RAF Wittering

RAF Wittering
Near Wittering, Cambridgeshire in England
Station guard room and Harrier gate guardian.
EGXT Shown within Cambridgeshire
Coordinates	52°36′45″N 000°28′35″W / 52.61250°N 0.47639°W / 52.61250; -0.47639Coordinates: 52°36′45″N 000°28′35″W / 52.61250°N 0.47639°W / 52.61250; -0.47639
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Site history
Built	5 May 1916 (1916)
In use	1916-Present
Garrison information
Current commander	Group Captain A C Keeling OBE MDA MA BEng CEng FRAeS RAF.
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: EGXT
Elevation	83 metres (272 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 07/25 2,759 metres (9,052 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Station Wittering or more simply RAF Wittering (ICAO: EGXT) is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

History^[1]

RFC Stamford and RFC Easton on the Hill

Wittering's use as a military airfield dates back to 5 May 1916 when it began as RFC Stamford. Following the formation of the Royal Air Force, It was retitled at RAF Wittering on 10 April 1918 before being placed under care and maintenance in 1919. The neighbouring airfield, RFC Easton on the Hill, also dates back to 1916. It became RAF Collyweston on 1 April 1918 and was closed in December 1919.

Inter-War Years

RAF Wittering officially reopened in 1924 following and Air Defence Review in 1923. The Central Flying School was at Wittering from 1926 until 1935, when it became a fighter base, and the CFS moved to RAF Upavon. In April 1938, the station became a Fighter Command station within No 12 Group and a sector control room was constructed to control fighter squadrons. In the summer of 1938 an emergency landing ground was construed on a large open area close to the site previously known as RAF Collyweston - this was known as K3, the exact location was slightly closer to RAF Wittering than the original site.

Second World War

During the Second World War, the station was very active during the Blitz in 1940-41 in No. 12 Group (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. Embry in Mission Completed^[2] states that in 1940, while used by 25 squadron, equipped with Beaufighter night fighters, the runway was extended from 1,400 yards to 3 miles long to reduce landing accidents at night and in bad weather. It was the longest landing strip and flarepath in England and also used by Bomber Command to land damaged aircraft. Embry believed^[3] this success led to the construction of three large airfields at coastal sites (Manston, Woodbridge and Carnaby) to land damaged aircraft of Bomber Command. Emergency landing ground K3 was renamed as Collyweston Landing Ground in 1940, although the next main fighter station further north was RAF Coleby Grange. The airfield was bombed five times, with seventeen people being killed on 14 March 1941. In April 1943 No. 141 Squadron were moved in, operating de Havilland Mosquitoes. Aircraft from the station downed 151 Luftwaffe planes and 89 V-1 flying bombs. Hugh Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Putney served at the station, as did Andrew Humphrey (later Chief of the Defence Staff from 1976 to 1977, who flew Supermarine Spitfires with 266 Squadron).

Post-war use

The current airfield was created by the merging of RAF Wittering and nearby Collyweston Relief Landing Ground, by the construction of a 1.7-mile runway between them in 1941.

Aerial photograph of Wittering airfield, 9 May 1944

During the cold war RAF Wittering was a vital part of the strategic nuclear deterrent, with a runway built in 1954 long enough for the 'V' bombers (Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant). A wide-span Gaydon hangar for the Canberra B2 bombers was constructed along with a new control tower, avionics building and nuclear storage and maintenance facilities. The first British operational atomic bomb, the Blue Danube, was deployed to RAF Wittering in November 1953. The first V-bombers (the Vickers Valiant, the Handley Page Victor and the Avro Vulcan) were delivered in July 1955. In 1957-58 tests were carried out at Wittering of the first British hydrogen bomb. 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. Until January 1969 two squadrons (100 and 139) of Victor B.2 bombers equipped with Blue Steel stand-off missiles were part of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) force of the RAF. Two nuclear armed aircraft were permanently on 15 minutes readiness to take off. They were parked within 100 m (110 yd) of the westerly runway threshold. In times of higher tension, four bombers could be stationed beside the runway on the ORP (Operational Readiness Platform). If the aircraft were manned they could all be airborne within 30 seconds, a feat often demonstrated at V force stations across the country. 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.

In 1968, the base became part of Strike Command. From October 1972 until August 1976, there were two squadrons flying the Hawker Hunter No's 45 initially and then 58 Sqn as well, which then moved to RAF Brawdy after 45 and 58 Squadrons disbanded, in South Wales.

Harriers

From 1968 until late 2010 the station was known as the Home of the Harrier, although the first Harriers arrived for No. 1(Fighter) Squadron in August 1969: the first squadron to have a vertical take off aircraft. The squadron left the base in August 2000. No. IV (Reserve) Squadron, formerly 233OCU, was the last Harrier flying squadron based at Wittering, departing upon disbandment in January 2011.

In May 1971, four aircraft from 1(F) Sqn operated from HMS Ark Royal, the first time the Harrier had operated from an aircraft carrier, under Wing Commander (later Sir) Ken Hayr (later killed at the Biggin Hill airshow on 2 June 2001^[4] in a de Havilland Vampire).

In 1982, six Harrier GR3 aircraft were taken down to the Falklands on SS Atlantic Conveyor,^[5] and survived the Exocet attack, later to board HMS Hermes in May 1982. In June 1982, 12 GR3 aircraft were flown from Wittering, via RAF Ascension Island and mid-air refuelling with Victor tankers, on an 8,000 mile journey to the Falklands in 17 hours, which set an RAF record. The Harriers were from 1(F) Sqn. On 27 May 1982, Sqn Ldr (later Gp Capt) Bob Iveson was hit by anti-aircraft fire from GADA 601's 35mm cannon, and he ejected seconds before his aircraft exploded in mid-air near Goose Green. He evaded capture for two and a half days before being rescued by helicopter.

In January 1983, Sqn Ldr Brenda Palmer became the Senior Air Traffic Controller at the base, the first woman in the RAF to hold that title.

Harrier approaches from the south-west in April 2007

It was announced in December 2009 that RAF Wittering was to become the sole operational base for the RAF/RN Harriers of Joint Force Harrier after the announcement that RAF Cottesmore was to close. However, as a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Harrier fleet was withdrawn in December 2010^[6] with all of Wittering's Harriers being stored at RAF Cottesmore. Towards the end of October 2010 parliament announced that the Harrier would be retired and on 15 December 2010 they were to fly over RAF Wittering amongst other RAF stations, from RAF Cottesmore. Due to the freezing conditions and low-cloud cover, the Wittering flypast could not take place.

Gliding

RAF Wittering is also the birthplace of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association's Four Counties Gliding Club, originally set up in March 1955. Following several relocations, the club returned to Wittering in late 2005,the club closed in late 2014. The RAFGSA East-Midlands Gliding Club was also based at Wittering during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

RAF Regiment

From 1970 to 1983 the station was also home to No. 5 Wing RAF Regiment consisting of No.15 and No.51 Squadrons RAF Regiment. On 21 June 1982, the Queen visited the station, as part of celebrations of the RAF Regiment's 40th anniversary.

In October 2001 No.37 Squadron RAF Regiment arrived from RAF Bruggen in the Ground-based Air Defence role but was later disbanded in March 2006.

The station was home to No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment - a field squadron - who moved to Wittering from RAF Aldergrove in 2006 after a 7-month tour in Iraq. 3 Sqn were part of No 1 Force Protection Wing, also based at Wittering, 1 Force Protection Wing also consisted of No. 504 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at nearby RAF Cottesmore before that Squadron relocated to RAF Wittering and was re-subordinated to No 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing in 2015 when both Headquarters No 1 Force Protection Wing and No 3 Squadron RAF Regiment disbanded.

Current use

RAF Wittering hosts a number of units operating the Grob Tutor training aircraft.

The station is the home of the 'A4 Force'^[7] (the Royal Air Force's engineering and logistic Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSUs)), with No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing RAF and its subordinate ACSSUs, 2 MT Squadron and 3 Mobile Catering Squadron (formerly the Mobile Catering Support Unit (MCSU)) moving in from RAF Stafford. Elements of the Armament Support Unit (ASU) also returned to RAF Wittering from RAF Marham in Norfolk to be part of the newly formed No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing RAF, which also took 5001 Squadron under command from 85 Wing when that unit also relocated from RAF Stafford. 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.^[8]

In addition to the A4 Force Elements, RAF Wittering support a wide variety of 'lodger' units located on the station.

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.^[9] This move was completed in March 2013.

Having previously hosted the Harrier OCUs, (233 OCU, 20(Reserve) Squadron, then IV(Reserve) Squadron) until January 2011, RAF Wittering's return to flying training was marked on the 4th February 2015 with the arrival of Cambridge and London UASs.^[10] All the flying units currently based at RAF Wittering operate the Grob Tutor T.1 training aircraft, which are contractor owned by Babcock, who also supply ground services and engineering for the fleet. Currently, 16 Tutors are based at Wittering.

Command

The station is part of No 38 Group^[11] within Air Command

The station commander of RAF Wittering is currently Group Captain Tony Keeling OBE MDA MA BEng CEng FRAeS RAF^[12], an engineering officer, who is also the commander of the RAF A4 Force Elements.

The station's honorary air commodore is Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.^[13][14]

Current units

Current flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Wittering.^[15][16][17]

Royal Air Force

No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF

• Low Flying Operations Flight

No. 38 Group (Air Combat Service Support) RAF

• A4 Force
  • Headquarters A4 Force
  • No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing
    • No. 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron
    • Elements of No. 93 (Expeditionary Armament) Squadron
    • No. 5001 Squadron
    • No. 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron
  • No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing
    • No. 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron
    • No. 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron
    • No. 3 Mobile Catering Squadron
    • No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force
• An element of No. 90 Signals Unit

No. 22 (Training) Group

• An element of No. 3 Flying Training School
  • No. 16 (Reserve) Squadron - Grob Tutor T1
• Elements of No. 6 Flying Training School
  • No. 115 (Reserve) Squadron - Grob Tutor T1
  • University of London Air Squadron - Grob Tutor T1
  • Cambridge University Air Squadron - Grob Tutor T1
  • No. 5 Air Experience Flight - Grob Tutor T1
• Air Training Corps
  • Headquarters South East Midlands Wing

British Army

Royal Engineers (8 Engineer Brigade)

• Headquarters 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group

• Headquarters 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support)
  • 529 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Airfields) (STRE)
  • 532 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Airfields) (STRE)

RAF A4 Force

(A4 Force Elements not located at RAF Wittering are included in italics for completeness)

Units

Station commanders

The station commander ordinarily holds the rank of group captain. The ranks shown below, where above group captain, indicates higher ranks the former station commanders achieved.

ATC tower

A Harrier is seen landing, at RAF Wittering, on a Forward Operating or MEXE Pad. The pad measures 100ft X 100ft and is made from prefabricated surface aluminium interlocking (PSAI) matting. The pads are used by novice pilots and veterans alike to practice the accuracy of their vertical landings.

• Air Cdre Dudley Radford CB 1948
• AVM Sir Alan Boxer 1958-9
• Gp Capt Leonard Trent VC DFC 1959-62
• AVM John Lawrence CB 1962-4
• AVM Paul Mallorie CB 1964-9
• AVM Peter Williamson CB CBE DFC 1969-70
• AVM Alan Merriman CB CBE 1970-2
• Gp Capt IH Kepple 1972-
• Air Mshl Sir Laurence Jones 1975-6
• AVM David Brook CBE 1976-8
• Gp Capt AG Bridges MBE 1978-1981
• Gp Capt P King CBE 1981-1983
• AVM Peter Dodworth CB OBE March 1983- February 1985
• AVM Peter Millar CB February 1985- 1986
• AVM John Feesey 1986-8
• Gp Capt JH Thompson 1988-1990
• Gp Capt BS Morris 1990-1992
• Gp Capt PW Day AFC 1992-1995
• Gp Capt J Connolly 1995-7
• Air Chf Mshl Sir Christopher Moran 1997-9
• Gp Capt AFP Dezonie 1999-2001
• Gp Capt A Kirkpatrick 2001-3
  

  486 Sqn (RNZAF) Hurricane in 1942
• Gp Capt M Jenkins 2003-5
• Air Cdre Ashley Stevenson 2005 - November 2006
• Gp Capt Ro Atherton November 2006 - June 2008 (Wittering's first female commander)
• Gp Capt Paul Higgins June 2008 - December 2009
• AVM Richard Knighton December 2009 - June 2013
• Air Cdre Damian Alexander CBE June 2013 - June 2015
• Gp Capt Richard Pratley June 2015 - June 2017
• Gp Capt Tony Keeling June 2017 -

See also

• List of Harrier Jump Jet family losses

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Wittering.

• Official website
• Airport information for EGXT at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
• Four Counties Gliding Club website

News items

• Airmen told 'no uniforms in city'
• 75 years of Cambridgeshire's bomb disposal squadron