RAF Lossiemouth News

Ex WAAF brings her memoirs to life with a visit to RAF Lossiemouth's Heritage Centre

Last week, RAF Lossiemouth had the privilege of hosting Mrs Ann Buchan in the Station's Heritage Centre. Ann was Stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in the 1940s as a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.

Mrs Ann Buchan, along with her daughter and granddaughter, and Heritage Centre volunteer Sergeant Baxter.

The visit was made even more special as Ann was celebrating her 94th birthday, and had been a surprise organised by her daughter and granddaughter. Volunteers from the Heritage Centre were eager to hear her stories from the early years of RAF Lossiemouth's history. 

Ann first arrived at RAF Lossiemouth in 1943 as a communications operator for Number 20 Operational Training Unit, who flew Wellington bombers. Her primary job was equivalent to what our terminal Air Traffic Controllers do today; using radios to communicate with aircraft in the circuit or on short training flights. 

“One Sunday afternoon, I think in late 1944 when I was on duty, I was told that there was a change from the usual routine. The WAAF Corporal was plugged into the set and I would be also, but I would just be listening in. Two planes, I expect Lancasters from England, were to be taking off from Lossie to attempt to sink the German Battleship Tirpitz which was in a Norwegian fjord.”

Aerial reconnaissance taken from a De Havilland Mosquito 544 Squadron, showing a badly damaged Tirpitz lying in the Tromso Fjord. The ship was sunk soon after in a daylight attack by 9(B) and 617 Squadrons on 12 November 1944, as part of Operation CATECHISM.

She found out later that evening that the aircraft had inflicted some damage, but not enough to sink the Tirpitz. It was two years later when she discovered that aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth had indeed sunk it.

Volunteers at the Heritage Centre were also fascinated to discover that many French personnel were based at RAF Lossiemouth during this period. Ann recalls a ballroom dance that she attended early on in her time on Station:

When we landed at the dance, I soon had a partner in navy blue uniform. This was unusual, and even more so as he had a foreign accent and broken English. It turned out that he was French and a wireless operator himself, and had spied the sparks on my arm.

The 'fist and sparks', now worn by Cyberspace Communication Specialists (Trade Group 4 personnel).

Ann continued serving in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force until the end of the 1940s, after serving at Melksham in Wiltshire, and in Germany.

The Station Heritage Centre at RAF Lossiemouth is open to the public by appointment. You can contact the volunteers by emailing [email protected]. Our volunteers are always keen to document the stories of those who have served at RAF Lossiemouth, and if you have any photos of your time at the Station please send them to the address above.

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