Dates: 1940 -

RAF Lossiemouth (IATA: LMO, ICAO: EGQS) is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF’s biggest bases and currently Britain’s main base for Tornado GR4s.

It houses three operational Tornado GR4 squadrons, and the Tornado GR4 Operational Conversion Unit. The station is also home to No. 140 Expeditionary Air Wing. It is the RAF’s busiest fast jet base with 77 fast jets based there. Also, two Sea King helicopters are based there in a search and rescue role. Additionally, an extensive range of operational, logistic and administrative support functions are carried out.

Originally established as an RAF station, after the second world war the airfield was handed over to the Royal Navy and the station was renamed HMS Fulmar. The Royal Naval air station was returned to the Royal Air Force on 28 September 1972. As noted, the base is currently home to a number of Tornado squadrons including the famous 617 ’Dambuster’ Squadron. Coincidentally, 29 modified Lancaster bombers from No. 617 Squadron and No. 9 Squadron, left RAF Lossiemouth for Norway on 12 November 1944 to bomb the German battleship Tirpitz. Each of the aircraft was loaded with a single Tallboy bomb. The Tirpitz was located at a range of twenty miles and opened fire on the squadrons when the aircraft were thirteen miles away. One of the Lancasters was shot down. All of the remaining aircraft managed to get their bombs away – three of which hit their target. Within 10 minutes of the first hit, the Tirpitz had capsized.

No. 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) was formed at Lossiemouth on 1 April 2006 encompassing most of the non-formed unit personnel on station. The EAW does not include any of the flying squadrons. The station commander is dual-hatted as the commander of the wing.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RNAS Lossiemouth

" Quoting: Arthur Rowsell Never heard of this ship. I did serve on Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth near Elgin Scotland. This air station had the attack aircraft of the FAA. Enjoyed my time their and that was the area that I got involved with the Joint Services Mountain Rescue team. Spent ..."

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" Quoting: Doug Welch G’day Arthur. It would certainly have been a shock to the intestines mate,   especially if you were in the "Andrew", after they had stopped the tot.  ... I went to the Lossiemouth base, for an asdic display during the Navy Days up there in 1959, can’t remember the ..."

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" This does bring back memories for me.  The first time that I flew ever was in a FAA Meteor at RNAS Lossiemouth.  At the time this type of aircraft was used for target towing.  My flying suit was much too large (not made for 5ft 3ins wrens) and I also had to use an oxygen mask. ..."

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" Quoting: Marie Drew This does bring back memories for me.  The first time that I flew ever was in a FAA Meteor at RNAS Lossiemouth.  At the time this type of aircraft was used for target towing.  My flying suit was much too large (not made for 5ft 3ins wrens) and I also had to use an oxygen ..."

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" Joined December 1960 H.M.S.Raleigh Part one training March1961 - September 1961 R.N.H.Haslar Part 2 training September 1961 - December 1963 R.N.H.Plymouth December 1963 - November 1964 845 Sqd (Sarawak) December 1964 - October 1965 RRNAS Lossiemouth October 1965 - August 1968 RNH Plymouth ..."

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