World War Two secret missions recalled in new Caithness trail

The missions included Operation Freshman, a failed raid to destroy a Norwegian heavy water plant that formed part of Germany’s attempts to build a nuclear weapon.

Two bombers, towing gliders, flew from RAF Skitten, near Wick, but three of the aircraft got into difficulty and crashed. Those who survived were captured and killed.

Operation Servant was another of the clandestine activities in Caithness. It involved tests of a bouncing bomb for an attack on the battleship Tirpitz.

The warship was also the target of a Spitfire reconnaissance mission from RAF Wick in 1942.

The aircraft was shot down and its pilot, Auchterarder-born Flt Lt Alastair Gunn, was captured, interrogated, imprisoned and later executed.

The launch of the new trail has been supported by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and SSE Caithness Beatrice Community Fund.