RAF Drem
Encyclopedia
RAF Drem is a former RAF station
, just north of the village of Drem
in East Lothian
, Scotland
. The motto of the station was Exiit Hinc Lumen which means "Ascend from this Light".
The foundation of Drem as an air base, precedes the creation of the RAF
as by 1916, an airfield had been established under the name West Fenton Aerodrome. From 1916 to 1917, No 77 Home Defence Squadron
, Royal Flying Corps
operated from Drem and in April 1918, No.2 Training Depot Station opened.
Between April and 14th August 1918, the American 41st Aero Squadron under the command of Lieut. Warren C. Woodward were temporarily based at Drem together with an aero repair flight company. The Americans called the airfield "Gullane" in its official history. The squadron transferred to St Maixent in France and arrived at its operational base of Romorantin on the 29th August 1918.
By November 1918, West Fenton had been renamed Gullane Aerodrome and with the post-war demobilisation the base was vacated in 1919. From 1933 to 1939, the airfield saw only occasional use by visiting squadrons.
In 1939 the grass airstrip was resurfaced, and the unit was renamed RAF Drem. The station was then home to No. 13 Flying Training School.
Following the outbreak of World War II
, RAF Drem became an air defence fighter unit for the city of Edinburgh
and the shipping area around the Firth of Forth
, with Spitfires
of 602 Squadron
based at Drem.
On 16 October 1939, the Luftwaffe
made its first attack on Great Britain
. Junkers
Ju-88s of 1/KG 30 led by Hauptmann Helmuth Pohle attacked British warships in the Firth of Forth. Spitfires from 603 Squadron
joined 602 Squadron aircraft in a defensive counter-air sortie. Following the destruction of a Luftwaffe bomber aircraft by a 603 Squadron
Spitfire
, 602 Squadron
pilot Flight Lieutenant
George Pinkerton gained the second kill of the Second World War.
In 1940 an airfield lighting system for night landings, the Drem Lighting System, was developed at RAF Drem.
In 1942 Royal Navy
personnel were posted to RAF Drem and in 1945 the unit was handed over to the Admiralty
and renamed HMS Nighthawk. On 15 March 1946 the unit was returned to the Air Ministry
although it was decommissioned not long after that.
At present, the RAF Drem Museum is housed in what was RAF Drem's Mess accommodation.
RAF station
A Royal Air Force station is a permanent Royal Air Force operations location. Many RAF stations are aerodromes, or airbases, being the home to one or more flying squadrons. Other RAF stations are training units, administrative units, headquarters , or carry out ground-based operational tasks...
, just north of the village of Drem
Drem
Drem is a small village in East Lothian, Scotland. It is approximately 20 miles east of Edinburgh and is close to Haddington , North Berwick , Dirleton and Gullane ....
in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The motto of the station was Exiit Hinc Lumen which means "Ascend from this Light".
The foundation of Drem as an air base, precedes the creation of the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
as by 1916, an airfield had been established under the name West Fenton Aerodrome. From 1916 to 1917, No 77 Home Defence Squadron
No. 77 Squadron RAF
No. 77 Squadron RAF was formed on 1 October 1916 at Edinburgh, and was equipped with B.E.2 and B.E.12 aircraft. The squadron disbanded at RAF Turnhouse on June 13, 1919....
, Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
operated from Drem and in April 1918, No.2 Training Depot Station opened.
Between April and 14th August 1918, the American 41st Aero Squadron under the command of Lieut. Warren C. Woodward were temporarily based at Drem together with an aero repair flight company. The Americans called the airfield "Gullane" in its official history. The squadron transferred to St Maixent in France and arrived at its operational base of Romorantin on the 29th August 1918.
By November 1918, West Fenton had been renamed Gullane Aerodrome and with the post-war demobilisation the base was vacated in 1919. From 1933 to 1939, the airfield saw only occasional use by visiting squadrons.
In 1939 the grass airstrip was resurfaced, and the unit was renamed RAF Drem. The station was then home to No. 13 Flying Training School.
Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, RAF Drem became an air defence fighter unit for the city of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and the shipping area around the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
, with Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
of 602 Squadron
No. 602 Squadron RAF
No 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
based at Drem.
On 16 October 1939, the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
made its first attack on Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Junkers
Junkers
Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG , more commonly Junkers, was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and best-known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany. It was founded there in 1895 by Hugo Junkers,...
Ju-88s of 1/KG 30 led by Hauptmann Helmuth Pohle attacked British warships in the Firth of Forth. Spitfires from 603 Squadron
No. 603 Squadron RAF
No. 603 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection.-Formation and early years:No...
joined 602 Squadron aircraft in a defensive counter-air sortie. Following the destruction of a Luftwaffe bomber aircraft by a 603 Squadron
No. 603 Squadron RAF
No. 603 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection.-Formation and early years:No...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, 602 Squadron
No. 602 Squadron RAF
No 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
pilot Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
George Pinkerton gained the second kill of the Second World War.
In 1940 an airfield lighting system for night landings, the Drem Lighting System, was developed at RAF Drem.
In 1942 Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
personnel were posted to RAF Drem and in 1945 the unit was handed over to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
and renamed HMS Nighthawk. On 15 March 1946 the unit was returned to the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
although it was decommissioned not long after that.
At present, the RAF Drem Museum is housed in what was RAF Drem's Mess accommodation.