Balado Bridge
BALADO BRIDGE: Military aerodrome (Satellite for GRANGEMOUTH)
Later microlight flying site. (See seperate entry for BALADO PARK)
Note: These pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Military users: RAF Fighter Command and later Fleet Air Arm
Apparently a satellite for 2 TEU (see NOTES) from 1943 to 1944
Fleet Air Arm from 1944 to 1952
Flying Club: (1946 to 1956 or thereabouts?) Balado Bridge Flying Club
Gliding: The Scottish Gliding Union
Note: In the 1957 The Aeroplane directory, the aims of The Scottish Gliding Union were: "The promotion of gliding and soaring in Scotland, training of glider pilots." Sadly, unlike most entries in this section of the directory, no details of the types operated are given.
Microlight school: In 2015 I discovered the Microlight Academy was based here.
Location: 2nm W of Kinross
Period of operation: 1942 to 1957
Runways: 09/27 1508x46 hard 03/21 1280x46 hard
NOTES: In WW2, late in 1944, 24 officers, 83 SNCO’s, and 616 OR’s were based here plus 109 WAAF’s of all ranks but nothing so far has been found relating to flying activities. It stands to reason of course that surely some flying took place but under whose Command? Records show that six hangars were erected.
A BIT MORE INFO
In June 2015 I received an e-mail from the somewhat cryptic "eLaRef". In it was contained the information that from 1943 to 1944 BALADO BRIDGE was a satellite for 2 TEU (RAF GRANGEMOUTH). TEU stands for Tactical Exercise Unit.. It was also mentioned that the Fleet Air Arm operated this airfield from 1944 to 1952, and that there were many Royal Navy aircraft dumped here in the late 1950s, including in my opinion one of the best ever designs, the Beech Expeditor.
THE SCOTTISH FLYING CLUB
It does appear that the Scottish Flying Club considered BALADO BRIDGE as a possible base having been denied further use of RENFREW in the early 1950s, but, along with GRANGEMOUTH and TURNBERRY there were far too many problems, mainly from officialdom, to surmount. It does seem however that the Scottish Flying Club did return to RENFREW in 1952.
THE FINAL PHASE?
Later this aerodrome site became a Radio Research Station. However, as mentioned above, in 2015 it appears a microlight training school had set up in business and are using part of the 03/21 runway.
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