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Highland Military Tattoo , Fort George .Opening the show with a fly-past of Typhoon from Lossiemouth.Picture: Gary Anthony. Image No..

MORAY'S MP has praised the contribution of RAF Lossiemouth as it reaches its 80 anniversary today.

Douglas Ross offered his congratulations ahead of a visit to the base tomorrow by Gavin Williamson the Defence Secretary.

Both men will be at an official reception on Thursday to mark the establishment of IX Bomber Squadron, the UK’s latest typhoon squadron which is now operational on the Moray airbase.

Mr Ross said: "The military and the RAF in particular have been integrally linked with Lossiemouth and Moray for many decades.

"That link is incredibly important to the local area and we saw when the base was under threat how important it was to the community when we marched in our thousands to save it.

"Moray and the military go hand in hand and 80 years of the RAF at Lossiemouth is something to be celebrated.

"Lossiemouth has a very bright future as a key element of the UK’s defence for many decades to come.

"I’m incredibly proud that this current Conservative UK Government is investing heavily in RAF Lossiemouth which will become home to the Poseidon P8 aircraft.

"More than £400million will be invested throughout this programme with an additional 400 personnel coming to the base.

"I’m also very pleased that the infrastructure to prepare the base for its next chapter is being constructed by Robertson’s, a local firm with its roots in Moray.

"This ensures that the benefits of the UK Government’s investment goes far beyond the wire of the base."

RAF Lossiemouth was opened on May 1, 1939, just four months before the outbreak of the Second World War.

It was initially equipped with 13 Airspeed Oxfords and five Hawker Harts.