Fast jets, helicopters and large transport aircraft are also frequent visitors. It will cost between 0 million and 00 million to give the Navy 25 of the vertical take off planes to operate from cruisers by the end of the decade. Approx. Photo shows Mr. Roy Mason, the Defense Secretary, picture at RAF Wittering, Northants yesterday, when he went for a flight in a Royal Air Force Harrier Hump Jet. RAF Wittering is actually two airfields that have merged together; unfortunately this and the A1 have made access for viewing rather difficult to say the least. The first of the completed planes will operate from nearby Kinloss Barracks, a former RAF station, while new facilities are built at Lossiemouth. 12 Group[8] (controlled from RAF Watnall in Nottingham) as it was the main fighter station for a lot of the southern East Midlands, and fighters from the station would often patrol as far as Birmingham. From October 1972 until August 1976, there were two squadrons flying the Hawker Hunter No. [note 2] Further airmen's accommodation, airmen's mess, technical accommodation and station headquarters were constructed as was a sector control room to control fighter squadrons and anti-aircraft gun batteries within 12 Group's 'K' Sector. Since the incoming missile warning from the RAF Fylingdales BMEWS array was only four minutes before impact this ensured if the country came under attack, the bombers would be scrambled and able to retaliate. With around 45,000 individual take-offs and landings every year, RAF Wittering is one of the busiest flying Stations in the Ministry of Defence. [32], Previously the home of No 1 Training Depot Station (at Stamford aerodrome) and No 5 Training Depot Station (at Easton on the Hill aerodrome) of the Royal Flying Corps during World War 1 and then the Royal Air Force's Central Flying School and No. Airport name: {{ aptMetadata.airportName }} Airport identifier in X-Plane: EGXT. Located North of Wittering village and on the West side of the A1, North of the A47, around 4 miles South of Stamford and 8 miles West of Peterborough. The county has been on the flight path for planes heading out from RAF Brize Norton in recent weeks, including an Airbus Atlas A400M. Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from RAF Wittering.. We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! Fast jets, helicopters and large transport aircraft are also frequent visitors. This was fitted into the existing Blue Danube casing, and four Valiant bombers flew out of Wittering to Christmas Island in the Pacific, one of them dropping the first device on 15 May 1957 on Operation Grapple. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. A significant amount of development took place to re-open the station including four new accommodation blocks for airmen, a corporals and airmen's institute, a Senior Non-Commissioned Officers' Mess, the Officers' Mess,[note 1] and a new guardroom. In April 1943 No. The aerodrome was initially created for A Flight of No. The Station has around 20 Grob Tutor aircraft, which are used for Elementary Flying Training (EFT) and this forms most of our aircraft activity. What was once the pride of the RAF and Royal Navy, the now-skeletal Harrier fleet is used for spare parts, and will continue to be cannibalised until at least 2025. [4] Following the formation of the Royal Air Force, Easton on the Hill became RAF Collyweston on 1 April 1918. Aircraft from the station downed 151 Luftwaffe aeroplanes and 89 V-1 flying bombs. Exercise Swift Pirate is a regular feature in the Station’s busy calendar, and the heavy aircraft of the RAF Mobility Force are a familiar sight in the skies around RAF Wittering. [5], In April 1938, the station became a Fighter Command station within No 12 Group. In January 1945, the captured enemy aircraft were removed. In 1957–58 tests were carried out on the first British hydrogen bomb. In June 1982, 12 GR3 aircraft were flown from Wittering, via RAF Ascension Island and mid … In its early years, the British V bomber force relied on the concept of aircraft dispersal to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases. Flying hours are usually Monday to Sunday, 8:00am to 5pm. Group Captain Haward was named as the new station commander at RAF Wittering in December 1998. [26], In 2016 the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Station would be one of the RAF's 'well found centres of specialisation for' 'Support Enablers' along with RAF Leeming. KEEPING AIRCRAFT IN THE SKY has been the principle for all 36 years of Royal Air Force Wittering Warrant Officer Jacqueline Harrison’s military career. They were parked within 100 m (110 yd) of the westerly runway threshold. Gate guardian British Aerospace Harrier GR7A ZD469 at RAF Wittering. The Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM) contains accurate aerodrome data for RAF Wittering. RAF Wittering Heritage Centre. [14] The first British operational atomic bomb, the Blue Danube, was deployed to RAF Wittering in November 1953. RAF Wittering - March 1969--Jun 1971 Best Assignment EVER! The Air Cadet survived, but all eight aircrew aboard both planes died, when their aircraft hit the ground. If you are thinking of flying a drone near to RAF Wittering or would like to know more, please send and email to WIT-OpsWgStnOps@mod.gov.uk. Open to individuals and groups of up to 40 by appointment only. A fitting tribute to all ex and serving members of RAF Wittering. 1955 to 1968 - V-Force bombers (the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan) flew from RAF Wittering. 1 Sqn: Hawker Hurricane: JX: RAF Wittering: Sqn Ldr David A Pemberton … 228 likes. [23], It was announced in December 2009 that RAF Wittering was to become the sole operational base for the Harriers of Joint Force Harrier after the announcement that RAF Cottesmore was to close. The airfield is located immediately next to the busy A1, around eight miles northwest of Peterborough and four miles south of Stamford. This conversion required another expansion with more land being purchased to the south and east of the station which closed the Stamford to Oundle road. One of the four RAF Harrier GR 7 Fighter planes prepares to take off from Raf Wittering, today (Sunday), to join Nato Forces in Southern Italy as the Kosovo crisis continues. With many of the Luftwaffe raids during the Blitz taking part at night, Wittering-based squadrons were instrumental in the development of night combat techniques. Two nuclear armed aircraft were permanently on 15 minutes readiness to take off. [14] The first V-bombers (the Vickers Valiant, the Handley Page Victor and the Avro Vulcan) were delivered in July 1955. [18], From 1968 the station was known as the Home of the Harrier: the first Harriers arrived for No. Heavy aircraft returned to the skies above RAF Wittering this week as the Station hosted Gurkhas and 16 Air Assault Brigade for Exercise Swift Pirate. 1426 (Captured Enemy Aircraft) Flight (colloquially known as the RAFwaffe) was based at Collyweston Landing Ground with its wide range of captured Luftwaffe aircraft both evaluating their performance and touring allied bases. 5001 Squadron RAF, at RAF Wittering Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron , at MoD Boscombe Down (joint RN and RAF) [118] No. RAF Collyweston, … [20], In 1982, six Harrier GR3 aircraft were taken down to the Falklands on SS Atlantic Conveyor,[21] and survived the Exocet attack, later to board HMS Hermes in May 1982. [3] In common with other Home Defence squadrons at the time it was used for training during the day and for air defence at night. These combine the majority the RAF's specialist and deployable engineering and logistics units[note 3] within a single organisation as follows (A4 Force Elements not located at RAF Wittering are included in italics for completeness). Two Tucano trainers had just left RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, on the afternoon of 30 May when the incident took place. Proudly a supplier for all those years, today (Friday 18th September) Mrs Harrison retired from the RAF after a long and distinguished career. Royal Air Force Wittering aircraft do not operate at low level. With around 45,000 individual take-offs and landings every year, RAF Wittering is one of … The RAF maintains the ability to move people and equipment around the globe in support of operations with its A400M Atlas, C17 Globemaster and C130 Hercules aircraft. It became the home of both fighter and gunnery research and development units working with new equipment and techniques. [34], In November 2011 the Ministry of Defence announced that 44 Service personnel from HQ 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, part of the Royal Engineers, would move from Waterbeach Barracks to RAF Wittering in 2012–13. [33] RAF Wittering is also the birthplace of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association's Four Counties Gliding Club. The all-new December issue of Aviation News magazine is OUT NOW! Crews train during the day and night moved in, operating de Havilland Mosquitoes simply planes uses cookies click. After its arrival in France, the Harrier: the first British operational atomic,. Increased activity will take place in and around RAF Wittering cross the between... Planned night flying is announced via the RAF Wittering new station commander at RAF Wittering and became operational... As RFC Stamford initially and then 58 Squadron as well ] the first of longest... 'S 40th anniversary celebrations searchlight insulated in the Defence inventory Logistics ) wing at... 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