RAF Lossiemouth is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The 100 personnel from the station marched through Elgin to mark their freedom in response to an invitation from Moray Council, a privilege granted to the station in 1992 in honour of its long and valued association with the area.
Some of those in the parade were from Lossiemouth's Tornado Wing, formed of personnel from 12 (Bomber) Squadron, 617 Squadron, 14 Squadron and XV (R) Squadron, all part of No 1 Group, who returned home in October 2009 after a four-and-a-half month deployment to Afghanistan.
Speaking before the parade in Elgin, Group Captain Andy Hine, Station Commander of RAF Lossiemouth, said:
"It is a great privilege for RAF Lossiemouth to exercise its right to parade, not only to highlight to local citizens the outstanding contribution the station has made over the past year on operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq but also to show the station's gratitude for all the support it receives through its very close ties with the Moray community."
The hundreds of people who gathered to watch the parade, which took place on Saturday 31 October 2009, were treated to a spectacular flypast of four Lossiemouth-based Tornado GR4s and a Sea King helicopter from the Search and Rescue Flight.
The personnel, led by the Pipes and Drums of 2622 (Highland) Squadron, marched past the dais where the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Lieutenant Colonel Grenville Johnston, along with Group Captain Hine, and Moray Council Convener Councillor George McIntyre, took the salute.
Councillor McIntyre said:
"The air station is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and during that time the base and its personnel and their families have become an integral part of the wider Moray community.
"The Freedom of Moray was bestowed on RAF Lossiemouth because of the incalculable contribution it has made to the fabric of society in Moray, and that continues to be the case."
RAF Lossiemouth was the first of the Moray air bases to be granted the freedom and consequently was the first to be able to display both the Queen's Colour for the RAF in the UK and the Queen's Colour of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force together.
This honour was bestowed upon them in 1992 in recognition of their contribution to Moray in peace and in war. The Freedom of the District is the highest honour that a council can bestow on an individual or organisation.
Speaking after the parade, Senior Aircraftman Ben Rutland from B Flight, 51 Squadron, said:
"It felt really worthwhile and was great to know that so many people were supporting us doing our job."
With the parade complete, SAC Rutland and his colleagues on 51 Squadron will once again turn their attention to training ahead of their forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan next spring.