RAF Alconbury
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RAF Alconbury is a United States Air Force installation adjacent to the Stukeleys, near Alconbury and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. It is home to the 423rd Air Base Group whose sole mission is to support the US European Command Joint Analysis Center at RAF Molesworth.
RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and RAF Upwood are considered the Tri-Base Area.
Until 1995, the base possessed an airfield, but that has since been ceded to the host nation and turned into an industrial area. During the Gulf War, A-10s deployed from the base in support of Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm.
[edit] Origins
In 1937, the Royal Air Force Bomber Command was drawing up plans for dispersal of their aircraft in the event of air raids on its stations. Despite efforts to keep new airfield sites and measures to camouflage them secret, there was little doubt that the potential enemy knew exactly where they were and would have little difficulty in finding them from the air.
Satellite bases were considered one answer to this threat - a landing ground within reasonable road travel distance of the parent airfield to which aircraft could be diverted if the home station was bombed or likely to be attacked. These satellite bases would be equipped with a level of support that would allow operations to take place if the main airbase were taken out of action.
In the spring of 1938, the Air Ministry acquired about 150 acres of open meadowland at Alconbury Hill, Huntingdonshire, expressly for use as a satellite airfield. The exact location was adjacent to the ancient Roman road Ermine Street, north-west of Little Stukeley village, near to the junction where Ermine Street became A1 instead of A14.
After a minimal amount of construction, RAF Alconbury was tested in May 1938 when No. 63 Squadron, the first to be equipped with the Fairey Battle light bomber, flew in from its home station of RAF Upwood five miles away. This was a two-day training exercise and other squadrons were to follow over the next 15 months.
During this period, RAF Alconbury consisted of a few wooden huts but plans were made to provide both refuelling and rearmament facilities.
[edit] RAF Bomber Command Use, 1939 - 1941
In September 1939, RAF Upwood squadrons were given operational training roles and Alconbury became RAF Wyton's satellite under No. 2 Group, Squadron Nos. 12, 40 and 139. These squadrons were frequently deployed to Alconbury, No. 139 being the first to be actually stationed there, if only for nine days.
Squadrons 15 and 40 converted from Battles to Bristol Blenheim bombers, but did not take part in bombing raids with the new type until the German Blitzkrieg was unleashed in May 1940.
No. 15 Squadron took up residence on 14 April 1940, when additional requisitioned accommodation was available. It flew its first raid of the war on 10 May against a German occupied airfield near Rotterdam. All eight aircraft returned, some with flak damage. A following operation, an attempt to break the Albert Canal at Maastricht, was disastrous as half the 12-plane force dispatched failed to return.
The remnants of No. 15 then moved back to RAF Wyton and Alconbury reverted to satellite use by both Wyton squadrons. In the autumn of 1940 these decimated units were scheduled to be converted to Vickers Wellington bombers and on 1 November 1940, RAF Wyton and Alconbury came under the control of No. 3 Group.
In late 1940/41, an expansion of RAF Alconbury commenced to upgrade its facilities from a satellite airfield to a fully operational one. A main concrete runway bearing 00-18 was built 1,375 yards long, the ancillaries 06-24 being 1,240 yards and 12-30 at 1,110 yards, all 50 yards wide. The encircling perimeter track served 30 pan type hardstandings, most leading off of five long access tracks on the northern side of the airfield. Construction was of 12 inch concrete with an asphalt covering.
The technical site on the north-west side was expanded where a single T2 hangar was also erected. A second T2 was sited adjacent to the hardstanding complex east of the threshold of runway 18. Personnel accommodation was provided to the south-west side of the A14, around Alconbury House which had been requisitioned earlier. This upgrade of RAF Alconbury was performed by W & C French Ltd.
The construction attracted the attention of the Luftwaffe as the flying field of RAF Alconbury was attacked by German bombers on 16 September 1940, although no serious damage was done.
While this work was in progress, No. 40 Squadron brought its Wellingtons to Alconbury in February 1941 and operated on night raids until the autumn. Targets attacked were industrial targets in Germany but also on the German navy in the ports on the Atlantic coast of France. One notable operation in which they took part was the large raid flown on 24 July against Brest, where some of the principal German battleships were undergoing repairs in preparation for a new campaign against British shipping.
This was the time of the Blitz, when many parts of Britain were being subjected to an almost nightly series of heavy air raids. On two nights, 8 March and 11 June, RAF Alconbury was again bombed and on both of these occasions one Wellington was damaged on the ground.
In October 1941 two of its flights with 16 Wellingtons were dispatched to operate from Malta, supposedly on an emergency detachment. The remainder of No. 40 soldiered on but never had more than eight aircraft on strength. By February 1942 it was evident that the major section of No. 40 would not be returning from the Mediterranean area and on 14 February 1942 the remaining aircraft at RAF Alconbury formed into No. 156 Squadron.
Operations from Alconbury with No. 3 Group continued until August 1942 when No. 156 was chosen to become one of the special Pathfinder Force units, moving to RAF Warboys early that month. This was the end of RAF Bomber Command's association with Alconbury.
A total of 67 bombers had been lost in RAF Bomber Command operations flown from Alconbury, eight were Blenheims and 59 Wellingtons.
[edit] USAAF use, 1942 - 1945
In May 1942, RAF Alconbury was allocated to the United States Eighth Air Force when a number of stations in East Anglia were turned over to the Americans after their entry into the war. It was designated by the USAAF as station 102 (AL).
Also in 1942, to bring the station up to Class A airfield standards, the runways were extended to 2,000 yards (Main), and 1,400 yards (Secondary), with 26 additional hardstands along with the taxyways altered. Two T-2 type hangars, located on on the west side and one on the north of the main airfield, were provided for major maintenance work. One hangar was close to the technical site, a collection of prefabricated buildings for specialist purposes.
The commercial buildings and barracks were dispersed in nearby farmland to the southeast of the airfield on the other side of the A14 highway. The bomb and ammunition stores were sited on the opposite side of the airfield to the personnel living quarters. This was the usual arrangement for safety reasons.
In addition, two underground gasoline storage facilities, with a total capacity of 216,000 gallons were situated at points adjacent to the perimeter track, but at some distance from the explosive storage area.
At one frying-pan-shaped hardstand on the north side of the airfield, an earth shooting-in butt was constructed. This was about 25 feet high.
The total area of land occupied by RAF Alconbury in 1942 was about 500 acres with 100 acres taken up by concrete and buildings.
[edit] 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The first American Eighth Air Force unit to take residence at RAF Alconbury was the 93rd Bombardment Group, known as the "Travelling Circus" from Fort Myers AAF, Florida. It was assigned to the 20th Combat Bombardment Wing at Horsham St Faith. The group flew B-24 Liberator aircraft with a tail code of "Circle B". Its operational squadrons were:
- 328th Bomb Squadron (GO)
- 329th Bomb Squadron (RE)
- 330th Bomb Squadron (AG)
- 409th Bomb Squadron (YM)
The 93rd arrived in early September 1942 and stayed 3 months. This was the first Liberator-equipped bomber group to reach the Eighth Air Force and is interesting to note that this is the only USAAF unit not to have been disbanded or inactivated since its formation on 1 March 1942. The group became operational with the B-24 on 9 October 1942.
While the 93rd was at RAF Alconbury, His Majesty, King George VI paid his first visit to an Eighth Air Force base on 13 November, 1942. During the visit, he was shown the B-24 "Teggie Ann", then considered to be the 93rd's leading aircraft.
On 6 December 1942 the 93rd BG was moved to RAF Hardwick (Station 104), near Bungay, Suffolk.
[edit] 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy)
In December 1942, the 93rd moved to Norfolk which was designated to be the general area for B-24 equipped groups. In its place, the 92nd Bombardment Group moved in from RAF Bovingdon on 11 January 1943.
The 92nd Bomb Group was known as "Fame's Favorite Few", and it was assigned to the 4th Combat Wing, at RAF Thurleigh. The group tail code was a "Triangle B". It's operational squadrons were:
- 325th Bomb Squadron (NV)
- 326th Bomb Squadron (JW)
- 327th Bomb Squadron (UX)
- 407th Bomb Squadron (PY)
Initially, after two combat missions in September, 1942, the 92nd was withdrawn from combat and its B-17F bombers exchanged for the older B-17E bombers being flown by the 97th Bomb Group. It then acted as an operational training unit supplying combat crews to combat groups in the UK. However, in early 1943, the diversion to Operation Torch of heavy bomber groups originally planned for the Eighth Air Force led to a decision to return the 92nd to combat operations. The 92nd Bomb Group resumed flying missions on May 1, 1943, although its 326th Bomb Squadron was left at Bovingdon to continue the OTU mission, its 325th squadron was used to provide a cadre for H2S radar training, and its 327th squadron acquired a special mission.
Its 327th became the only squadron to be equipped with the experimental YB-40 Fortress gunship from May through August, 1943. The YB-40 was developed to test the escort bomber concept. Because there were no fighters capable of escorting bomber formations on deep strike missions early in World War II, the USAAF tested heavily armed bombers to act as escorts and protect the bomb-carrying aircraft from enemy fighters. 12 of the 22 B-17F bombers modified to the YB-40 configuration were dispatched to Alconbury for testing and evaluation.
The YB-40 project failed because the aircraft were able to effectively defend only themselves, were too slow because of excess weight and drag to keep up with bomber formations returning from missions, and had basic flight characteristics altered by the added drag and center of gravity changes resulting from the changes. After 14 operational missions, the 11 surviving YB-40's were taken out of combat service and returned to the United States.
On 15 September 1943, the 92nd BG was moved to RAF Podington (Station 109), near Wellingborough in Bedfordshire.
[edit] 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
From 15 April to the first week of June 1943, the 95th Bombardment Group was stationed at RAF Alconbury, being transferred Rapid City AAF South Dakota. It was assigned to the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing at Horsham St Faith. The group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses with a tail code of "Square B". Its operational squadrons were:
- 334th Bomb Squadron (BG)
- 335th Bomb Squadron (OE)
- 336th Bomb Squadron (ET)
- 412th Bomb Squadron (QW)
On 27 May, at approximately 20:30, ground personnel were arming B-17F 42-29685 in the dispersal area when, inexplicably, a 500 pound bomb detonated. The explosion, in turn, set off several other bombs. In an instant, 18 men were killed, 21 injured, and four B-17s completely destroyed on the ground. Eleven other B-17s were damaged.
On 15 June 1943 the 95th BG was moved to RAF Horham (Station 119), near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
[edit] 482nd Bombardment Group (Pathfinder)
In the summer of 1943, experiments with RADAR for high-altitude bombing through clouds were conducted. A special organization, the 482nd Bombardment Group, was formed to use this technology and be devoted to pathfinder techniques using the H2S, H2X and APS-15A RADAR that was developed.
The 482nd Bomb Group was formed at Alconbury on August 20, 1943, under the command of Lt.Col. Baskin R. Lawrence, who had been training its 92nd BG cadre since May 1. Its operational squadrons were:
- 812th Bomb Squadron (MI)
- 813th Bomb Squadron (PC)
- 814th Bomb Squadron (SI)
The 812th Bomb Squadron arrived from the United States in September with 12 new B-17 aircraft equipped with U.S. manufactured H2S radar. The 813th was a re-designation of the 325th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, which had been training in British-manufactured H2S and Oboe B-17s since May. The 814th flew B-24 Liberator aircraft acquired from a disbanded anti-submarine group. The 482nd Group was unique among Eighth Air Force units in that it was the only one to be officially activated in the UK from scratch.
The 482nd BG provided pathfinder (PFF) lead aircraft for other bomb groups throughout the winter of 1943/44. As lead aircraft, 482BG B-17s and B-24s usually flew missions from stations of other groups with some key personnel of the host group flying in the pathfinder aircraft.
In March 1944, the 482nd BG was taken off combat operations and became a training and development unit for various radar devices, but continued to undertake special operations, notably D-Day when 18 crews were provided to lead bomb groups.
The 482nd BG was transferred to Composite Command in February 1944 when emphasis shifted to training radar operators. The 482nd began an H2X training school on February 21, 1944, graduating a class of 36 radar navigators each month, as the PFF force was decentralized first to the air divisions and eventually to all the combat groups, with training initially conducted by RAF instructors. Training and experimentation remained its chief role for the remainder of war.
From August 1944 to April 1945 the 482nd BG conducted 202 radar scope and 'pickling' sorties over hostile territory without loss, dropping 45 tons of bombs in Nazi controlled territory. In November, 1944, the group was re-designated as the 482nd Bomb Group, Heavy.
[edit] 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional)
In November 1943, the 406th and the 36th Bomb Squadrons were formed at Alconbury, using B-24s from the recently disbanded 22nd Anti-Submarine Squadron. However, owing to lack of sufficient facilities, in mid-December the two squadrons were reassigned to the Eighth Air Force Composite Command (Special Operations Group), and moved to RAF Watton (Station 376), near Thetford in Norfolk. The 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) was formed as the organizational and administrative group for these special units.
The 801st Bomb Group became best known as the Carpetbaggers. The purpose of the Carpetbagger project was to fly "Special Operations" which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries. In addition, the 801st delivered clandestine personnel to the resistance groups in the field and occasionally brought back personnel from Nazi-controlled areas. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission.
The move to RAF Watton proved to be unfortuitous. The heavy B-24s of the 801st Bomb Group were incompatible with the grass runways and muddy hard standings there and were forced to move back to Alconbury in January, 1944.
Due to the clandestine nature of their mission, Alconbury's relative openness proved unsuitable to the 801st. However, a new airfield under construction in the depths of rural Northamptonshire, RAF Harrington (Station 179) proved ideal for Carpetbagger operations. The advanced echelon of the 801st Bomb Group moved into Harrington on March 25 1944, and on May 1 1944 the 801st BG officially departed Alconbury.
The 801st eventually acquired the designation of the 492nd Bomb Group, a 2nd Division unit disbanded on August 11, 1944, because of heavy losses. This made the designation of "36th Bomb Squadron" available again and it was assigned to the 803rd Bomb Squadron, a provisional squadron then located at RAF Cheddington and known as the Radar Countermeasure (RCM) Unit. This third incarnation of the 36th BS (the first had been an Eleventh Air Force unit) went back to Alconbury in February, 1945, and was administatively assigned to the 482nd Bomb Group. However operational control for the 36th's special missions and training were exercised by 8th Air Force Headquarters.
The 36th Bomb Squadron was the 8th Air Force's only electronic warfare squadron using specially equipped B-24s to jam Nazi VHF communications during large 8th Air Force daylight raids. In addition, the 36th BS flew night missions with the Royal Air Force Bomber Command 100 Group.
The 36th BS's missions involved trickery, ingenious deception, spoofs, and tank communications jamming. This squadron flew on bad weather days during the Battle of the Bulge as well, when the rest of the Eighth Air Force stood down.
Along with these electronic warfare missions, the 36th BS also flew regular sorties which set out to discover the frequencies being used by the Nazis for their radio and radar devices. For this they operated a number of P-38 Lightning twin boomed fighters from Alconbury as well as their B-24s.
[edit] Station 547 - Abbots Ripton, 2nd Strategic Air Depot
In addition to being an operational bomber base, RAF Alconbury served as the flying field for the 2nd Strategic Air Depot at Abbots Ripton (station 547), which served the B-17 groups of the 1st Air Division as a major maintenance base. Although physically attached, the depot was considered a separate entity and was a separate operating unit from RAF Alconbury.
The Air Depot was constructed in 1943 on the eastern site of the airfield, mainly in the village of Little Stuckely, approximately where the current modern-day RAF Alconbury facilities are presently located. It composed of a looped taxiway off the perimeter track with 24 additional hardstands. A technical complex of engineering shops was adjacent to the site and beyond along the southeast side of the A14. Also there were several barracks and communal sites.
Abbots Ripton performed heavy maintenance, repair and modification of B-17s from the fourteen Groups which formed the 1st Bombardment Wing, later renamed the 1st Bombardment Division on September 13, 1943, to end confusion of the term "wing" with the operational combat wings (in January 1945, it was renamed again, becoming the 1st Air Division). It was a common sight to see many B-17's from many groups of the 8th Air Force undergoing repair for battle damage repairs from bases such as Molesworth, Chelveston, Kimbolton, Bassingbourn, Grafton Underwood, Polebrook, Glatton, Deenethorpe, Nuthampstead, Podington, Bovington, Watton, Harrington, Thurleigh and Ridgwell.
Its unit designation was the 5th and 35th Air Depot Groups and as a large and important unit, with over 3000 personnel assigned.
[edit] Station 103 - Brampton, 1st Air Division
Brampton, about 3 miles to the southwest of Alconbury, was the headquarters of the 8th Air Force 1st Bombardment Wing, later renamed the 1st Bombardment Division on September 13, 1943, to end confusion of the term "wing" with the operational combat wings (in January 1945, it was renamed again, becoming the 1st Air Division). From Brampton Grange, as it was termed in official records, the 1st BW/BD/AD directed combat operations of B-17 bomber and fighter groups under its command from August 19, 1942, to the end of the war. It was an administrative headquarters which relied on Alconbury for logistical support and its flying requirements.
Operational flying ceased at RAF Alconbury at the end of April, 1945. The 482nd Bomb Group departed Alconbury between 27-30 May 1945. The 2nd Strategic Air Depot was turned over to RAF control on 15 August 1945. The 1st Air Division was closed on October 31 and Alconbury was handed back to the RAF on November 26, 1945.
RAF Alconbury was subsequently placed in caretaker status and remained so for almost a decade.
[edit] Coat of Arms of 8th Air Force Groups At RAF Alconbury
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[edit] Cold War use, 1953 - 1991
In response to the threat by the Soviet Union, especially after the 1948 Berlin Blockade and the 1950 invasion of South Korea by Communist forces, it was decided in 1951 to re-establish a strong American force in Europe. On 24 August 1951, RAF Alconbury was once more allocated for American use - now by the independent United States Air Force.
Alconbury was far from adequate in its World War II configuration, both in its flying facilities and in its accommodations, so plans were designed for a major expansion to accommodate the new jet aircraft and other operational facilities. Alconbury required upgrading with strengthening and extension of runway 12-30 to 3,000 by 67 yards. In addition, new aircraft standings, access tracks together with an on-going construction of service and domestic buildings continued for some years
[edit] 7560th Air Base Group
The United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) officially took control of RAF Alconbury for a second time on 1 June 1953, with the establishment of the 7523rd Air Base Squadron. On 1 January 1954 the 7523rd Support Squadron was activated. This was later redesignated as the 7560th Air Base Squadron on 7 November 1954 and the 7560th Air Base Group on 21 March 1955.
[edit] 86th Bombardment Squadron
Although construction had been ongoing at Alconbury since 1951, it was not until September 1955 that it was ready to house flying units again with the arrival of the 86th Bombardment Squadron (Light), flying the B-45A Tornado.
The 86th BS operated from Alconbury as a detachment of the Strategic Air Command 47th Bombardment Wing stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk. The 47th BS operated three jet bomber squadrons (19th, 84th and 85th) from Sculthorpe and the addition of the 86th BS necessitated the use of Alconbury to accommodate the additional aircraft.
In May 1958, the re-equipment of the 47th Bombardment Wing began and B-66 Destroyers began flying into Alconbury to replace the B-45s. With this equipment change, the 86th was redesignated 86th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical).
The 47th Bomb Wing and the 86th Bomb Squadron were part of (TAC) Tactical Air Command
[edit] 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron
In May 1957 the 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron arrived at Alconbury with a mixed fleet of C-119 Flying Boxcar, Grumman SA-16A Amphibians C-54s and C-47 Dakotas. The 42nd TCS was formed at nearby RAF Molesworth in October 1956. However, this squadron had a short life at Alconbury and was deactivated on 8 December 1957. The C-54's and C-47's were sent to Rhein-Main Air Base West Germany, and the C-119s were sent to the 322nd Air Division at Evreux-Fauville Air Base France.
[edit] 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
On 26 April 1959 Alconbury saw the arrival of the 53rd Weather Recon Squadron from RAF Burtonwood. The 53rd WRS flew WB-50Ds and was assigned with collecting weather data that was transmitted to weather stations for use in preparing forecasts required for the Air Force Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and the U.S. Weather Bureau.
[edit] 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
On 25 August 1959, the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing arrived from Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany, replacing the 7560th Air Base Group as the host unit at Alconbury. The 7560th was inactivated. The 10th TRW had been activated at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, West Germany in April 1947, then assigned to Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France in 1952 then to Spangdahlem in 1953 as part of various USAFE reorganizations.
In Germany, the 10th TRW operated RF-80A Shooting Stars and RB-26C Invader reconnaissance aircraft. In October 1954, the wing received RB-57 Canberras and then acquired RF-84 Thunderjets in July 1955. In November 1956 the 10th received Douglas RB-66 and WB-66 Destroyer aircraft in 1957.
[edit] B-66 Era
USAFE organizational changes in 1959 moved the 10th TRW out of the Eifel and to Alconbury, where the wing would reside for the next 34 years. To accommodate the 10th TRW, the 86th Bomb Squadron was returned its host unit at RAF Sculthorpe and the 53rd Weather Squadron was transferred to RAF Mildenhall. These redeployments were completed by August 1959.
Although the 10th TRW wing headquarters was located at RAF Alconbury, two of its component squadrons were not. The 1st and 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons were based at Alconbury, however to accommodate the increased number of aircraft of the 10th, two other airfields, RAF Bruntingthorpe and RAF Chelveston, were placed under Alconbury's control. The 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was stationed at Bruntingthorpe while the 42nd Electronic Countermeasures Squadron was at Chevelston flying RB-66C and WB-66s for electronic and weather reconnaissance.
Following the closure of Bruntingthorpe in 1962 and the active runway at Chelveston in 1963, the 19th and 42nd ECSs were transferred to Toul-Rosieres AB, where they operated for a few years as Det #1, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. Eventually the 10 TRW would rotate aircraft to Toul AB from 4 different squadrons, the 1st, 19th, 30th and 42d.
On 10 March 1964, a 42 TRS RB-66C deployed to Toul was shot down over East Germany after it crossed over the border due to an instrument malfunction. The crew ejected and were taken prisoner briefly before being released.
These rotational deployments to France continued until October 1965 with the activation of the 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base and the 19th and 42nd TRSquadrons being permanently assigned to the 25th TRW.
With France's withdrawal from NATO's integrated military organization in 1966, Chambley AB was closed and the 25th TRW was inactivated. The RB-66s of the 19th TRS were returned to CONUS, being assigned to the 363rd TRW, Shaw AFB, SC. The specially-equipped B-66's of the 42nd ECS and their aircrews were sent directly to Southeast Asia, being assigned to the 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS), Takhli Royal Thai AFB (RTAFB) Thailand.
Bruntingthorpe was eventually returned to the RAF. RAF Chevelston is still nominally under American control, however only a small USAF housing area exists there today.
[edit] RF-4C Era
At Alconbury the 10th TRW retained the 1st and 30th TRS's with their RB-66s until May 1965 when it began conversion to the RF-4C Phantom. The 10th TRW expanded on 15 August 1966 with the addition of the by the addition of the 32nd TRS. This squadron had formerly flown RF-101 Voodoos with the 66th TRW at Laon-Couvron Air Base France but was now equipped with RF-4Cs, becoming the third tac recon squadron at Alconbury.
In the mid-1960's the Tail Code concept was adopted by the Air Force to identify it's aircraft. At Alconbury, the codes "AR", "AS" and "AT" were established for the 1st, 30th and 32nd TRS's initially, however this was discarded in 1971. After that all Alconbury assigned aircraft carried "AR" on their tails. 10th TRW squadrons were distinguished by a small coloured stripe on the tip of the tail - 1 TRS (blue), 30 TRS (red) and the 32 TRS (yellow).
The advent of reconnaissance satellites made the need for tactical recon less and less necessary by the mid 1970s. This, along with the need for budget reductions caused the reduction in the numbers of front line tactical recon aircraft. In 1976, two of the 10th TRW's squadrons (32nd TRS on 1 January, 30th TRS on 1 April) were deactivated The 1st TRS remained the only squadron providing battlefield tactical reconnaissance.
In August 1976, the 10th TRW became the parent organization for the 66th Combat Support Squadron (CSS); 819th Civil Engineering Squadron Heavy Repair (CESHR), and the 2166th Communications Squadron stationed at RAF Wethersfield. This field served as a dispersal site during wargames, in particular Able Archer 83. In addition, large amounts of War Reserve Material (WRM) designated for RAF Alconbury was stored there. Wethersfield remained a satellite base for Alconbury until 3 July 1990 when it was closed and handed back to the Royal Air Force.
[edit] 527th Tactical Fighter Training and Aggressor Squadron
In April 1976, the 10th TRW was chosen as the parent of the USAF in Europe's aggressor unit. This formed as the 527th Tactical Fighter Training and Aggressor Squadron in April 1976 and was equipped with the F-5E in May. The aircraft were originally part of an order for South Vietnam The 527th began providing aggressor support to European-based combat units in September. It was subsequently renamed as the 527th Aggressor Squadron in 1983.
The aggressor F-5Es were painted in a variety of colorful camouflage schemes designed to mimic those in use by Warsaw Pact aircraft. Two-digit Soviet-style nose codes were applied to most aggressor aircraft. These coincided with the last two digits of the serial number. When there was duplication, three digits were used.
International conventions made it necessary for military aircraft to carry their national insignia, but the star-and-bar national insignia was reduced in size and relocated to a less-conspicuous position on the rear fuselage. The 527th's Aggressor aircraft were among the first to apply the star and bar in toned-down or stencil form, now standard on USAF aircraft.
After 12 years of intense flying, in 1988 the fleet of aggressor F-5Es of the 527th Aggressor Squadron was getting rather worn out as a result of sustained exposure to the rigors of air combat maneuvering. There were restrictions placed on operations in which pilots were warned not to exceed a certain G-load. Some repair kits had to be devised to overcome these problems, and the estimated cost of repair of the entire fleet was beginning to exceed a billion dollars. In addition, with the appearance of a new generation of Soviet fighters made it apparent that that F-5Es could no longer adequately mimic Warsaw Pact threats.
It was decided to re-equip the squadron with F-16C Fighting Falcons and reassign the squadron to RAF Bentwaters. In return, the A-10's at Bentwaters would be reassigned to Alconbury and give the 10th a new Close Air Support (CAS) mission.
The 527th AS flew its last F-5E sortie from Alconbury on 22 June 1988. On 14 July 1988 the squadron was transferred, transitioning to F-16Cs by mid-January 1989 at Bentwaters. However, in 1990 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the decision was made to terminate the entire USAF aggressor program. The 527th AS was inactivated in late autumn of 1990.
After the 527th was reassigned, eight of the lowest-hour F-5E's were transferred to the Navy for TOPGUN/Aggressor training at NAS Miramar in July 1988. The remainder were sent to storage at RAF Kemble for refurbishing. From there they were sold under the military assistance program to Morocco and Tunisia in October 1989. One F-5E was thought to be retained at Alconbury for static display as a gate guard. In reality this is a plastic/fiberglass model with an authentic windscreen and canopy.
[edit] 17th Reconnaissance Wing
SAC returned to Alconbury in October 1982 when the 17th Reconnaissance Wing was formed in February 1983. The 17th RW operated both the U-2 and a variant, the TR-1A, were deployed and permanently assigned at Alconbury as the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron. This led to a large remodelling of the northern section of the airfield to accommodate these aircraft and their specialised mission. Work included the construction of five prefabricated ‘Ready Sheds’, thirteen extra-wide hardened aircraft shelters, a squadron headquarters, a massive Avionics and Photography Interpretation Centre, and new concrete aprons and taxi-ways.
As the TR-1A steadily became the principal means for battlefield and tactical reconnaissance, so the demands on the RF-4C Phantoms decreased. In addition, the 1960's phantoms were increasingly costing more and more to maintain. Eventually, in June 1987,the 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron inactivated and it's RF-4C's were redeployed back to the United States for disposition.
[edit] 10th Tactical Fighter Wing
With the withdrawal of the RF-4C's and F-5E's, the 10th TRW became the 10th Tactical Fighter Wing on 20 August 1987. Two squadrons of A-10A aircraft. The 509th and 511th TFsquadrons, were assigned to the 10th TFW, on 1 June and 1 September 1988, respectively, relocating from the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters.
The A-10 had arrived in Europe in January 1979, and four squadrons were assigned to Bentwaters. It was decided that with the deactivation of the RF-4C's at Alconbury that two of the squadrons could be relocated there in a dispersal move, with the other two remaining at Bentwaters.
The constant pressure on Alconbury's main runway after nearly 35 years inevitably made it necessary for major repair work to be undertaken. Between April and November 1989 the main runway was closed and overhauled. During this period the A-10s were deployed to nearby RAF Wyton while the TR-1As were deployed to RAF Sculthorpe.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, plans were made for significant cuts in NATO forces in Europe and very soon the first rumours began to circulate about the possible closure of RAF Alconbury. Just as the cutting back process was beginning, Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, and the Gulf War began.
Some of the first aircraft to be sent to the Gulf area were three TR-1A's from Alconbury, deploying to Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia. 23 A-10A's of the 511 TFS deployed to Damman/King Fahd International Airport Saudi Arabia, as part of the 354th TFW from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base South Carolina.
The 511th TFS A-10s flew no less than 1700 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and played an important part in wreaking havoc on Iraqi tank forces, Scud missiles and other ground positions.
[edit] Post Cold-War Era
With the end of the Cold War, the USAF presence at RAF Alconbury was gradually phased down.
On 30 June 1991, following closely on the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the thawing of East-West relations, the 17th Reconnaissance Wing inactivated but it's subordinate unit, the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, remained at Alconbury before inactivating on 15 September 1993. The 95th RS was later reactivated on 1 July 1994 at RAF Mildenhall, assigned to the 55th Wing's Operations Group.
On 1 January 1992, the 39th Special Operations Wing, arrived at Alconbury, consolidating its units from RAF Woodbridge and Rhein Main Air Base Germany. After consolidating its aircraft and people at the base, the 39th SOW inactivated, and the 352nd Special Operations Group activated, linking the unit's heritage with a historic World War II commando unit.
Starting in September 1992, the 10th TFWs A-10 aircraft were redeployed to other bases with the 509th and 511th TFS deactivating on 30 December 1992.
On 31 March 1993, the 10th TFW was redesignated the 10th Air Base Wing, acting as the host unit for the special operations organizations.
In May 1993, as part of the drawdown of forces in Europe, it was announced that the USAF-operated base at RAF Alconbury was to be returned to the UK Ministry of Defence. The 10th Air Base Wing was inactivated at RAF Alconbury 1 October 1994. To maintain the unit's heritage, the Air Force moved the 10th Air Base Wing flag to the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, on 1 November 1994. In turn, the 710th Air Base Wing was designated as the host unit on RAF Alconbury.
The 352nd Special Operations Group and its associated aircraft, the MC-130E and HC-130P/N, transferred to RAF Mildenhall in February and March 1995.
On 12 July 1995, the 710th ABW was deactivated and the 423rd Air Base Squadron at RAF Molesworth assumed the host unit role.
The airfield area and associated infrastructure were returned to the British Ministry of Defence by the USAF on 30 September 1995. The main base support areas (the portion of the base containing activities such as housing, banks and administrative offices) were retained.
[edit] Current status
The current host unit for RAF Alconbury is the 423d Air Base Group.
The 423 ABG command section and orderly room are located at Alconbury as are many of the support units and recreational facilities for the Tri-Base Area. RAF Upwood has a small clinic to serve the immediate medical needs of active duty personnel, their families and retired military that live in the area. At RAF Molesworth, the Joint Analysis Center, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and other organizational units are located.
The 423rd Air Base Group and its associated units are considered a Geographically Separate Unit (GSU) and fall under the control of the 501st Combat Support Wing at RAF Mildenhall. Support for the JAC is the primary mission of the 423 ABG. Should the JAC close or move to another location, RAF Alconbury would no longer be needed and would most likely be returned to the British.
The former airfield site of RAF Alconbury is now administered by Alconbury Developments Limited. Although plans for a regional freight distribution center with road and rail connections have been discussed, no actual progress has been made with the project.
[edit] USAAF / USAF Units Stationed at RAF Alconbury
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[edit] Historical Interest Sites
- F-5E aircraft on display at the front gate
- A-10 aircraft on display near the base parade field
- Original World War II era control tower still standing in the old airfield section
- World War II era building in the farm field just east of the current base perimeter
[edit] References
- Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984
- Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History
[edit] See also
- List of RAF stations
- United States Air Forces in Europe
- United States Air Force in the United Kingdom
- USAAF Eighth Air Force - World War II
[edit] External links
- Historic Alconbury photo gallery
- Historic Brampton Grange photo gallery
- 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- 482nd Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- 85th Bomb Squadron
- 10th Air Base Wing, USAFA
- RAF Alconbury entry at GlobalSecurity.org
- 17th Training Wing
- 95th Reconnaissance Squadron entry at GlobalSecurity.org
- Alconbury Developments Limited
- Satellite Image of RAF Alconbury from Google Earth
- Aerial Photo of RAF Alconbury from Multimap.Com
- "Lamberts Luftwaffe" Members of the 10th AMS Barracks Rats in the late 70s
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| ACTIVE BASES: | RAF Alconbury (USAFE) • RAF Croughton (USAFE) • RAF Fairford (USAFE) • RAF Feltwell (USAFE) • RAF Lakenheath (SAC/USAFE) • RAF Menwith Hill (USAFE) • RAF Mildenhall (SAC/USAFE/AMC) • RAF Molesworth (SAC/USAFE) • RAF Upwood (USAFE) • RAF Welford (USAFE) |
| INACTIVE BASES: | RAF Bentwaters (USAFE) • RAF Burtonwood (AFMC) • RAF Chelveston (SAC/USAFE) • RAF Chicksands (USAFSS) • RAF Greenham Common (SAC/USAFE) • RAF Manston (USAFE) • RAF Sculthorpe (SAC) • RAF Shepherds Grove (USAFE) • RAF Upper Heyford (SAC/USAFE) • RAF Wethersfield (USAFE) • RAF Woodbridge (USAFE) |
| ACTIVE ORGANIZATIONS: | United States Air Forces in Europe • HQ Air Command Europe • 48th Fighter Wing (USAFE) • 100th Air Refueling Wing (USAFE) • 501st Combat Support Wing (USAFE) |
| PAST ORGANIZATIONS: | Third Air Force • Sixteenth Air Force |
