RAF Dounreay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
RAF Dounreay
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| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military |
| Operator | RAF, Royal Navy |
| Location | Dounreay |
| In use | 1944–1954 |
| Elevation AMSL | 112 ft / 34 m |
| Coordinates | 58°35′0″N 3°43′40″W / 58.58333°N 3.72778°W |
| Map | |
 EGPY
Location in Highland
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RAF Dounreay was an airfield, which is like a small airport, built in Scotland. It was created during World War II in 1944. Even though it was built for the military, it ended up having a very different and interesting story!
What Was RAF Dounreay?
RAF Dounreay was originally built for the RAF's Coastal Command. This part of the RAF was responsible for protecting the coastlines and looking out for enemy ships or submarines during the war. However, the airfield was never actually used by Coastal Command.
After it was built, RAF Dounreay was given to the Royal Navy. They called it HMS Tern II. Even though it had a naval name, it wasn't fully set up or used as a naval base. Instead, it was kept in a "care and maintenance" state until 1954. This means it was looked after but not actively used for flights or naval operations.
A New Purpose: Atomic Energy
In 1955, the airfield found a completely new purpose. It was taken over by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). This organization was working on important research, including developing a special type of nuclear reactor called a fast breeder reactor.
For many years, one of the runways at Dounreay was kept open. It was used to transport people and materials to and from the site for the atomic energy work. This continued until the 1990s.
See also
