RAF Odiham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RAF Odiham

IATA: ODH - ICAO: EGVO
Summary
Airport type		Military
Operator		Royal Air Force
Serves		Odiham
Elevation AMSL		405 ft (123 m)
Coordinates		51°14′03″N, 000°56′34″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
10/28	6,030	1,838	Asphalt

RAF Odiham (IATA: ODH, ICAO: EGVO) is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small town of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC.2.

1 History
2 Current role
3 Resident squadrons
4 External link

[edit] History

Aircraft operations began from the site in 1925 but it was not until October 1937 that it was opened as a permanent airfield, ironically by the Chief of Staff for the Luftwaffe.

During World War Two P-51 Mustangs and Hawker Typhoons were flown by the base. After the Allied invasion of Europe the site became a prisoner of war camp. Following the end of the War RAF Fighter Command assumed control of the base and operated Spitfires, Hunters and Javelins. As part of Her coronation celebrations Queen Elizabeth II reviewed the Royal Air Force at Odiham in 1953.

After a short period in "care and maintenance" status the base was reopened as part of Transport Command. In this role the Westland Whirlwind and then the Westland Belvedere was operated from the base. From 1961 to 1981 the Westland Wessex was based here, joined by the Puma in 1971.

In 1981 the Wessex helicopters moved to RAF Benson, followed by No. 33 Squadron's Puma's in 1997.

[edit] Current role

The first Chinook HC.1s were delivered to the RAF in 1980 and arrived at Odiham in 1982. The first HC.2 arrived in 1993. The RAF ordered the Chinook HC.3, a special forces variant, in 1995. These are yet to enter service. 618 VGS arrived in July 2000 to train Air Cadets to fly at weekends and during some weekdays on the Grob 109B Vigilant T Mk 1.