Joint Warrior|Joint Warrior]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/raflossiemouth/events/|title=Events|website=RAF Lossiemouth|language=en|access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>

The RAF Lossiemouth station magazine is called the ''Lossie Lighthouse'', in reference to the nearby [[Covesea Skerries Lighthouse]]. The magazine is distributed to station personnel, their families and the local community. It is also available online at the RAF Lossiemouth web page.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forcespublishing.co.uk/pages/raf_publications_pages/raf_lossiemouth.html|title=Royal Air Force Lossiemouth|website=Forces Publishing|publisher=Forces & Corporate Publishing|access-date=25 September 2015|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627154921/http://forcespublishing.co.uk/pages/raf_publications_pages/raf_lossiemouth.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

RAF Lossiemouth has featured in several television and radio documentaries –
* ''Shackleton – The End of an Era'' was a 1984 programme produced for [[ITV Granada|Granada TV]] examining the history of the Shackleton aircraft and featuring No. 8 Squadron whilst at Lossiemouth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b76a1a805|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714231613/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b76a1a805|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2012|title=Shackleton – The End of an Era (1984)|website=BFI|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
* ''The Old Grey Ladies of Lossiemouth'' produced by [[Grampian Television|Grampian TV]], captured the final months of Shackleton operations in 1990 before their withdrawal from service.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av0E-RH31NQ|title = The Old Grey Ladies of Lossiemouth|access-date = 25 September 2015|website = Youtube|publisher = STV|year = 1990}}</ref>
* ''[[Rescue (UK TV series)|Rescue]]'' was a thirteen part series which followed the Sea Kings of No. 202 Squadron 'D' Flight for a year and was shown on Grampian TV in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4f4b9f906fcbd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412063436/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4f4b9f906fcbd|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 April 2021|title=Rescue (TV series)|website=BFI|access-date=11 June 2017}}</ref>
* ''{{'}}Gloria Hunniford at RAF Lossiemouth{{'}}'' was a [[BBC Radio 2]] programme broadcast in 1993 in which TV and radio presenter [[Gloria Hunniford]] talked to personnel from Lossiemouth and accompanied a helicopter crew on an air sea rescue training exercise.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Gloria Hunniford at RAF Lossiemouth|url = http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012855|website = Imperial War Museums|access-date = 8 November 2015}}</ref>
* ''JetSet'' was a six-part series produced by [[STV (TV channel)|STV]] in 2006 which followed trainee Tornado GR4 crews as they passed through a six-month operational conversion course with No.15 Squadron. The programme was narrated by Scottish actor [[Ewan McGregor]], whose brother Colin McGregor was a Tornado pilot at Lossiemouth prior to his retirement in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-highland-fliers-1-1125789|title=The Highland fliers|date=13 July 2006|website=The Scotsman|publisher=Johnston Publishing|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ewan-mcgregors-brother---ex-fighter-114482|title=Ewan McGregor's brother – ex-fighter pilot Colin – slams Tory defence cuts|date=6 March 2011|website=Mirror|publisher=MGN|access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref>
* ''Top Guns: Inside the RAF'' is six-part series that first aired on Channel 4 in 2023, featuring RAF Lossiemouth's crucial role in safeguarding the UK’s airspace and seas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/new-channel-4-documentary-top-guns-inside-the-raf-takes-viewers-behind-the-wire-at-raf-lossiemouth/|title=New Channel 4 documentary Top Guns: Inside the RAF takes viewers behind-the-wire at RAF Lossiemouth|date=18 Aug 2023|website=Royal Air Force|access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Armed forces in Scotland]]
* [[Military history of Scotland]]

* [[List of Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[List of air stations of the Royal Navy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|No.1 AIDU|2016}}|reference=No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (No.1 AIDU) (2016). ''UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication''. Volume 2 (UK Aerodromes Volume). RAF Northolt}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Bishop and Chant|2004}}|reference=Bishop, Chris and Chris Chant (2004). ''Aircraft Carriers: The World's Greatest Naval Vessels and Their Aircraft''. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint. {{ISBN|978-0-7603-2005-1}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Hughes|1993}}|reference=Hughes, Jim (1993). ''Airfield Focus 11: Lossiemouth''. Peterborough, GMS Enterprises. {{ISBN|978-1-870384-24-7}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Hughes|1999}}|reference=Hughes, Jim (1999). ''A Steep Turn to the Stars''. Peterborough, GMS Enterprises. {{ISBN|978-1-870384-71-1}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Jefford et al.|2005}}|reference=Jefford, C.G (ed.). "[http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal-33-Seminar-Maritime-Operations.pdf Seminar – Maritime Operations"] ''Royal Air Force Historical Society'', 2005. |issn=1361-4231}}
* {{wikicite |ref={{harvid|Pine|1983}} |reference=Pine, L.G. (1983). ''A Dictionary of Mottoes''. 1st edition. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. {{ISBN|978-0-7100-9339-4}}}}
* {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Smith|1983}}|reference=Smith, David (1983). ''Action Stations 7: Military Airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland'' Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-85059-563-5}}}}
* UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Brize Norton (EGVN)
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
*[https://www.aidu.mod.uk/aip/pdf/ad/EGQS-Lossiemouth-Combined.pdf UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication – Lossiemouth (EGQS)]

{{Royal Air Force stations}}
{{Airports in Scotland}}
{{Royal Naval Air Stations}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lossiemouth, RAF}}
[[Category:1938 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1938]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Moray]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1938]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Transport in Moray]]
[[Category:Lossiemouth|RAF]]