Fly Past

Surrounding the museum is
the bustling Heathhall Industrial
Estate, most of which utilises
the many ‘half-round’ Type J
and K storage hangars built in

1939. Immediately opposite the
      museum entrance is a stretch of
      concrete, the last remnants of the
      northwest-southeast runway.

Planned in 1938 as an ASU,

Dumfries was ready for business

when 18 MU formed on June

17, 1940. That year 10 Bombing

and Gunnery School (B&GS)

moved in, and construction of

surfaced runways began. During

the war, 10 B&GS morphed into

10 Air Observer School, later

10 (Observer) Advanced Flying

Unit and finally, in June 1945,

10 Air Navigation School, to be

disbanded just 29 days later. The

founder unit, 18 MU, had a much

longer tenure, closing its doors

in 1957.

A drive around the industrial

estate will convey the size and

complexity of the former RAF

station. Visiting the museum gives

a fascinating insight into aviation

in southern Scotland and the

significance of the Solway Firth.

With many thanks to Dan

Richards and all at Watchtree

Nature Reserve

The decommissioned Chapelcross Power

Station reactors were built alongside

Annan’s northwest-southeast runway.

The top fl oor of the Dumfries watch tower

has been restored to its wartime look.

The centrepiece of the Dumfries and

Galloway Aviation Museum is the

three-storey watch tower.

September 2018 FLYPAST 103