West Freugh
Nick Catford
Scotland. We hear a lot about Fylingdales and Menwith Hill but never
anything about West Freugh (NX1154). It has two large Radomes (Golf Balls)
similar to those that used to stand at Fylingdales and 7 or 8 smaller ones.
There appears to be a large underground fuel store and a number of large
buildings - nothing looking very old. Around it there are various ranges.
Another part of the complex stands half mile west of Stoneykirk a couple of
miles away. The airfield still has regular flights and the surrounding
roads are regularly patrolled. What goes on at West Freugh ?
Nick
Nick P. Norwood
from DERA ownership to the corporate Qinetiq. The Golfballs are part of a
satellite rx station which is definately still in service.
The airfield itself is a bit of a mystery, officially it is due to be put on
"care & maintainance", if it hasn't already been.
Although aircraft certainly still seem to talk to them on the RT.
It's purpose as an airfield in recent years has been for research and the
hosting of training exercises, particularly popular with the U.S.S SOS based
at Mildenhall who enjoy playing in the Highlands, West Freugh being an ideal
Forward Operating location.
Nick in Belfast
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.404 / Virus Database: 228 - Release Date: 15/10/2002
Joseph Yeardly
"Nick Catford" <Ni...@swanley1.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ap8jn8$el7$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
Not a lot It is on a close down watch worth visiting Qinetiq website for
some useless
background @
http://www.qinetiq.com/about_qinetiq/locations/west_freugh/index2.asp
or
http://www.backlot.co.uk/westfreugh/
http://www.demon.co.uk/raids/index.html
the golfballs
http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/index.cfm?pid=552
the future
http://www.stranraer.org/sti_live/archive2002/news_airfield.html
J
Alan Woodcock
According to a book on UK Airports and Airfields:-
West Freugh is listed as follows:-
Operator: MOD
Location: N54 51.07 W004 56.87 (6nm SE of Stranraer)
Elevation 57ft
Tel 01776 888791
Hours: 08:45-12:00 13:00-16:15Mon - Thurs
08:45-12:00 13:00-15:45
Runways: 06/24 (055T slope 0.36% down) 6,040ft
Runway 06 TODA 6,075ft LDA 6,040ft
Runway 24 TODA 6,122ft, LDA 6,040ft
12/30 (290.1T slope 0.16% down) 2,858ft
Runway 12 TODA 2,995ft LDA 2,858
Runway 30 TODA 2,995ft LDA 2,858
Radio
Approach - 260.025 130.05
Radar - 260.025 130.05
Talkdown - 259.0 130.725
Tower - 337.925 122.55
Notes:-
One of only a few remaining airfields owned and operated by the Ministry of
Defence's Procurement Executive, West Freugh remains active as a base for
aircraft engaged on test duties in the adjecent Luce Bay weapons range. For
many years the airfield hosted a pair of Bucaneers and a pair of Dakotas
(one of which continues to fly with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight),
but at present there are no resident aircraft and the airfield is only used
as and when required by the MoD. Consequently, there is little activity and
virtually no movements other than those associated with the weapons range.
Observation is possible but discouraged, in view of the Defence Research
Agency's test programmes, there must be some doubt as to whether West
Freugh's operations will continue for much longer, or whether the airfield
might be offered to civilian operators, in much the same way that
Farnborough has recently been developed.
End Quote
Al
"Nick Catford" <Ni...@swanley1.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:<ap8jn8$el7$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> Can anyone tell me what goes on at RAF West Freugh in Wigtownshire in
> Scotland. We hear a lot about Fylingdales and Menwith Hill but never
> anything about West Freugh (NX1154). It has two large Radomes (Golf
> Balls) similar to those that used to stand at Fylingdales and 7 or 8
> smaller ones. There appears to be a large underground fuel store and a
> number of large buildings - nothing looking very old. Around it there
> are various ranges. Another part of the complex stands half mile west
> of Stoneykirk a couple of miles away. The airfield still has regular
> flights and the surrounding roads are regularly patrolled. What goes
> on at West Freugh ?
>
> Nick
>
>
"Joseph Yeardly" <J.Ye...@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:ap9l82$9oq$1...@venus.btinternet.com...
Alan Woodcock
from plus the radio freq is correct.
Al
"Joseph Yeardly" <J.Ye...@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:ap9l82$9oq$1...@venus.btinternet.com...
>
Tom
don't know anything specific about the airfield, I have seen bombing
practice in Luce Bay.
The whole area was very active during the second world war. There was a
large flying boat base on Loch Ryan and some of the pontoons used during the
normandy landings were built near cairnryan (there are a number still on the
beach). The pier at cairnryan has been used for breaking ships (big famous
ones like the Ark Royal ) and I seem to remember a number of nuclear/diesel
russian subs.
In Luce Bay itself there is a bomb target anchored some way out from the
shore. I have sat at the Ardwell light house and watched aircraft from West
Freugh perform runs up the bay towards the target at the top. There has
also been a lot of contaversy regarding the testing of munitions in Luce
bay including DU shells and cluster bombs.
groundzero
"Tom" <t...@tom.tom> wrote in message
news:ap9rv5$ke2$1...@venus.btinternet.com...
methinks is this airfield next to a large beach for testing airborne ground
attack munitions, but has been the subject of a C4 documentary about its
closure & staff number reductions. The aircraft are not allowed to taxi to
take off UNTIL the tide has gone out!
Jim.
Nick Pedley
"Tom" <t...@tom.tom> wrote in message
news:ap9rv5$ke2$1...@venus.btinternet.com...
> don't know anything specific about the airfield, I have seen bombing
> practice in Luce Bay.
>
> The whole area was very active during the second world war. There was a
> large flying boat base on Loch Ryan and some of the pontoons used during
the
> normandy landings were built near cairnryan (there are a number still on
the
> beach). The pier at cairnryan has been used for breaking ships (big
famous
> ones like the Ark Royal ) and I seem to remember a number of
nuclear/diesel
> russian subs.
>
Sea, as well as old WW2 bombs. Wasn't there a small railway running to the
nearest town?
God knows what they did with the (Russian? you sure about that?) subs, most
likely broke them up.
Nick P
IDK
formerly DETO, now Quinetiq (& probably some other names that I don't know
about..), other sites been at Boscombe Down & Llanbedr.
Understanding of activities would be Aircraft Research & Development etc.
Also understand they monitor adjacent ranges for weapons tests.
Believe that flying operations have now been suspended from the airfield due
cut backs.
--
Remove "My trousers" Spamblock to reply.
"Nick Catford" <Ni...@swanley1.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ap8jn8$el7$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
Chris Grace
> IIRC, Cairnryan was used for dumping nuclear and chemical waste in the Irish
> Sea, as well as old WW2 bombs. Wasn't there a small railway running to the
> nearest town?
Cairnryan was a military port and was served by the Cairnryan Military
Railway.
It was later used for shipbreaking, so I assume the railway was still
required for moving rather large pieces of scrap.
Tom
some time for the radition to reach a safe level. There was concern that
they would rust before the scrap could be salvaged. I am remembering back
to when I was about 12 or 13.
The pier is now deralict and most of the military railway is gone. The
taxiways and 'parking places' for the flyingboat base are still visible on
the other side of the loch. Most of the ww2 military buildings around the
area have gone.
"Nick Pedley" <nichola...@npedley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:apbfti$d67$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
>