RAF Abingdon
RAF Abingdon | |||||||||||||||
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 Grob 109B 'Vigilant' Motor Glider | |||||||||||||||
| IATA: none – ICAO: EGUD | |||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Abingdon, Oxfordshire. | ||||||||||||||
| Built | 1931 | ||||||||||||||
| In use | 1932 - Present | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 226 ft / 69 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°41′27″N 001°19′00″W / 51.69083°N 1.31667°WCoordinates: 51°41′27″N 001°19′00″W / 51.69083°N 1.31667°W | ||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||
  EGUD Location in Oxfordshire | |||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||
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612 VGS Radio – 122.10 (Mhz), Satellite and relief landing ground for RAF Benson[1] | |||||||||||||||
Royal Air Force Station Abingdon or more simply RAF Abingdon was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is now known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps.
History
The airfield was opened in 1932, initially as a training station for RAF Bomber Command.
Second World War
It continued in this role throughout World War II. From 1940 to 1942, Abingdon's station commander was Herbert Massey.[2]
1945–1960
After World War II RAF Abingdon became part of RAF Transport Command, and also became the home of No 1 Parachute Training School which is now stationed at RAF Brize Norton. The Parachute Training School, and RAF Abingdon generally, featured heavily in the 1953 Alan Ladd film "The Red Beret" (aka "Paratrooper" in the USA), and the Parachute Training School was used as a location for some scenes for the films "Carve Her Name With Pride" (1958) and "Operation Crossbow" (1965) as well as the French comedy "Babette s'en va-t-en guerre" (1959) which starred Brigitte Bardot. On 14 June 1968 a royal review was conducted at RAF Abingdon by Queen Elizabeth II to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF.
Circa 1948/49. No. 47 Group Headquarters, of RAF Transport Command was located at RAF Abingdon and the station, its personnel and aircraft (Yorks and Hastings) were involved in the Berlin Airlift.[3]
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.
1953: All flying units dispersed to other units to make way for Nos. 24 and 47 Squadrons operating Handley Page Hastings Mks 1, 2 and 4. The three Mk 4 Hastings ("shiny fleet") belonged to 24 Squadron, serialled 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. It was replaced by No. 53 Squadron RAF operating the Beverley.
1961–1992
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 Navigation Wings.
In the late 1960s the Blackburn Beverley's hangars had dormer extensions put in the roof to take the extra height of the tailplane of the Short Belfasts of No. 47 Squadron. Once the nose of the Belfast was in the hangar the nose had to be lifted to get the tail fin under the lip of the roof. The nose was then lowered and the tail fin rose up into the dormer roof for that parking position. No. 46 Squadron was also at Abingdon at this time flying Andovers, one of their roles being to support UK MAMS (United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements). A small Army Air Dispatch unit was also supported by the airfield at this time.
From 1975 through to the 1990s Abingdon became a maintenance field, with the AMS (Aircraft Maintenance Squadron) servicing BAE Hawk, SEPECAT Jaguar and Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft. In the early 80s the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster bomber spent a couple of winters at RAF Abingdon to undergo major refurbishment. During this period, RAF Abingdon was also home to the Field Repair Squadron (later Repair & Salvage Squadron) which included Aircraft Repair Flight, Aircraft Salvage and Transportation Flight (formerly 71 MU "Crash & Smash") and Battle Damage Repair Flight.
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.
From 1981 many ex-airline Vickers VC10s were stored at the station following their purchase by the MoD. By the early 1990s the aircraft were either converted to tanker configuration or scrapped. It was intended that the 3 Air Maintenance Support (3 AMS) unit would move from RAF Brize Norton, only a few miles away, to undertake the major servicing of the VC10 military fleet. This would have involved the modification of a number of hangars to raise the roof to allow access for the VC10 high tail section at a cost of £5m. A white paper to review defence requirements "Option for Change" recommended the closure of RAF Abingdon and that a new hangar, known as "Twin Peaks" be built at RAF St Athan with the reforming of 3 AMS, from RAF Brize Norton to 1 AMS at RAF St Athan in August 1992.
Squadrons
| Squadron | Equipment | From | To | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 15 Squadron RAF | Hawker Hart Hawker Hind Fairey Battle | 1 June 1934 | 2 September 1939 | Betheniville | Reformed here.[4] |
| No. 24 Squadron RAF | Handley Page Hastings C.1/C.2/C.4 | 6 May 1953 | 1 January 1957 | RAF Colerne | [5] |
| No. 27 Squadron RAF | No equipment | 1 November 1947 | 24 November 1947 | RAF Oakington | Reformed here.[6] |
| No. 30 Squadron RAF | No equipment | 1 November 1947 | 24 November 1947 | RAF Oakington | Reformed here.[7] |
| No. 30 Squadron RAF | Dakota | 27 November 1950 | 2 May 1952 | [7] | |
| No. 30 Squadron RAF | Vickers Valetta C.1 | 27 November 1950 | 2 May 1952 | RAF Benson | [7] |
| No. 40 Squadron RAF | Gordon Hart (Special) Hind Battle | 8 October 1932 | 2 September 1939 | Betheniville | Reformed here.[8] |
| No. 46 Squadron RAF | Dakota Andover C.1 | 16 December 1946 1 September 1966 | 24 November 1947 9 September 1970 | RAF Oakington RAF Thorney Island | Reformed here.[9] |
| No. 47 Squadron RAF | Hastings C.2 Blackburn Beverley C.1 | 13 May 1953 | 31 October 1967 | Disbanded | [9] |
| No. 51 Squadron RAF | Avro York C.1 | 1 December 1947 | 25 June 1949 | RAF Bassingbourn | [10] |
| No. 52 Squadron RAF | Hind | 18 January 1937 | 1 March 1937 | RAF Upwood | Reformed here.[10] |
| No. 53 Squadron RAF | Hastings C.1/C.2 Beverley C.1 | 1 January 1957 | 30 June 1963 | Disbanded | [11] |
| No. 59 Squadron RAF | York C.1 | 1 December 1947 | 25 June 1949 | RAF Bassingbourn | Detachment at Wunstorf Air Base for the Berlin Airlift.[12] |
| No. 62 Squadron RAF | Hind | 3 May 1937 | 12 July 1937 | RAF Cranfield | Reformed here.[12] |
| No. 63 Squadron RAF | Battle Avro Anson I | 9 September 1939 | 17 September 1939 | RAF Benson | [12] |
| No. 97 Squadron RAF | Anson I Armstrong Whitworth Whitley II/III | 17 September 1939 | 8 April 1940 | Disbanded | [13] |
| No. 98 Squadron RAF | Hind | 17 February 1936 | 21 August 1936 | RAF Hucknall | Reformed here.[13] |
| No. 103 Squadron RAF | Battle | 15 June 1940 | 18 June 1940 | RAF Honington | [14] |
| No. 104 Squadron RAF | Hind | 7 January 1936 | 21 August 1936 | RAF Hucknall | [14] |
| No. 106 Squadron RAF | Hind Battle | 1 June 1938 | 1 September 1938 | RAF Thornaby | Reformed here.[15] |
| No. 147 Squadron RAF | No equipment | 1 February 1953 | 16 April 1953 | RAF Benson | Reformed here.[16] |
| No. 166 Squadron RAF | Whitley I/III | 17 September 1939 | 6 April 1940 | Disbanded | Detachment at RAF Jurby.[17] |
| No. 167 Squadron RAF | No equipment | 1 February 1953 | 16 April 1953 | RAF Benson | Reformed here.[17] |
| No. 185 Squadron RAF | Hind Battle | 1 March 1938 | 1 September 1938 | RAF Thornaby | Detachment at RAF Thornaby.[18] |
| No. 238 Squadron RAF | Dakota | 1 December 1946 | 24 November 1947 | RAF Oakington | Detachment at Schwecat.[19] |
| No. 242 Squadron RAF | York C.1 | 1 December 1947 | 25 June 1949 | RAF Lyneham | Detachment at Wunstorf.[20] |
| No. 525 Squadron RAF | Dakota | 31 October 1946 | 1 December 1946 | Disbanded | Detachment at Schwecat.[21] |
The station was closed in December 1992 and taken over by the British Army who renamed it Dalton Barracks. RAF Benson continues to use Abingdon as a diversion airfield and for helicopter training. No. 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron also continues to fly Grob Vigilant Motorgliders from Abingdon.
Accidents and incidents
- 22 June 1953, a Hastings WJ335 stalled and crashed on takeoff at RAF Abingdon. The elevator control locks had been left engaged. All six crew died.
- 5 March 1957, a 53 Squadron Blackburn Beverley crashed on approach at Sutton Wick two miles from the airfield. Three crew, 15 passengers (including RAF Police and also their dogs) and two civilians on the ground were killed.[22]
- On 6 July 1965, an RAF Handley Page Hastings departing on a Parachute Drop crashed at Little Baldon, with the loss of 41 lives.
- On 23 September 1988, a McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 crashed at the airfield while practising for the annual airshow.
- On 14 September 1989, a Panavia Tornado crashed near the airfield.
- On 14 June 2009, an RAF Grob Tutor and a civilian glider crashed near the airfield, killing an Air Training Corps cadet and their instructor. The glider pilot managed to parachute from the aircraft in time and was unharmed.
References
Citations
- ↑ UKGA Abingdon Airfield Information
- ↑ RAF Web
- ↑ personal service records
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 29.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 32.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 33.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jefford 1988, p. 35.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 38.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jefford 1988, p. 40.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jefford 1988, p. 41.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Jefford 1988, p. 44.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jefford 1988, p. 53.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jefford 1988, p. 54.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 55.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Jefford 1988, p. 64.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 76.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
- ↑ Jefford 1988, p. 96.
- ↑ Halley 2001, p. 39.
Bibliography
- Halley, James J. (2001). Royal Air Force Aircraft, XA100 to XZ999. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-311-0.
- Jefford, C.G, MBE,BA ,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
External links
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