RAF Peterhead, derelict camp revisited

WARNING - Do not enter private property without permission.
Many of the buildings in this slideshow are now gone.
RAF Peterhead - A fighter station often forgotten, that played a vital role in WW2. Here are the pictures that I took back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. They are scanned in from old fading prints and so the quality could be better.
Peterhead probably had more visiting squadrons than any other station. A fact often forgotten in the history books. Famed for its Mustangs and Spitfires, it also played host to a myriad of different types including Bostons and Navy Fulmars. It was a very busy operational station and unbelievably it is fading into the past, unlike some of its English counterparts.
I believe it to be the only station that had 3 different Battle HQ's over its active period.. Each time, the new one becoming better elevated and so, having a much better view over the airfield and indeed some of the dispersed sites. Three differing designs too.
The 2 Teeside hangars are still there, one reclad and the other extended out of all recognition. The newer Battle HQ is still there. Unsure of the other 2 rarer types.The butts and range have gone along with most of the other buildings on the airfield.
The operations block was demolished around the 60's and had a house built on it. Shame but I never saw the Watch office before it was demolished.
As you drive or walk round it is difficult to imagine what went on here!
Unsure what the turrets were off, possibly a ground instruction trainer or mobile gun, you guys will know. The Boston wheel went off to a collection in Suffolk I think. We are looking to get the wheel back for the new RAF Peterhead Heritage centre which is being put together. If you remember buying it from me off ebay (c2008) and came to Sandbach to collect it, or know who has it, then please let me know.
If you want to use any of the pictures, then please ask.
My 2 books on airfield architecture are available on ebay - just search British Airfield Buildings of WW2.
Or contact me Graham Innes
[e-mail]

[@buffplums]

Interesting I visited this place briefly only once whilst I was posted to RAF Buchan 98 to 91 lived at 1 Pusey Place overlooking Peterhead Harbour, the very first night after I arrived some prisoner from the Gaol up the hill escaped...turned out he just wanted a pint! They caught him in a nearby pub at Mintlaw where he told the barman to call the police. I was the last airman to do guard duty at Newton Farm Lodge, and had the pleasure of padlocking the gate after my shift finished one dark rainy night at 6pm. I remember guarding an empty camp for about an hour after the last person had left as I had to officially wait until 6pm to lock the gate for the last time. I was a communications UNITER techy working down the R3 Bunker up on the hill. The type 80 Radar was still in operation for a short while after I left.
No disrespect but the locals were the most unfriendly people I have ever met.

[@ncodr]

Prolly 88-91 though... I grew up in the area in the 70s/80s and later served at Buchan 93-97, also lived in Pusey Place at the top of the hill. T80 was finally decomm'd in 93 iirc, just before I was posted there, and in Stores we still had original parts wrapped in greaseproof paper with manufacturing dates from 1952.
As a kid, I remember the radar used to cause audible/visible interference on audio/television equipment every 30 seconds at our house about 3 miles away. My father still has audio recordings with the interference signature on them :) You're not wrong about the locals; it was a grim place to grow up.. My folks live not far from the airfield featured in this video, though not much remains any more unfortunately.

[@scottishwings9648]

Really nice set of photos! Thanks for sharing!

[@daviddavies2072]

Very interesting, thank you for the video

[@GrahamInnes1]

Glad you like it!

[@GHOST5663]

The pictures do not show how bleak and desolate the place was. Buchan was also a dump.

[@dpful462]

I bought a house there which i was told was part of the raf peterhead hospital.

[@GrahamInnes1]

Where is yr house? I will tell if it was!