Monument record MHG19443 - Wick Airport

Summary

Early C20 airfield

Location

Grid reference Centred ND 363 525 (1791m by 2136m)
Map sheet ND35SE
Old County CAITHNESS
Civil Parish WICK
Geographical Area CAITHNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Centred 360 525

See also Redfern, "20th Century fortifications in the UK" vol IV.
A M Fox, Highland Council, 12.12.01.

According to Guy (pers comm, DoBritain Project Conference 24.11.01) there is an unusual Pickett-Hamilton pillbox at Wick airfield.
A M Fox, Highland Council, 26.11.01

J A Guy, 20th Century Defences, (report nos. 1, 8 & 11)

An unusual feature of Wick is that the tower and most technical buildings are made largely of timber.
B Quarrie 1987

RAF Wick was built on land adjoining pre-war civil aerodrome at Hillhead Farm. Traditional grass surface of time rapidly became a quagmire and there was a rush to lay down tarmac runways at the beginning of war. Four massive 'C1' hangars were built, in retrospect a mistake as it made the airfield a very visible target. A decoy airfield was set up on a peat bog at Sarclet to S.
The tower survives as do two dilapidated 'C1' hangars (out of four), which in 1981 were full of steel pipes. Most of station offices and technical buldings are still standing, neglected but yet derelict.
D J Smith 1983

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Francis, P. 1996. British military airfields, from airships to the jet age,. 21, 41, 42, 95, 122, 124; 41, 42, 122.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Quarrie, B (ed). 1987. Action stations 10: supplement and index. 123.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Smith, D J. 1983. Action stations 7: military airfields of Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland. 219-23; 219; Plan, 220.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Smith, D J. 1989. Britain's military airfields, 1939-45. 70.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

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