The late Twenties and early Thirties saw detachments of Singapores, Londons and Stranraers from 209 and 240 Squadrons operating from Invergordon. As these detachments were of a temporary nature during the Fleet’s summer cruises, facilities, for the aircraft were limited.  Personnel were housed in a tented camp.  In August 1939 the squadrons on exercise at Invergordon returned to their home base for major servicing while the ground crew remained at Invergordon.

At the outbreak of war on 3 September 1939 Invergordon was commanded by Gp Capt Croke and had strength of 250 officer and 269 airmen and civilians (excluding squadrons).  RAF Reservists started to arrive, and with bad weather affecting the tents, buildings in the town were taken over as billets with the HQ at a private house, 41 High Street.  The squadrons, operating at the period were 240, flying Londons ,and 209, flying Stranraers.

During this period constant patrols were carried out over the North Sea but little action was reported.  On 3 July 1940 a Swordfish flying from Aldergrove to Evanton crashed in the Firth and although both crew were rescued they later died from their injuries.

A sheep was killed when bombs dropped on a farm near Invergordon on 25 August 1940!

On 15 December 1940 a Sunderland of 201 Squadron crashed on landing. The crew were rescued but the aircraft sank before it could be towed ashore though it was later beached on 28 December.

 Christmas festivities for 1940 included a sing song with Cpl Reilly at the piano and Squadron Leader Furths on violin, five a side football, Christmas dinner, children’s tea party and a dance.

On 15 February 1941 a Junkers 88 made a daring attack on the Invergordon base.  Diving to 40ft east to west over the oil storage tanks, it dropped two 500K bombs.  One went through a tank, into the next one and exploded without causing a fire, but tons of oil flowed out on to the railway tracks and nearby station.  The second bomb went through another tank, but failed to explode after landing in the oil slick.  The Junkers made a sharp bank to avoid a church steeple then machine gunned a Sunderland causing slight damage before speeding off. The attack had lasted four minutes without the defences reacting to what was happening. Two civilian workmen on Top of the tank when the attack occurred slid down to safety. One ran off home while the other reported to the nearest hostelry for a medicinal dram!

In August 1941 three Catalinas arrived from Lough Erne on a secret mission, but packing cases marked  S N S O Archangel gave away their destination. Their mission was to transport hurricane spares and key personnel to Grasna near Murmansk after one of the aircraft had taken 21½ hours for the trip due to an electrical storms. Returning with other passengers one Catalina had to force land at Whallsey in the Shetlands.

In June 1941  4(c) OTU was moved from Stranraer to Invergordon with the officers setting up their Mess in Dalemore House. The OTU had a mixed bunch of aircraft – mostly Sunderlands and Lerwicks.

Ten crews a course were being trained by October 1941. This must have caused occasional congestion in the Firth at times. Clachnaharry near Inverness was reported to have been used for some servicing while Catalinas used Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness for circuit and splash training.

In the 80’s some RAF buildings are still intact near Dalmore Distillery and the concrete bases of many more are scattered around the Alness area. The pier and flying control tower are still in existence and nearby on the beach are two massive concrete blocks 3½ ft high 7½ ft diam and 75 yds apart.

These were probably used for breaching the Sunderlands and are likely to remain forever as a poignant reminder of the big flying boats which had their home there for so many years.

Another reminder of wartime activity  in this area is an old fuel store at Inchindown.

Inchindown is located approx. 4 miles North of the port of Invergordon. The Inchindown Fuel Depot is one of a series of five such depots constructed at various locations around the country during the 1930s, as bombproof fuel oil stores for the Royal Navy.