RAF Abingdon

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RAF Abingdon (IATA: ABB, ICAO: EGUD) was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The base was opened in 1932, initially as a training station for RAF Bomber Command. It continued in this role through World War II.

After World War II RAF Abingdon became part of RAF Transport Command, and also the home of 1 Parachute Training School. On 14 June 1968 a royal review was conducted at RAF Abingdon by Queen Elizabeth II to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF.

1952 Units at RAF Abingdon

Ferry Unit. Aircraft Mosquito, Hornet, Meteor , Vampire and Spitfires. 15 Sabres were ferried from Canada, only 12 arrived. After checks and servicing the Sabres went to RAF Germany.

30 Squadron.Valetta,some VIP (polished skin)

York Flight Specialist Unit.

Canadian Flight Dakota

VIP Valettas and General Montgomerys Dakota were serviced at RAF Abingdon . I believe one of the Valettas was for Lord Mountbatten.

1953 All flying units dispersed to other units to make way for 24 and 47 Squadrons operating Mark 1. 2 and 4 Hastings. The 3 Mark 4 Hastings (shiny fleet} belonged to 24 Squadron, WD324, 326 and 500.

1953 RAF Abingdon received the freedom of Abingdon

1955 47 Squadron changed its Hastings for the Blackburn Beverley. Later 24 Squadron moved to RAF Colerne. Replaced by 53 Squadron operating the Beverley.

The NAFFI was named The 101 Club 47Sqn +53 Sqn +1PTS =101

Sometime in the mid 60s 46 Squadron moved in with the Andover.

Besides London University Air Squadron, the Oxford University Air Squadron was based at RAF Abingdon. Abingdon was also the home of no 6 AEF (Air Experience Flight) operating between 6-8 DHC Chipmunks for ATC/CCF Air Cadet flight experience training. 6 AEF was one of a very few locations that offered air cadets the "Air Cadet Navigator" training course, leading to the award of Cadet Navigator Wings.

In the 1980s and 1990s Abingdon became a maintenance field, servicing BAE Hawk and SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft. From 1981 many ex-airline Vickers VC10s were stored at the base following their purhcase by the MoD. By the early 1990s the aircraft were either converted to tanker configuration or scrapped.

From 1986 to 1988 RAF Abingdon became home to the Thames Valley Police Air Support Unit, flying a helicopter in support of police operations. It was also the home of the London University Air Squadron in the seventies. An annual airshow took place at RAF Abingdon until the late eighties. On 23 September 1988 a Phantom FGR2 crashed at the airfield while practicing for the airshow, and on 14 September 1989 a Panavia Tornado crashed near the field.

The station was closed in December 1992. It was taken over by the British Army and renamed Dalton Barracks. RAF Benson continues to use Abingdon as a diversion airfield and for helicopter training. 612 Volunteer Glider School continues to fly Grob motorgliders at Abingdon. It lets members of the Air Cadets take part in flying, such as basic Gliding Induction Course (which normally lasts 3 flights), then for cadets over 16 to progress onto a Gliding Scholarship, which over a number of weeks lets cadets learn to fly the aircraft and this culminates in them undertaking in a solo circuit at the controls of the aircraft.