RAF Oban

RAF Oban is a former Royal Air Force (RAF) flying boat base located at the northern end of the island of Kerrera, in Ardantrive Bay west of Oban, Argyll and Bute, Scotland during the Second World War.

RAF Oban
Oban, Argyll and Bute in Scotland
A Short Sunderland Mark I of No. 210 Squadron RAF undergoing maintenance just off the base.
Site information
Type	Royal Air Force station
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	RAF Coastal Command
Location
RAF Oban Shown within Argyll and Bute Show map of Argyll and Bute RAF Oban RAF Oban (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	56°25′06″N 5°29′50″W
Site history
Built	1940 (1940)
In use	1940-1945 (1945)
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II

History

Oban was surveyed by the RAF in the 1930s as a suitable base for flying boat operations. A fuel depot was set up on the island of Kerrera^{[citation needed]} while No. 209 Squadron RAF began utilising the facilities operating the Supermarine Stranraer flying-boat in October 1939.^[1] An aircraft servicing area, new slip and jetty were constructed on the island.^{[citation needed]}

The base became operational in September 1938, with headquarters at Dungallan House, Oban.^{[citation needed]} No. 209 Squadron re-equipped with Saro Lerwick flying-boats were based at RAF Oban.^[1] Aircrew based at RAF Oban were billeted in the main seafront hotels at Oban.^{[citation needed]} No. 210 Squadron RAF equipped with the Short Sunderland replaced No. 209 Squadron in July 1940.^[1]

Anti submarine patrols, convoy escorts as part of 18 Group Coastal Command and ferry services were carried out from the base.^{[citation needed]} No. 228 Squadron RAF,^[2] No. 10 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force,^{[citation needed]} No. 422 and 423 Squadrons Royal Canadian Air Force,^[3] No. 330 (Norwegian) Squadron RAF.^[4]

No. 302 Ferry Training Unit RAF (July 1943 – April 1945)^[5] and No. 4 Flying Boat Servicing Unit RAF (September 1942 – 1945) served at the base.^[6][7]

A Flying Boat Maintenance Unit located to the north east at Ganavan provided maintenance for aircraft utilising the base. The base was reverted to care and maintenance on 28 April 1945.^{[citation needed]}

Commanding officers

• Group Captain J.H.O. Jones – September 1938.^[8]
• Group Captain J H Chaplin – December 1943.^{[citation needed]}