20th Century History
Masterton at War in the 20th Century.
In 1938, with World War II looming, the Castle was purchased by the Air Ministry for £12,306 – the equivalent of 60 years’ wages for a working man. At that time the main role of Coastal Command aircraft was to search for enemy shipping, act as long-range “eyes” for warships and provide air support to the navy. This required close liaison between the RAF and RN, therefore the need for a joint RAF/RN Headquarters within protected accommodation was apparent. Although the castle was overgrown, the building was sound, the gardens extensive and most importantly it was close to the RN base at Rosyth. As a result, RAF Pitreavie Castle was established.
Work on an underground bunker was started immediately and completed in 1941. This was essentially a 2 storey structure, 20 feet underground with a double burster cap over the top floor, the outline of which can still be seen in the grass below the castle. The bunker housed the Maritime Headquarters from which the hunt for the Tirpitz was planned, as well as raids against enemy shipping in Norway and the Battle of the Atlantic mounted.
During the War, many important visitors came to RAF Pitreavie including King George VI, Winston Churchill, King Haakon of Norway as well as various Heads of the RAF, RCAF and Coastal Command.
Following the formation of NATO in 1948, Pitreavie became the principal maritime control centre in Scotland, home of the commanders of air forces (No. 18 Group RAF) and of naval forces in the North Atlantic. It was the HQ of the North Atlantic Area, able to control all NATO forces operating between the North Sea and North Pole. The facilities available meant it could function as a surveillance centre and monitor activities of soviet ships and submarines in the North Sea. HMS Scotia, the headquarters of the Royal Naval Reserves was also located at Pitreavie.
The original wartime bunker was still in use following the end of the war but in the early 1960s extensive, deep excavations were undertaken to build a nuclear bunker for use during the Cold War. It is believed the bunker was approximately 150 feet in depth and there were 3 entrances: RAF – northeast of the bunker (west of the Castle), RN – to the west of the bunker (near the path along the side of SKY) and an emergency exit close to the end of the SKY path, near the industrial units. Until its closure in 1996, Pitreavie was arguably the second most important military headquarters in the UK, capable of assuming operational responsibility from the Fleet Headquarters at Northwood in Middlesex. This involved a wider area of geographical responsibility, increased contact with the political leadership, co-ordination of submarines and from 1970, the control of the UK’s Polaris deterrent.
By 1984, the RAF commitments at Pitreavie were reduced to housing the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, support for AOSNI (Air Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland) who was located there, running the NATO Integrated Communications System Terminal and Relay Equipment. The Navy fulfilled FOSNI (Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland) commitments and was responsible for all naval activities in the north of the UK, reporting to the C in C Fleet at Northwood.
RAF Pitreavie Castle was surrounded by defensive pillboxes, many of which are still in existence. The original Castle stable block (on the corner of Castle Brae and Drive, now converted to mews housing) became the Sergeants’ Mess and behind this can be seen an early 18th century dovecot after which our streets were named. Three places of note were located on our estate – the play park was the site of the NATO communication bunker, 19 Dovecot Wynd was the Ground Radio installation, whilst one of the pillboxes was located in the area of 29/31 Dovecot Way.
The remains of some of the Airmen’s’ Accommodation at the roundabout next to the nursery, were still in existence when our estate was built. At the northwest end of Castle Drive a green building was built to house a generator which was made to resemble a church to confuse German bombers during the war. The Officers’ married quarters backed on to what is now Carnegie Avenue and Blackwood Green was the site of the radio station, aerial field and radio masts.
After a NATO review in 1993, various changes were made including responsibility of the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Service being transferred to HM Coastguard in conjunction with the RNLI. In 1994, FOSNI was transferred to Faslane and AOSNI moved to RAF Leuchars. On 1st February 1996, Pitreavie was closed after 55 years of continuous service.
