Kinloss Barracks

United Kingdom / Scotland / Kinloss /
 military airbase, army base
Formerly (until 2012) RAF Kinloss.

RAF Kinloss (IATA: FSS, ICAO: EGQK) is a Royal Air Force station near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. It opened on 1 April 1939 and served as an RAF training establishment during WWII. After the war it was handed over to Coastal Command to watch over Russian ships and submarines in the Norwegian Sea. Until 2010 it was the main base for the RAF's fleet of Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft.

It was intended that the MR2 would be replaced by the Nimrod MRA4, but the MRA4 was cancelled in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010. This meant that Kinloss was no longer required by the RAF. Regular flying operations will cease on 31 July 2011, the base will close as an RAF station on 31 March 2013 and it will be handed over to Defence Estates by 31 March 2014, becoming an Army facility at some point in 2015.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetla...

Numbers 120 and 201 squadrons, plus 42(R) squadron (the Operational Conversion Unit),formerly equipped with the Nimrod MR2, now with the MRA4 version, were based at Kinloss. The station is also home to No. 325 Expeditionary Air Wing. No 663 Volunteer Gliding School) VGS operating the Vigilant T1 and the Moray Flying Club are also based at RAF Kinloss.

The UK Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre is another major unit at Kinloss until it closes. The ARCC is responsible for coordinating all rescue efforts within the UK and out into the Atlantic. This includes the receipt of signals from rescue beacons, and the dispatch and control of Nimrod aircraft and Search and Rescue helicopters. The base was used for the 2005 Edinburgh and South Scotland Wing Air Cadet Annual Summer Camp.The base is due to close as a result of Government spending cuts, along with cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 program.

Order of Battle

325 Expeditionary Air Wing
Combat Support 2 Group

> 42(R) squadron (disbanded)
> 201 Squadron (disbanded)
> 120 Squadron (disbanded)

UK Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre
www.raf.mod.uk/rafkinloss/aboutus/arcc.cfm

Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service
www.raf.mod.uk/rafkinloss/aboutus/mrt.cfm

RAF Kinloss Forres, Morayshire, Scotland IV36 3UH
www.raf.mod.uk/rafkinloss/
Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinloss_Barracks
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   57°39'5"N   3°33'7"W

Comments

  • RAF Kinloss is now Kinloss Barracks and is occupied by 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support), Royal Engineers
  • 39 Engineer Regiment (Three-Nine not thirty nine) is one of many Engineer Regiments in the British Army. This is the 1st time that an Engr Regt has been based in Scotland. The Army tells the Engineers that they are soldiers 1st and Engineers 2nd. Most Engineers have that the other way round, i.e. Engrs. 1st. and soldiers 2nd. This is because Sappers have to do all the infantry training of basic soldiering so as to be available to play cowboys and Indians with any enemy which may try to stop them from doing their Engineering works like bridge, roadway and runway building, among many other jobs, under fire, in a combat zone While most Sappers (The lowest rank like "private" but even Engineer commissioned officers call them selves "Sappers" as a generic term for Royal Engineer) have to have the trade of Combat Engineer and another Technical trade to gain promotion to Lance Corporal. Most Commissioned Officers in the R.E, are expected to have a Technical Degree. The Technical training of a wide variety of trades in the "Sappers" is of a much higher standard than in civilian training establishments, While the R.E.M.E and Royal Corps of Signals, provide some of the expertise to the Army most of the more technical support comes from the Royal Engineers and many S.A.S soldiers are drawn from the R.E.s. The Sappers also have a presence in commando and airborne forces. During the "cold War" in Germany, Warrant officer Sappers were advisers to Generals in relation to engineering aspects of battle. Engineering has been a very important aspect of combat since before 1066. The Sappers have a trade skills and knowledge base process of continuous improvement with highly qualified tradesmen having the opportunity, via special selection, to attend an intensive 18 month course which can see a 21 year old L/Cpl promoted to Staff Sergeant Clerk of Works, Electrical, Mechanical, or construction, or a "Military" Plant Foreman, (Large Machine ground preparation for major construction projects like airfields or emergency accommodation for POW's, Airfields, Hospitals etc. Many Highly qualifies Sappers retire from the Corp of Royal Engineers between the ages of 25 and 45, others get commissioned as Garrison Engineers or Quarter Masters and can retire at age 55 with the rank of Lt Col. Some Sappers are using their free time in the security of an "Army life" to study for degrees. The Royal Engineers are a rich source of "Talent" for a whole variety of skills, management experience and training Which would be a great asset to many civilian companies. Just one word of warning... They do not suffer fools gladly or understand the "Incompetence" of many civilians.
This article was last modified 3 years ago