# RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail)

Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish, (RNAS Machrihanish; or HMS Landrail), is a former Royal Navy air station, close to Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

## Location

Located 3 miles (5 km) west of Campbeltown on the western side of the Kintyre Peninsula, Machrihanish is a former RAF air station, notable for its weather forecasts. The base had an exceptionally long runway (3049m / 10,000 feet), together with a large number of technical buildings and accommodation.

## History

Machrihanish was established as a naval air station in 1916, operating maritime patrol aircraft and airships until 1918. A new airfield opened on 15 June 1941 as Strabane Naval Air Station, and named HMS Landrail, becoming RNAS Machrihanish later in the month and operated until 1946. The old airfield became HMS Landrail II.
The Air Station was re-activated again during the Korean War for training purposes. Between 1960 and 1962, the base was reconstructed and the current runway built. Thereafter the base developed in relation to NATO requirements during the Cold War, and was the focus of anti-submarine operations with US-controlled nuclear depth charges. A US Navy SEAL unit is also said to have been based here. £10 million was spent to upgrade the station in the early 1990s, keeping it on a care-and-maintenance basis to provide a runway for emergencies or in the event of conflict. The base remained a UK and NATO military base until 1997.

## Campbeltown Airport

Between the wars a commercial aerodrome was established and is still operated by the government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Limited operates with IATA location code "GQJ". It uses the same single runway which, at 3049m (10,000 feet), is the longest in Scotland. The terminal building are at the south-eastern end. There are scheduled flights to Glasgow.

## Units

A number of units were here at some point:
* 21st Naval TBR Wing
* 30th Naval Fighter Wing
* No. 65 Squadron RAF
* 730 Naval Air Squadron
* 740 Naval Air Squadron
* 744 Naval Air Squadron
* 751 Naval Air Squadron
* 766 Naval Air Squadron
* 768 Naval Air Squadron
* 772 Naval Air Squadron
* 784 Naval Air Squadron
* 787 Naval Air Squadron
* 790 Naval Air Squadron
* 799 Naval Air Squadron
* 800 Naval Air Squadron
* 801 Naval Air Squadron
* 802 Naval Air Squadron
* 804 Naval Air Squadron
* 805 Naval Air Squadron
* 806 Naval Air Squadron
* 807 Naval Air Squadron
* 808 Naval Air Squadron
* 809 Naval Air Squadron
* 810 Naval Air Squadron
* 811 Naval Air Squadron
* 812 Naval Air Squadron
* 813 Naval Air Squadron
* 814 Naval Air Squadron
* 815 Naval Air Squadron
* 816 Naval Air Squadron
* 817 Naval Air Squadron
* 818 Naval Air Squadron
* 819 Naval Air Squadron
* 820 Naval Air Squadron
* 821 Naval Air Squadron
* 822 Naval Air Squadron
* 823 Naval Air Squadron
* 824 Naval Air Squadron
* 825 Naval Air Squadron
* 826 Naval Air Squadron
* 827 Naval Air Squadron
* 828 Naval Air Squadron
* 829 Naval Air Squadron
* 830 Naval Air Squadron
* 831 Naval Air Squadron
* 832 Naval Air Squadron
* 833 Naval Air Squadron
* 834 Naval Air Squadron
* 835 Naval Air Squadron
* 836 Naval Air Squadron
* 837 Naval Air Squadron
* 838 Naval Air Squadron
* 840 Naval Air Squadron
* 841 Naval Air Squadron
* 842 Naval Air Squadron
* 845 Naval Air Squadron
* 846 Naval Air Squadron
* 847 Naval Air Squadron
* 848 Naval Air Squadron
* 849 Naval Air Squadron
* 850 Naval Air Squadron
* 852 Naval Air Squadron
* 853 Naval Air Squadron
* 854 Naval Air Squadron
* 855 Naval Air Squadron
* 856 Naval Air Squadron
* 857 Naval Air Squadron
* 878 Naval Air Squadron
* 879 Naval Air Squadron
* 880 Naval Air Squadron
* 881 Naval Air Squadron
* 882 Naval Air Squadron
* 883 Naval Air Squadron
* 884 Naval Air Squadron
* 885 Naval Air Squadron
* 886 Naval Air Squadron
* 887 Naval Air Squadron
* 888 Naval Air Squadron
* 890 Naval Air Squadron
* 891 Naval Air Squadron
* 892 Naval Air Squadron
* 893 Naval Air Squadron
* 894 Naval Air Squadron
* 895 Naval Air Squadron
* 897 Naval Air Squadron
* 899 Naval Air Squadron
* 1771 Naval Air Squadron
* 1792 Naval Air Squadron
* 1830 Naval Air Squadron
* 1832 Naval Air Squadron
* 1833 Naval Air Squadron
* 1834 Naval Air Squadron
* 1836 Naval Air Squadron
* 1838 Naval Air Squadron
* 1840 Naval Air Squadron
* 1848 Naval Air Squadron
* 1853 Naval Air Squadron