Dates: 1920 - 2007
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.
RAF Leuchars is commanded by an Air Commodore instead of a Group Captain who would usually be given command of a base. This is because the base commander here also undertakes the role of Air Officer Scotland. The present base commander is Air Commodore Clive Bairsto who takes over from Air Commodore Julian Stinton.
Leuchars is currently home to two squadrons of Panavia Tornado F3s. They are No. 111 Squadron and No. 43 Squadron. Both squadrons operate Quick Reaction Alert which was set up primarily to combat threats from Russian attacks during the Cold War.
The station is also home to No. 125 Expeditionary Air Wing and the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron (ESUAS) and XII Air Experience Flight (12 AEF) who both use a fleet of seven Tutor T1s.
Leuchars is also the base for No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (an air-transportable surgical squadron), an RAF Mountain Rescue Unit, and is the airfield of use for the local Air Training Corps units.
The other operational UK air defence bases are RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire which is also equipped with F3s and since June 2007 RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire which operates the Eurofighter Typhoon F2.
No 125 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) was formed at Leuchars on 1 April 2006. The wing encompasses most of the non-formed unit personnel and does not include the flying units based at the station. The station commander is dual-hatted as the commander of the wing.
In 2007, an extension of the runway which, as of 2006, is currently 3,500 metres (11,000 ft) long, will take place due to the arrival of the Typhoon. Because of the runway extension, the three main squadrons are to be re-sited for the duration of the work. 43(F) SQN will operate from RAF Leeming and RAF Akrotiri over this period. ESUAS and 12 AEF will operate from Fife Airport, Glenrothes.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Leuchars
" I am trying to find Phil Walmsley who was last stationed at RAF Leuchars. I am his sister and lost contact with him so if anyone knows his whereabouts could you contact me through this site. "
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"while i was serving on 43 squadron raf leuchars,in 1976/77 a film was made by the MOD of squadron phantoms scrambling to intercept russian aircraft.i think the film was made for recruitment purposes,i was in this film.does anybody know how i might go about tracing to see if this film still exists and if it is possible to get hold of a copy?. "
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" Does anyone know the where abouts of Iain Johnstone who worked in VAS at RAF Leuchars during the early eighties (82/3 ish)? I was based there between 1981 to 1984 and worked in PSF as a Senior Aircraftsman. Responses to mcdermidb@aol.com Thanks for your help. Brice McDermid "
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" The Ministry of Defence has announced it is to scrap one of its squadrons at RAF Leuchars with the loss of 80 jobs. The decision follows plans to phase out the fleet of Tornado fighter jets and replace them with the more advanced Typhoon Eurofighter aircraft. Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth ..."
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" The future of RAF Leuchars, in Fife, has been secured for the next 40 years, the base commander has said. Air Commodore Clive Bairsto, also said up to £100m would be invested there over the next decade. RAF Leuchars, along with Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, will accommodate the RAF’s new ..."
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