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Inverness, Dalcross Airport
Airfield (20th Century), Airport (20th Century)
Site Name Inverness, Dalcross Airport
Classification Airfield (20th Century), Airport (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Dalcross Airfield; Dalcross Aerodrome; Dalcross Industrial Estate; Connage
Canmore ID 91603
Site Number NH75SE 31
NGR NH 77497 52093
NGR Description Centred NH 77497 52093
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/91603
- Council Highland
- Parish Petty
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Inverness
- Former County Inverness-shire
NH75SE 31.00 centred 77497 52093
NH75SE 31.01 NH 7690 5248 Pillbox
NH75SE 31.02 NH 76468 51987 and NH 76459 51912 Aircraft Hangars
NH75SE 31.03 NH 7700 5100 Excavation; Drains; Pits; Stone heaps
NH75SE 31.04 NH 76466 52067 Building
NH75SE 31.05 centred NH 76417 51931 Buildings; Huts
For bronze axes and spearhead found at Connage (within the area of the airfield), see NH75SE 3 and NH75SE 4 respectively.
Duplicated site now cancelled (NH75SE 55).
See also NH75SE 65.
Immediately before the war, Longman aerodrome (NH64NE 171) needed expansion, but land purchase was likely to be expensive. An alternative location was found at Dalcross, and, when war broke out, the site was suggested to the Air Ministry. The advice given was that tarmac runways would be essential, as the ground became very boggy in winter. The advice was ignored, and during the winter of 1940 the airfield became unusable and was soon closed for runway construction.
The uncompleted station was reopened on June 15 1941, but very soon accommodation proved inadequate as it consisted of four Nissen huts, one mile round the aerodrome perimeter.
During 1946, Dalcross became HQ of 13 Group, although from 1947 it was operated by the Ministry of Aviation as Inverness Airport.
The airport was closed for almost all of 1974, airline services being transferred to Kinloss (NJ06SE 29) while the runway was lengthened and strengthened to permit the operation of larger jet aircraft. Today the large 'VR' hangars are dismantled, but the two wartime Bellmans and many 'temporary' buildings are still in use. Three roofless Blister hangars can be seen and many local fences are made of Sommerfield track and its steel pickets.
D J Smith 1983.
This airfield, now Inverness Airport, is SW of Ardersier between the A96 (T) and the B 9039 roads. The accommodation and technical areas are now largely taken over by Dalcross Industrial Estate.
J Guy 2000; NMRS MS 810/10, Vol.2, 69
