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((Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in Fife, Scotland))
((Use dmy dates|date=September 2019))
((EngvarB|date=September 2019))
((Infobox military installation
| name = RAF Leuchars
| ensign =File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign_size =
| native_name = 
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Leuchars]], [[Fife]]
| nearest_town = <!-- used in military test site infobox -->
| country = Scotland
| image = File:Leuchars airbase - geograph.org.uk - 370764.jpg
| alt = Aerial view looking east over Leuchars.
| caption = Aerial view looking east over Leuchars.
| image2 = RAF Leuchars badge.gif
| image2_size = 100px
| alt2 = RAF Leuchars badge
| caption2 = ''Attack and Protect''
| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
| coordinates = ((Coord|56|22|23|N|002|52|07|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title))
| gridref = NO460205((sfn|Birtles|2012|p=37))
| pushpin_map = Scotland Fife#UK
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Fife
| pushpin_label = RAF Leuchars
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[RAF Fighter Command]]
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities - radar types etc -->
| site_area = 357 hectares<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/33240/DEDP09_annex_a.pdf|title=Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 – Annex A|date=3 July 2009|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|page=2|access-date=19 November 2017))</ref>
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built = ((Start date|1920))
| used = 1920–((End date|2015))
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = 
* Transferred to the [[British Army]] to become [[Leuchars Station]]. 
* Airfield maintained as a Relief Landing Ground.
| condition = Closed
| battles = 
| events = 
| past_commanders = 
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = ADX
| ICAO = EGQL
| GPS = 
| WMO = 03171
| elevation = ((Convert|12|m|0))
| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length = ((Convert|2589|m|0))
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number = 04/22
| r2-length = ((Convert|747|m|0))
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = <!-- ((Convert| |m|0)) -->
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| website = 
| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox that doesn't work in new code -->
))
'''Royal Air Force Leuchars''' or more simply '''RAF Leuchars''' ((Airport codes|ADX|EGQL)) is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] located in [[Leuchars]], Fife, on the east coast of [[Scotland]]. Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the station was home to fighter aircraft which policed northern UK airspace. The station ceased to be an RAF station at 12:00 hrs on 31 March 2015 when it became [[Leuchars Station]] and control of the site was transferred to the [[British Army]]. The RAF temporarily returned to Leuchars between August and October 2020 to carry out [[Quick Reaction Alert|QRA (I)]] responsibilities while runway works were being carried out at [[RAF Lossiemouth]].

== History ==
((More citations needed section|date=June 2018))

=== First World War ===
Aviation at Leuchars dates back to 1911 with a balloon squadron of the [[Royal Engineers]] setting up a training camp in [[Tentsmuir Forest]]. They were soon joined in the skies by the 'string and sealing wax' aircraft of the embryonic [[Royal Flying Corps]]; such aircraft favoured the sands of [[St Andrews]], where not the least of the attractions was the availability of fuel from local garages.
Like so many RAF stations, the airfield itself owes its existence to the stimulus of war, and work began on levelling the existing site on Reres Farm in 1916. From the beginning, Leuchars was intended as a training unit, being termed a 'Temporary Mobilisation Station' taking aircrew from initial flying training through to fleet co-operation work. Building was still under way when the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice]] was signed in 1918. Much was made of Leuchars' maritime location when it was designated a Naval Fleet Training School, eventually to undertake the training of 'naval spotting' crews who acted as eyes for the [[Royal Navy]]'s capital ships.

=== Inter-war years ===
The unit was formally named 'Royal Air Force Leuchars' on 16 March 1920, but nevertheless retained its strong naval links.
As the Navy embraced the value of aviation, the [[aircraft carrier]] was added to its inventory. Many of the flights dedicated to Leuchars were detached to such vessels for months at a time, with light and dark blue uniforms apparently mixing happily together. At St Andrews, the citizens were not unaware of the potential uses of aviation and attempts were made to use aircraft as a means of transport for golfing enthusiasts. More successful were the [[Barnstorming|barn-storming]] displays of the flying circuses which were extremely popular in the town.
In 1935, Leuchars became home to [[No. 1 Flying Training School RAF|No. 1 Flying Training School]] (1 FTS) and ranges for practice bombing were established in [[Tentsmuir Forest]]. As the war clouds gathered, its maritime position ensured that Leuchars would come to play a more warlike role. 1 FTS moved to [[RAF Netheravon]] and the station came under the control of [[RAF Coastal Command]]. With the arrival of [[No. 224 Squadron RAF|No. 224]] and [[No. 233 Squadron RAF|No. 233]] (General Reconnaissance) Squadrons in August 1938, both of which were equipped with Avro Ansons at the time, the station had an operational, rather than training, role for the first time.

=== Second World War ===
[[File:Bombing up Hudson RAF Leuchars WWII CH 979.jpg|alt=Armourers secure 250lb bombs in the bomb-bay of a Lockheed Hudson of No. 224 Squadron at Leuchars.|left|thumb|Armourers secure 250lb bombs in the bomb-bay of a [[Lockheed Hudson]] of [[No. 224 Squadron RAF|No. 224 Squadron]] at Leuchars.]]
On 4 September 1939, a [[Lockheed Hudson]] of No. 224 Squadron attacked a [[Dornier Do 18]] over the North Sea with inconclusive results but became the first British aircraft to engage the enemy in the [[World War II|Second World War]]. Leuchars was not to secure the romantic image of a [[Battle of Britain]] station, but rather settled to the routine of hour upon hour of maritime patrol which played a crucial part in Britain's ultimate victory. In February 1940, another No. 224 Squadron Hudson located the German prison ship the [[German tanker Altmark|''Altmark'']] which allowed for its interception by [[HMS Cossack (F03)|HMS ''Cossack'']] and the liberation of over 200 British prisoners. On 2 December 1943, a pigeon called [[Winkie (pigeon)|Winkie]] became one of the first birds or animals to be awarded the [[Dickin Medal]] for helping rescue the crew of a ditched bomber from the station.
During the Second World War, [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] formed in November 1939 from [[Imperial Airways]], and [[British Airways Ltd]] operated a [[Ball-bearing Run|wartime route]] from RAF Leuchars to Stockholm.  From 1943 BOAC used civilian-registered [[de Havilland Mosquito]] aircraft. Noted for the carrying of ball-bearings from Sweden to the UK, the route also returned RAF aircrew who had diverted to or made crash-landings in Swedish airfields during operations over Europe. Other aircraft types were used.

=== Cold War ===
[[File:McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG1, UK - Air Force AN1351749.jpg|alt=A No. 111 Squadron McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1, an aircraft closely associated with RAF Leuchars.|left|thumb|A [[No. 111 Squadron RAF|No. 111 Squadron]] [[McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service|McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1]], an aircraft closely associated with RAF Leuchars.]]
Leuchars remained an active station to the end of the war, concentrating on [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] and anti-shipping strikes. With the contraction of the RAF in peacetime, life at Leuchars returned to a more gentle pace, hosting a school for general reconnaissance and the St Andrews [[University Air Squadron]] complete with [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]. In May 1950 Leuchars entered the jet age as it passed from Coastal to [[RAF Fighter Command]] and [[Gloster Meteor]]s of [[No. 222 Squadron RAF|No. 222 Squadron]] made the station their new home. 1950 also saw [[No. 43 Squadron RAF|No. 43 Squadron]] arrive at Leuchars from [[RAF Tangmere]] with their Meteors, the start of a long-lasting association between the base and the 'Fighting Cocks'.
In July 1954, No. 43 Squadron converted to the new [[Hawker Hunter]] F.1 becoming the first squadron in the entire Royal Air Force to operate the type. No. 43 Squadron upgraded to Hunter FGA.9s in 1960 and were shortly relocated away to [[RAF Nicosia|Cyprus]] the following year.  [[No. 23 Squadron RAF|No. 23 Squadron]] arrived in March 1963, equipped with all-weather [[Gloster Javelin]] FAW.9s. Leuchars' air-sea rescue services upgraded to [[Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)|Westland Whirlwind]] helicopters in 1964. The University Air Squadron was equipped with the [[de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk|de Havilland Chipmunk]].

As the [[Cold War]] reached its frostiest depths in the 1960s, the development of long-range aircraft allowed the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] regular incursion into British air space. Initially this was countered by the use of the [[English Electric Lightning]], with [[No. 23 Squadron RAF|No. 23 Squadron]] taking delivery of Lightning F.3s in 1964 to be used in the [[Interceptor aircraft|interceptor]] role. This was shortly followed by [[No. 74 Squadron RAF|No. 74 Squadron]] relocating to Leuchars from [[RAF Coltishall]] in the same year, also being equipped with Lightning F.3s. [[No. 11 Squadron RAF|No. 11 Squadron]] became the next Lightning squadron to be based at Leuchars when it reformed in April 1967 and replaced No. 74 Squadron who moved to [[RAF Tengah]] in Singapore. Leuchars' position made it ideally suited as a base to ensure the integrity of British air space and thus on 1 September 1969, Leuchars' air defence capability was increased with the delivery of [[McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service#Royal Air Force|McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG.1s]] to the newly reformed No. 43 Squadron – a squadron that would become synonymous with the base over the next 40 years. From 1972 to 1978 Leuchars also served as the home for [[892 Naval Air Squadron]]'s Phantom FG.1s when they were disembarked from their carrier [[HMS Ark Royal (R09)|HMS Ark Royal]]. In March 1972, No. 11 Squadron moved south to [[RAF Binbrook]], leaving No. 23 Squadron as the sole Lightning fleet at the base. October 1975 saw the last Lightnings leave Leuchars when No. 23 Squadron converted to Phantom FGR.2s from their Lightning F.6s and moved to [[RAF Coningsby]]. A month later [[No. 111 Squadron RAF|No. 111 Squadron]] relocated north from Coningsby up to Leuchars and were equipped with Phantom FGR.2s. December 1978 saw the withdrawal of HMS Ark Royal which led to her fleet of Phantom FG.1s being distributed to 'Treble One', who in turn saw their Phantom FGR.2 airframes sent elsewhere across the RAF. For over two decades Leuchars' aircraft policed the UK air defence region, demonstrating the ability to intercept unidentified aircraft and provide an effective deterrent.((Citation needed|date=September 2023))
During May 1987, [[No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit RAF|228 OCU]] (Operational conversion unit) moved from RAF Coningsby to Leuchars.((sfn|March|1988|p=74)) The OCU operated the Phantom FGR2 and had the Shadow identity of [[No. 64 Squadron RAF|64(R) Squadron]].

For the majority of the Cold War period from 1954 to the early 1990s, [[RAF Search and Rescue Force|RAF Search and Rescue]] (SARF) had an enduring presence at Leuchars in the form of a detached flight of helicopters from [[No. 22 Squadron RAF|No. 22 Squadron]]. The flight was initially equipped with the [[Bristol Sycamore]] until their replacement by the [[Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)|Whirlwind]] HAR.10 in 1955 which in turn were superseded in 1976 by the [[Westland Wessex]] HAR.2.
Besides assisting Leuchars' own [[Mountain rescue]] unit, the flight also proved a valuable adjunct to civilian mountain and maritime rescue services. There were also two rescue launches based in [[Tayport]] for a time. ((cn| date=March 2021))

During the 1980s, RAF Leuchars was home to [[No. 27 Squadron RAF Regiment]] which was a [[Short range air defense|Short Range Air Defence]] (SHORAD) based squadron, using Field Standard A [[Rapier (missile)|Rapier Missile]] system.

===Post-Cold War===
[[File:Panavia Tornado F3, UK - Air Force AN1914616.jpg|alt=Panavia Tornado F.3 of No. 43 Squadron, seen in 1993.|left|thumb|[[Panavia Tornado ADV|Panavia Tornado F.3]] of [[No. 43 Squadron RAF|No. 43 Squadron]], seen in 1993.]]

The Phantoms of No. 43 Squadron and No. 111 Squadron were replaced by [[Panavia Tornado ADV|Panavia Tornado F.3s]] during 1989 - 1991,((Citation needed|date=September 2023)) with the last leaving during May 1991.((sfn|March|1992|p=75)) April 2003 saw the Tornado F.3 [[Operational Conversion Unit]] (OCU), [[No. 56 Squadron RAF|No. 56 (Reserve) Squadron]], move to RAF Leuchars.<ref>((cite report|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/01A22E2E_DBE9_8D3B_C7AC8A965544E238.pdf|title=RAF 2004|publisher=Royal Air Force|pages=38–43|access-date=3 August 2015|chapter=Quick Reaction Alert|year=2004))</ref> In April 2008, No. 56 (R) Squadron amalgamated with No. 43 Squadron, retaining the identity of the latter until it was disbanded in July 2009.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=78D68C59-5056-A318-A8F44260AA280134|title=No 43 (Fighter) Squadron Disbanded|date=13 July 2009|work=raf.mod.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015104256/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=78D68C59-5056-A318-A8F44260AA280134|archive-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=9 September 2014))</ref>
In September 2010, [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] was the first squadron at RAF Leuchars to be reformed operating the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]]; Typhoons from the squadron performed a [[Quick Reaction Alert]] (QRA) scramble on Sunday 2 January 2011. 6 Squadron took over QRA duties when the last of the Tornado F.3s were retired. The second Typhoon squadron, [[No.1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron]], was reformed at the 2012 RAF Leuchars Airshow on 15 September 2012.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafleuchars/news/index.cfm?storyid=F1591CCF-5056-A318-A8E75CA8DDAA44D1|title=Typhoon Force Grows as Historic Squadron Reforms at Leuchars|date=15 September 2012|work=raf.mod.uk|access-date=9 September 2014))</ref>
Leuchars had a long history of defending sovereign UK airspace over many decades stretching back to Meteor aircraft and finally with the Typhoon. Aircraft such as the English Electric Lightning and McDonald Douglas Phantom were prevalent over many years. Leuchars was home to the last squadron of Tornado F.3s, No. 111 Squadron. No. 111 Squadron operated the QRA which was set up primarily to combat threats from Soviet attacks during the [[Cold War]]. The unit was disbanded in March 2011.
[[File:Eurofighter Typhoon ZJ809 EY (8681243930).jpg|alt=A No. 6 Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon T.3 taking off from Leuchars in 2013.|thumb|A [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] [[Eurofighter Typhoon variants|Eurofighter Typhoon T.3]] taking off from Leuchars in 2013.]]
The station was formerly home to [[List of wings of the Royal Air Force#No. 100 Wing – No. 199 Wing|No. 125 Expeditionary Air Wing]], but it is still the home of the [[East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron]] (ESUAS) and [[No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF]] (12 AEF), who both use a fleet of seven [[Grob Tutor#Grob 115E (Tutor)|Grob Tutor T.1]]'s. No. 125 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) was formed at Leuchars on 1 April 2006. The wing encompasses most of the non-formed unit personnel and does ''not'' include the flying units based at the station. The station commander was dual-hatted as the commander of the wing.
Leuchars is also the base for [[No. 612 Squadron RAF|No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron]], [[Royal Auxiliary Air Force]] (an air-transportable surgical squadron), and was formerly a host to an [[Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service|RAF Mountain rescue]] Unit.  Leuchars frequently hosts local [[Air Training Corps]] units. Until 1 January 2015 it was also the parent station to several remote units in the central Scotland area, including [[Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron]], 602 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 603 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force and many Air Training Corps squadrons.
[[RAF Lossiemouth]] in [[Moray]], and [[RAF Coningsby]] in Lincolnshire, are now the sole operating bases and custodians for QRA(I) North & South respectively, flying the Typhoon FGR.4.
A third Tornado F.3 Squadron, No. 56 (R) Squadron, was disbanded in April 2008 in preparation for the arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon, in 2010. Members of No. 56 (R) Squadron had temporarily joined No. 43 Squadron until it too was disbanded in July 2009. Following the departure of the two Typhoon Squadrons, No. 6 Squadron in June 2014, and No. 1 (F) Squadron in September 2014, RAF Leuchars merged the traditional Tri-Wing structure of Base, Engineering and Logistics and Operations Wings into a single Wing structure. RAF ownership of the site ceased on 31 March 2015 when it was handed over to the [[British Army]], thus ending 95 years of service as a Royal Air Force station.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/army-now-in-charge-at-leuchars-1-3734050|title=Army now in charge at Leuchars|author=Maureen Ferrier Email|date=31 March 2015|publisher=Fife Today|access-date=25 June 2017))</ref>

== Closure ==

=== RAF drawdown ===
On 18 July 2011, [[Secretary of State for Defence|Defence Secretary]] [[Liam Fox]] announced that RAF Leuchars would close as part of the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010]], with the station being transferred to [[British Army]] control in 2015 and Leuchars's Typhoons moving to [[RAF Lossiemouth]] in [[County of Moray|Morayshire]].<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14182729|title=RAF to pull out of Leuchars as RAF Lossiemouth stays|date=18 July 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=18 July 2011))</ref>

In preparation for the closure, RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team disbanded in Nov 2013 whilst No. 58 Squadron of the [[RAF Regiment]] and [[RAF Force Protection Force Headquarters#No. 6 Force Protection Wing RAF|No. 6 Force Protection Wing]] disbanded on 10 May 2014.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.rafregt.org.uk/event/disbandment-parade-6-raf-fp-wg-58-sqn-raf-regt/|title=Disbandment Parade of 6 RAF Force Protection Wing and 58 Sqn RAF Regiment|date=10 May 2014|work=rafregt.org.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195435/http://www.rafregt.org.uk/event/disbandment-parade-6-raf-fp-wg-58-sqn-raf-regt|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=9 September 2014))</ref> [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] was the first Typhoon unit to depart Leuchars, heading for its new home at RAF Lossiemouth in June 2014.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/253526/first-typhoons-land-at-lossiemouth/|title=First Typhoons land at Lossiemouth|date=12 June 2014|work=[[The Press and Journal (Scotland)|Press and Journal]]|access-date=9 September 2014|url-access=subscription ))</ref><ref name="AFMAPR13">((cite book|title=[[Air Forces Monthly]]|publisher=[[Key Publishing]] Ltd|year=April 2013|location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], Lincolnshire, England|page=8))</ref> [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron]] followed on 8 September 2014, at which point responsibility for [[Quick Reaction Alert]] (North) was transferred from Leuchars to Lossiemouth.<ref name=":9">((cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/typhoon-aircraft-relocate-to-raf-lossiemouth|title=Typhoon aircraft relocate to RAF Lossiemouth|date=20 June 2014|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=16 September 2015))</ref>

=== Transfer to British Army ===
((Main|Leuchars Station)) Control of Leuchars was transferred to the [[British Army]] on 31 March 2015, when it was renamed Leuchars Station.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/army-now-in-charge-at-leuchars-1-3734050|title=Army now in charge at Leuchars|author=Maureen Ferrier Email|date=31 March 2015|publisher=Fife Today|access-date=25 June 2017))</ref> The [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]] gradually relocated from Germany in the spring and summer of 2015 along with [[2 Close Support Battalion REME|2 Close Support Battalion]] of the [[Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers]] and [[1st Regiment, Royal Military Police#Today and future|110 Provost Company, Royal Military Police]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.bfbs.com/news/scotland/leuchars-residents-welcome-rebasing-news-62977.html|title=Leuchars residents welcome rebasing news|publisher=British Forces News ([[British Forces Broadcasting Service]])|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317020432/http://bfbs.com/news/scotland/leuchars-residents-welcome-rebasing-news-62977.html|archive-date=17 March 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=6 March 2013))</ref>

The airfield is maintained as a diversion airfield for aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth and other aircraft.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-12-13/HL4058/|title=Leuchars Station – HL4058|date=13 December 2016|work=Hansard|access-date=22 December 2016))</ref> The station continues to be home to several RAF units, including [[No. 612 Squadron RAF|No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAuxAF]], the [[East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron]] incorporating [[No. 12 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 12 Air Experience Flight]], and the headquarters of Scotland and Northern Ireland Region and South East Scotland Wing of the [[Air Training Corps]].

===Flying at Leuchars Station===
In September 2018, it was announced that due to the refurbishment of RAF Lossiemouth's runway, QRA North responsibilities would be moved to Leuchars for up to six weeks in the summer of 2019.<ref>((cite web|title=Typhoons to make brief return to former RAF Leuchars base |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/724419/typhoons-to-make-brief-return-to-former-raf-leuchars-base/ |newspaper=The Courier |date=13 September 2018 |access-date=4 October 2018))</ref> However, these works did not occur until 2020 with Typhoon FGR4s arriving back at Leuchars on 10 August 2020 where they remained for the next two months before returning to Lossiemouth.<ref>((cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-53579711 |title=RAF Lossiemouth crews in temporary move back to Fife |website=BBC News |date=29 July 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020))</ref><ref>((cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/milestone-for-runway-works-at-raf-lossiemouth-as-aircraft-return/ |title=Milestone For Runway Works At RAF Lossiemouth As Aircraft Return |publisher=Royal Air Force |date=12 October 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020))</ref>

In late October 2020, it was confirmed by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] that they were looking into increasing both civilian and military usage of the airfield at Leuchars with the reinstallation of [[JP-8|F34 fuel]] facilities; however, there would be no aircraft based permanently.<ref>((cite web |first=Michael |last=Alexander |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1685236/appetite-to-increase-use-of-leuchars-airfield-but-no-permanent-return-of-raf-jets-confirms-ministry-of-defence/ |title=‘Appetite’ to increase use of Leuchars airfield – but no permanent return of RAF jets, confirms Ministry of Defence |newspaper=The Courier |date=29 October 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020))</ref>

== International Airshow ==
[[File:Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XVIIIe SM845 RAF Leuchars 2008.jpg|thumb|Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XVIIIe SM845 RAF Leuchars Airshow, 2008]]
RAF Leuchars was home to the annual Leuchars Airshow which originated many decades before. This usually took place on a Saturday in September. The 2007 Leuchars Airshow was cancelled due to resurfacing of the runway.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2008/raf-leuchars-airshow/|title=RAF Leuchars Airshow 2008 Review|last=Dickie|first=Andrew|date=13 September 2008|work=UK Airshow Review|access-date=9 September 2014))</ref> Approximately 45,000 people attended the 2010 show to see displays including the [[Red Arrows]], [[Eurofighter]] Typhoon, and [[Battle of Britain]] [[Battle of Britain Memorial Flight|Memorial Flight]]. Air forces from many [[NATO]] countries provided additional static and flight displays.<ref>((cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/09/11/newsstory8744728t0.asp|title=Airshow 2006|date=11 September 2006|newspaper=[[The Courier (Dundee)|The Courier]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527082755/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/09/11/newsstory8744728t0.asp|archive-date=27 May 2007|url-status=dead|publisher=[[DC Thomson]]))</ref> The final airshow was held on 8 September 2013 and circa 45,000 people were on site.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-23986041|title=Last RAF Leuchars Airshow takes to skies|date=7 September 2013|work=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2014))</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of former Royal Air Force stations]]

==References==
===Citations===
((Reflist|2))

===Bibliography===
*((cite book |last1=Birtles|first1=Philip|title=UK Airfields of the Cold War |year=2012 |publisher= Midland Publishing|isbn=978-1-85780-346-4))
*((cite book |last1=March|first1=Peter&nbsp;R.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1988|year=1988|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK))
*((cite book |last1=March|first1=Peter&nbsp;R.|title=Royal Air Force Yearbook 1992|year=1992|publisher= Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund|location=[[Fairford]], UK))

((authority control))

[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Scotland|Leuchars]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom|Leuchars]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1911|Leuchars]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Leuchars]]

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