RAF Black Isle February 2011

[dunglass]

RAF Black Isle 42 Satelite Landing Station (SLG) also known as Blackstand had a grass runway & field HQ in farm cottage,site was on sloping ground making it difficult to land.SLG's were secret places where replacement aircraft were stored safe from enemy attack during WW2.They did not have control towers or even a wind sock that might give their location away.When a plane was expected gunpowder was burnt to give a smoke indicator, but pilots realised it was safer to land uphill, which made it "interesting".It was intended to store 46 beaufighters there but by july 1944 they had 117 aircraft there.
Buildings remaining include large wooden hut,guard house + toilet block (seems to be one of my features)spread about a mile along a farm track, also still the remains of water tower and the farm buildings, a Robin type B hangar , which has been reclad by the farmer ,but is on the original framework,few other bldgs. and general view of airstrip part covered in trees after the war.


Guard House


Looks like later toilet




water tower

farm HQ

hangar




oil store



was this used to tether aircraft to the ground
Had to cut short ,run out of space?