Category:RAF Kilchiaran

RAF Kilchiaran 

Royal Air Force station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
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Instance of	Royal Air Force station radar station
Part of	ROTOR (radar station, ECK)
Location	Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Item operated	Chain Home Extra Low radar
55° 45′ 57.63″ N, 6° 27′ 18.96″ W
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RAF Kilchiaran refers to a radar base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) active 1940-1945 and again 1954-1958. The grounds have not been a base since 1958 nor have any RAF operations been conducted there since then, nor, as the buildings have been completely stripped and are in ruins, are any likely to be in the future. British Telephone (BT) acquired a few buildings, which they rebuilt into a microwave transmission station.

The initial station, RAF Kilchiaran Chain Home Low Radar Station, was part of the Chain Home system, referring to a ring of radar stations around the British Isles. Low refers to the low altitude capability of the station, which in those days was distinct from the high altitude located elsewhere. The initial station required separate transmitter and receiver masts, which still stand without function on Creag Goirtean na Feannaige and Creag a' Chaorainn of Cnoc nam Muc-chlach overhanging the south of Machir Bay. The station was of diverse locations, the base buildings being located at Kilchiaran Farm, while the personnel residences were in the towns of the south Rinns.

In 1954 the base was rebuilt and refurbished to accomodate the RAF Kilchiaran Chain Home Extra Low (CHEL) ROTOR (code word) Radar Station, which was obsolete by 1958. Later BT acquired the auxiliary facility on Creag Bealach na Caillich.