Banff, Boyndie Airfield, Domestic Site, Site No.3

NJ66SW 21.10 centred 62174 63308

Part of the domestic site is situated in an area annotated 'Muir of Rettie' on current OS digital maps. Much of the area is now planted with mature conifer trees and many of the concrete hut and building bases are set within dense woodland. A farm track now runs within the wood, prbably using the former airfield access road and many of the hut bases and air-raid shelters could be seen in gaps in the trees.

At the NE end of the wood an area has been left clear of trees and several bases and emergency air-raid (blast) shelters were noted. One standing structure is the NE end of what was a large hut. It stands to two storeys high and is built of brick with harled skin. There is an entrance in the NE elevation with a large opening above and several other smaler openings. On the SW-facing elevation is the roof mark of half the hut and the remains of a pipe which once ran into the interior. It is not known what this hut and building was for, but it is possible that the upper storey of the surviving structure held a water tank.

Immediately to the N of the above building are several emergency air-raid shelters and concrete platforms for buildings and huts.

The building is visible on vertical air photographs (106G/Scot/UK 108, frames 3055-3056, flown 23 May 1946), which shows that the hut was set slightly off centre to the surviving tower a fact confirmed by the mark on the side.

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, NG), 27 February 2008

The large standing structure is the remains of the airmens showers, ablutions and decntamination block. The foundations and concerett platforms of other large buildings lie in the immediate area, many within trees include the gymnasium, Dining room Sergeants Mess, Officers Mess, Institute and a large fuel compound (After the Battle, Airfield Plan No.6, Crown Copyright/RAF Museum).