List of Royal Air Force stations

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RAF Cranwell College Hall


This list of RAF Stations is a list of all current Royal Air Force stations (military air bases), airfields, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. Also included are airfields operated by the Ministry of Defence but no longer considered as RAF stations, MOD air weapons ranges and stations operated by the US Visiting Forces.


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Contents





  • 1 RAF stations and MOD airfields in the UK

    • 1.1 Royal Air Force (RAF)


    • 1.2 Ministry of Defence (MOD)



  • 2 RAF stations operated by the United States Visiting Forces


  • 3 MOD air weapons ranges


  • 4 RAF stations and locations overseas

    • 4.1 Permanent Joint Operating Bases


    • 4.2 Semi-permanent operations



  • 5 Map of stations within the UK


  • 6 See also


  • 7 References

    • 7.1 Citations


    • 7.2 Bibliography



  • 8 External links




RAF stations and MOD airfields in the UK



Royal Air Force (RAF)


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RAF Voyager at RAF Brize Norton

Airbus A-330 Voyager at RAF Brize Norton.



Squirrel Helicopter at RAF Shawbury

Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 at RAF Shawbury.




RAF front-line operations are focussed on seven main operating bases (MOB's) -



  • RAF Coningsby, RAF Marham and RAF Lossiemouth (Air Combat)


  • RAF Waddington (Intelligence, Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR))


  • RAF Brize Norton (Air Transport)


  • RAF Benson and RAF Odiham (Support Helicopter operating under Joint Helicopter Command)

Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity focussed at RAF Honington which coordinates Force Protection and RAF Leeming and RAF Wittering which have a support enabler role.


Stations such as RAF Cranwell and RAF Valley form part of the UK Military Flying Training System which is dedicated to training air-crew for all three UK armed services. Specialist ground crew training is focused at RAF Cosford and MOD St. Athan.


The Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at RAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling a Recognised Air Picture of UK air space and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force. In order to achieve this Boulmer is supported by a network of seven Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) and a Remote Radio Site (RRS) spread the length of the UK.



Ministry of Defence (MOD)


Several former RAF stations are still owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and are operated by QinetiQ in the test and evaluation role. The main facility providing this role is MOD Boscombe Down which still has a significant RAF presence.


A small number of former RAF stations, still owned by the MOD but no longer considered as stations, are regularly used by the RAF as relief landing grounds (RLGs) or training areas.


British Army barracks such as at Kinloss and Leuchars are listed as they perform a RLG role for the RAF.


































































































































































































































Name
Constituent country

County
Units and purpose
MOD Aberporth

Wales

Ceredigion
Former RAE Aberporth, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test & evaluation range.[1]

RAF Barkston Heath

England

Lincolnshire

  • Relief landing ground predominately used by Grob Tutor T1s of No. 3 Flying Training School (3 FTS) operating from RAF Cranwell.[2]

  • From January 2018 the airfield will provide tri-service elementary flight training using the Grob Prefect T1 as part of the UK Military Flying Training System.[3]


RAF Barnham

England

Suffolk

  • Non-flying station which is a satellite site of RAF Honington and provides domestic accommodation and training facilities for the RAF Regiment.[4]

  • The MOD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Barnham by 2020.[4]


RRH Benbecula

Scotland

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Benbecula.[5]

RAF Benson

England

Oxfordshire
Home of the RAF's Puma Support Helicopter Force fleet operating under Joint Helicopter Command, comprising No. 33 Squadron and No. 230 Squadrons operating the Westland Puma HC2 and No. 28 (AC) Squadron operating the Puma and Boeing Chinook HC4.[6]

MOD Boscombe Down

England

Wiltshire
Test & evaluation airfield operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD. Home to the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre, Empire Test Pilots School, Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron and the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron.[7][8]

RAF Boulmer

England

Northumberland
Non-flying station, home to the UK Air Surveillance and Control Systems (UKASCS) Force Command, RAF School of Aerospace Battle Management and a NATO Control and Reporting Centre responsible for monitoring UK airspace.[9]

RAF Brize Norton

England

Oxfordshire
The RAF's largest station, home to the strategic and tactical air-transport and air-to-air refuelling fleets (Boeing C-17A Globemaster, Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C4/5, Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3 and the Airbus A400M Atlas).[10]
RRH Brizlee Wood

England

Northumberland
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Brizlee Wood.[5]

RRH Buchan

Scotland

Aberdeenshire
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer The station was formerly known as RAF Buchan.[5]
Chetwynd Airfield

England

Shropshire
Former RAF station, now an unmanned grass airfield used for training purposes by helicopters of the Defence Helicopter Flying School from RAF Shawbury.[11]

RAF Coningsby

England

Lincolnshire


  • Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base with No. 3 Squadron and No. 11 Squadron both contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South capability, whereas No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon operational conversion unit.


  • No. 41 Squadron operate the Panavia Tornado GR4 and Typhoon for test and evaluation purposes and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operate a fleet of historic aircraft in the flying display role.[12]


RAF Cosford

England

Shropshire

  • Training establishment, home to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE) Headquarters, No. 1 School of Technical Training, the RAF Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School, No. 1 Radio School and the RAF School of Physical Training.

  • Flying units include the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, No. 8 Air Experience Flight and No. 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.


  • Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.[13]


RAF Cranwell

England

Lincolnshire

  • Training establishment, home to RAF College Cranwell, the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and Air Cadets Headquarters.

  • Flying units comprise the Central Flying School responsible for training flying instructors, the headquarters and flying squadrons of No. 3 Flying Training School (Beechcraft King Air B200 and Grob Tutor T1) and No. 6 Flying Training School also flying the Tutor.[14]


RAF Digby

England

Lincolnshire
Non-flying station providing specialist communications support under command of Defence Intelligence. Station personnel are drawn from all three UK armed forces and the US military. Home to the Joint Services Signals Organisation Headquarters, Joint Signals Service Unit (Digby), No. 591 Signals Unit and the Aerial Erector School.[15]

RAF Fylingdales

England

North Yorkshire
Non-flying station providing an uninterrupted ballistic missile early warning and space surveillance capability to the UK and US Governments.[16]

RAF Halton

England

Buckinghamshire

  • Training establishment comprising the Recruit Training Squadron, Airmens Command Squadron, International Defence Training, Supply and Management Training Wing, Specialist Training Squadron and several other RAF and joint support units.[17]

  • A grass airfield provides a base for No. 613 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and several RAF flying clubs.[18]

  • The MOD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Halton by 2022.[19]

MOD Hebrides

Scotland

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Former RAF Benbecula, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[20]

RAF Henlow

England

Bedfordshire

  • Support station, home to several RAF and Joint Forces Command units including the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG), elements of Engineering Operations under Information Systems & Services (ISS), Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, the Band of the Queen's Division and specialist units of the RAF Police.[21]

  • A grass airfield provides a base for No. 616 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and two flying clubs.

  • The MoD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Henlow by 2022.[19]


RAF High Wycombe

England

Buckinghamshire
Non-flying administrative support station, home to Headquarters RAF Air Command, No. 1 Group, No. 2 Group, No. 11 Group, No. 22 Group and No. 38 Group.[22]

RAF Honington

England

Suffolk

  • Support station, home to the vast majority of the RAF Regiment including the RAF Force Protection Headquarters and Force Protection Centre, and numerous RAF Regiment squadrons including No. 20 Wing in the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear role. The station also hosts RAF Police Headquarters and No. 3 RAF Police Wing.[23]

  • No. 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron is the only flying unit.


Kenley Airfield

England

Surrey
Former RAF station, now home to No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.[24]

Keevil Airfield

England

Wiltshire
Former RAF station, now an unmanned airfield used for training purposes predominately by aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.[25] Has also been used by the British Army for ground exercises and by Joint Helicopter Command.[26]

Kinloss Barracks

Scotland

Moray
Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel. Formerly RAF Kinloss, the station is now a British Army barracks.[27]

Kirknewton Airfield

Scotland

Midlothian
Former RAF station, now home to No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.

RAF Leeming

England

North Yorkshire

  • Home to No. 100 Squadron operating the BAE Systems Hawk T1 in the mixed target facilities role and the Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron and No. 11 Air Experience Flight which are both equipped with the Grob Tutor T1.

  • Non flying units include No. 90 Signals Unit, No. 2 Force Protection Wing, No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, No. 609 (West Riding) Auxiliary Squadron and the Joint Forward Air Controllers Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU).[28]


Leuchars Station

Scotland

Fife
Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel operating the airfield and air traffic control radar. The former RAF station is now a British Army barracks but continues to accommodate the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron and No. 12 Air Experience Flight (both flying the Grob Tutor T1) and No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) in the medical support role.[27][29]

RAF Linton-on-Ouse

England

North Yorkshire
Training station home to No. 72 Squadron operating the Shorts Tucano T1 as part of No. 1 Flying Training School (1 FTS). Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron and No. 9 Air Experience Flight operate the Grob Tutor T1 and No. 642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron the Grob Vigilant T1.[30] With the transfer of the fast jet flying programme to RAF Valley, the MoD announced in July 2018 that Linton-on-Ouse would be closed by 2020.[31]

Little Rissington Airfield

England

Gloucestershire
Former RAF station, home to No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and used for military exercises.[32]

RAF Lossiemouth

Scotland

Moray


  • Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base with No. 1 Squadron, No. 2 (AC) Squadron and No. 6 Squadron all contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability. No. 5 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment and No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron (RAuxAF) operate in the airfield defence role.[33]

  • The RAF's new P-8A Poseidon aircraft is expected to be based at Lossiemouth from 2020 and a new Typhoon squadron is expected to be formed by April 2019.[34]


RAF Marham

England

Norfolk

  • Tornado GR4/4A main operating base. Home to No. 12 Squadron, No. 9 Squadron and No. 31 Squadron. Non-flying units include the Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing, No. 3 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 93 Expeditionary Armament Squadron and No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron (RAuxAF).[35]

  • From 2018 Marham will be home to the RAF's new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft which is to initially be operated by No. 617 Squadron.[36]


RAF Mona

Wales

Isle of Anglesey
Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for Hawk T1As operating from RAF Valley.[37]

RRH Neatishead

England

Norfolk
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Neatishead.[5] Part of the site is now the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum.

RAF Northolt

England

Greater London

  • Home of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron operated the BAe 146 and Agusta 109 in the Command Support Air Transport role. The station is also home to No. 63 Squadron (Queen's Colour Squadron) RAF Regiment, No. 600 (City of London) Squadron (RAuxAF), No. 1 AIDU (Aeronautical Information Documents Unit) and the Headquarters Music Services and the Central Band of the RAF.

  • A number of other military units are based at Northolt, including the British Forces Post Office and No. 621 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Squadron of Royal Logistics Corps.[38]


RAF Odiham

England

Hampshire
Home of the RAF's Chinook fleet operating under Joint Helicopter Command, comprising No. 18 Squadron, and No. 27 Squadrons. No. 7 Squadron operates its Chinooks. No. 618 Volunteer Glider Squadron operates the Grob Viking T1.[39]

RRH Portreath

England

Cornwall
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Portreath.[5]

RRS Saxa Vord

Scotland

Shetland Islands
Remote Radio Site forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The site was brought back to full operational capability in 2018, although with no permanent personnel.[40]

RAF Scampton

England

Lincolnshire
Home of the RAF Aerobatic Team (The Red Arrows) flying the BAE Systems Hawk T1A. Non-flying units include No. 1 Air Control Centre and the RAF Mobile Meteorological Unit.[41] In July 2018, the MoD announced that Scampton would close by 2022; all units would be relocated to other RAF Bases.[42]

RAF Shawbury

England

Shropshire
Home of the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School, comprising 60(R) Squadron, No. 660 Squadron Army Air Corps and 705 Naval Air Squadron, flying the Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 and Bell Griffin HT1. Elements of the Central Flying School (Helicopter) Squadron train helicopter flying instructors and the School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) trains air traffic controllers for the RAF and Royal Navy.[43]

MOD St. Athan

Wales

Vale of Glamorgan
Training station, home to No. 4 School of Technical Training and the University of Wales Air Squadron flying the Grob Tutor T1.[44]

RAF St Mawgan

England

Cornwall
Non-flying station with the airfield part now operating as Newquay Airport. The station is home to the tri-service Defence Survival Training Organisation and No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF.[45] It is also used by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to accommodate personnel utilising the Defence Training Estate within the south west of England.[46]

RRH Staxton Wold

England

North Yorkshire
Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Staxton Wold.[5]
RAF (U) Swanwick

England

Hampshire
RAF (Unit) Swanwick is the military element of London Area Control Centre. The unit also operates the UK's Distress and Diversion Cell and provides air traffic control services for RAF Northolt.[47]

RAF Syerston

England

Nottinghamshire
Home of No. 2 Flying Training School headquarters, the Central Gliding School and No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.[48]

Ternhill Airfield

England

Shropshire
Former RAF station, now an unmanned airfield used for training purposes by helicopters of the Defence Helicopter Flying School from RAF Shawbury.[49]

RAF Topcliffe

England

North Yorkshire
Unmanned Relief Landing Ground for Shorts Tucano T1s operating from RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[50] Home to No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadrons flying the Grob Vigilant T1.[51]

RRH Trimingham

England

Norfolk
Remote Radar Head, satellite station of RRH Neatishead.[52]

RAF Valley

Wales

Isle of Anglesey

  • Training station home to No. 4 Squadron operating the BAE Systems Hawk T2 and as part of No. 4 Flying Training School. No. 202 Squadron, part of the Defence Helicopter Flying School, operates the Bell Griffin HT2 in the maritime and mountains flying skills training role.The station is also home to the RAF Mountain Rescue Service headquarters.[53]

  • The airfield incorporates Anglesey Airport.


RAF Waddington

England

Lincolnshire

  • Main operating base, home to the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. No. 5(AC) Squadron operate the Sentinel R1, No. 8 Squadron the Boeing Sentry AEW1, No. 13 Squadron the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, No. 14 Squadron the Beechcraft Shadow R1, No. 51 Squadron the Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint. No. 54 Squadron is the ISTAR training unit and 56 Squadron is the ISTAR test and evaluation unit.[54]

  • Non-flying squadrons include No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment the RAF Air Battlespace Training Centre, RAF Air Warfare Centre, the headquarters of the intelligence reserves and No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron.[55]


MOD West Freugh

Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway
Former RAF station, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range. The airfield is disused and unlicensed but available for military exercises.[56]

RAF Weston-on-the-Green

England

Oxfordshire
Force Development Training Centre, used by No. 1 Parachute Training School (based at nearby RAF Brize Norton) as a parachute drop-zone.[57]

Defence CBRN Centre, Winterbourne Gunner

England

Wiltshire
The Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre is managed by RAF Air Command. It is responsible for all training issues related to CBRN warfare for the UK armed forces.[58]

RAF Wittering

England

Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

  • Support station accommodating elements of the RAF A4 Force which supports deployed and expeditionary air operations. The A4 force comprises a variety of units under No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing and No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing.[59]

  • Flying units consist of No. 16 Squadron of No. 3 Flying Training School and No. 115 Squadron, University of London Air Squadron, Cambridge University Air Squadron and No. 5 Air Experience Flight of No. 6 Flying Training School, all flying the Grob Tutor T1.[60]


RAF Woodvale

England

Merseyside
Training station home to Liverpool University Air Squadron, Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, No. 10 Air Experience Flight all flying the Grob Tutor T1and No. 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Vigilant T1. The Station is also home to No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAuxAF.[61]

RAF Wyton

England

Cambridgeshire
Non-flying station operated under Joint Forces Command. Home to the Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG), the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre (DIFC), No. 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) of the British Army.[62][63]


RAF stations operated by the United States Visiting Forces




A United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey at RAF Mildenhall.


At the invitation of the UK Government, the United States has had military forces (US Visiting Forces) permanently stationed in the UK since the Second World War. The 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement and the Visiting Forces Act 1952, along with other bilateral acts, establishes the legal status of the USVF in the UK. Several military sites within England are made available for the USVF's purposes. An RAF commander is present at the main USVF sites and is normally of the rank of squadron leader, whereas a US colonel will normally command US personnel at each station. The role of the RAF commander is to liaise with the US base commander and act as head of establishment for Ministry of Defence employees. The use of UK bases for combat operations by the United States is a joint decision by both governments.[64]


The United States Air Force (USAF) 501st Combat Support Wing manages and supports operations at RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Menwith Hill, RAF Molesworth and RAF Welford.


In January 2017 the US Department of Defence announced through their European Infrastructure Consolidation programme that they would be withdrawing from RAF Mildenhall, and activities at RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth would be moved to RAF Croughton.[65] In April 2017 it was reported by the US European Command was reviewing the decision to close these stations.[66]















































Name
Constituent country

County
Units and purpose

RAF Alconbury
England

Cambridgeshire

  • Non-flying station home to the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing) which provides services and accommodation to support operations at RAF Molesworth and the Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger in Norway.[67]

  • In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station.[65]


RAF Barford St John
England

Oxfordshire
Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence relay station by the USAF. The facility is a satellite station of RAF Croughton and controlled remotely.[68]

RAF Croughton
England

Northamptonshire
Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence facility by the USAF and US intelligence agencies. The station is operated by the USAF 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[69][70]

RAF Fairford
England

Gloucestershire


  • Forward operating airfield predominately used by USAF heavy bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit and B-52H Stratofortress. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Air Base Squadron, 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[71]

  • The Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show, is held at Fairford annually in July.[72]


RAF Feltwell
England

Norfolk
Non-flying station, operated as a space intelligence facility by the USAF 18th Intelligence Squadron (Detachment 4), part of the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. Feltwell is parented by the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath.[73]

RAF Lakenheath
England

Suffolk

  • Home to the USAF 48th Fighter Wing operating the F-15C/D and F-15E. The wing comprises the 492d Fighter Squadron (FS), 493d FS and the 494th FS. .[74]

  • The F-35A Lightning II is expected to be based at the station from 2020.[65]


RAF Menwith Hill
England

North Yorkshire
Joint UK/US signals intelligence gathering station which functions primarily as a field station of the US National Security Agency.[75] Operations are supported by the USAF 421st Air Base Squadron which is part of the 501st Combat Support Wing.[76]

RAF Mildenhall
England

Suffolk

  • Home to the USAF 100th Air Refuelling Wing operating the KC-135R Stratotanker, the 352nd Special Operations Wing operating the CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J Commando II and MC-130H Combat Talon II. The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron supports RC-135 Rivet Joint and OC-135 Open Skies, aircraft when deployed to Europe and operating from the station.[77]

  • In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station by 2023.[65]


RAF Molesworth
England

Cambridgeshire

  • Non-flying station, home to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center operated by the US Defense Intelligence Agency and the J2 Directorate which provides US Africa Command with intelligence.[78] The station is supported by the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[67]

  • In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station by 2021 with operations transferring to RAF Croughton.[79]


RAF Welford
England

Berkshire
Non-flying station used as ammunition depot in support of bomber operating from RAF Fairford. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Munitions Squadron (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[80]


MOD air weapons ranges


Air weapons ranges (AWR) within the UK, previously operated by the RAF, are the responsibility of the Service Delivery (SD) part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). QinetiQ were awarded a three-year contract by the DIO in 2010 to manage the ranges but this role was taken over by Landmarc Support Services (an Interserve company) in 2014 as part of a contract covering the wider MoD Defence Training Estate.[81][82]






























Name
Constituent country

County
Units and purpose
DIO (SD) Cape Wrath
Scotland
Highland
Parented by DIO (SD) Tain.

DIO (SD) Donna Nook Air Weapons Range

England

Lincolnshire
Parented by RAF Coningsby.

DIO (SD) Holbeach Air Weapons Range
England
Lincolnshire
Parented by RAF Marham.

DIO (SD) Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range

Wales

Carmarthenshire


DIO (SD) Tain Air Weapons Range

Scotland

Highland
Parented by RAF Lossiemouth.

RAF Spadeadam
England

Cumbria
Electronic warfare range.


RAF stations and locations overseas



A RAF Harrier GR9 over RAF Akrotiri in 2010.

A RAF Harrier GR9 over RAF Akrotiri in 2010.



Permanent Joint Operating Bases


The UK operate Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOB's) in the four British Overseas Territories of Ascension Island, Cyprus, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. The PJOB's contribute to the physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of the British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conduct expeditionary military operations.[83] Although command and oversight of the PJOB's is provided by Joint Forces Command, the airfield elements are known as RAF stations.[84]



Semi-permanent operations


The RAF have a semi-permanent presence at several overseas locations. Active military operations in the Middle East are supported by Expeditionary Air Wings which have been established at foreign airfields in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The RAF have a presence within Eastern European countries on a rotational basis as part of the NATO's Baltic Air Policing and Southern Air Policing missions.


Two squadrons are located within the United States to support close cooperation with the USAF in the operation of the MQ-9A Reaper and development of the F-35A Lighting II.












































Name
Country
Units and purpose

RAF Akrotiri

Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

  • Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield to support British military operations in the Middle East. It is operated by the Cyprus Operations Support Unit (COSU).[85]


  • No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in December 2014 to support combat and support aircraft on detachment to the airfield as part of Operation Shader.[86]


  • No. 84 Squadron operate the Griffin HAR2 helicopter.[85]


Al Minhad Air Base

 United Arab Emirates

No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in January 2013 to provide a Middle East air transport and refuelling hub.[87][88][89]

Al Udeid Air Base

 Qatar

No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group was established in April 2006 as the headquarters for all RAF assets in the Middle East and is responsible for UK air operations as part of Operation Kipon and Operation Shader.[90]

RAF Ascension Island

 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Permanent Joint Operating Base predominately operating as an air-bridge between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.[91] Also used by the United States Air Force (USAF) and NASA as a communications and satellite tracking station.

MCAS Beaufort

 United States

No. 617 Squadron personnel are training on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, embedded within VMFAT-501 of the US Marine Corps.[92] The squadron is expected to transfer to RAF Marham in mid 2018.
RRH Byron Heights

 Falkland Islands
Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[93]

Creech Air Force Base

 United States

No. 39 Squadron operate the MQ-9A Reaper.[94]

Edwards Air Force Base

 United States

No. 17(R) Squadron formed at Edwards in April 2013 to test and evaluate the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.[95]

RAF Gibraltar

 Gibraltar
Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield. Also functions as Gibraltar International Airport which comprises a civilian passenger terminal operated by Government of Gibraltar.[96]
RRH Mount Alice

 Falkland Islands
Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[93]
RRH Mount Kent

 Falkland Islands
Remote Radar Head located on East Falkland.[93]

RAF Mount Pleasant

 Falkland Islands
Permanent Joint Operating Base opened in 1985 after the Falklands War. No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing operates four permanently based Typhoon FGR4s, one Voyager KC2, one Hercules C5 and two Chinook HC4s.[97]

RAF Troodos

 Cyprus

Signals intelligence gathering and radar station located in the Troodos Mountains, outside the Sovereign Base Areas. Operated by golf section of the Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus).


Map of stations within the UK



Map of the United Kingdom showing active RAF stations, Ministry of Defence (MOD) airfields (non Royal Navy or Army Air Corps), MOD air weapons ranges and RAF stations occupied by the United States Visiting Forces (USVF).




List of Royal Air Force stations is located in the United Kingdom

Barkston Heath

Barkston Heath



Barnham

Barnham



Benson

Benson



Boulmer

Boulmer



Brize Norton

Brize Norton



Chetwynd

Chetwynd



Coningsby

Coningsby



Cosford

Cosford



Cranwell

Cranwell



Digby

Digby



Fylingdales

Fylingdales



Halton

Halton



Henlow

Henlow



High Wycombe

High Wycombe



Honington

Honington



Kirknewton

Kirknewton



Leeming

Leeming



Linton-on-Ouse

Linton-on-Ouse



Lossiemouth

Lossiemouth



Marham

Marham



Mona

Mona



Northolt

Northolt



Odiham

Odiham



Scampton

Scampton



Shawbury

Shawbury



St. Mawgan

St. Mawgan



Swanwick

Swanwick



Syerston

Syerston



Ternhill

Ternhill



Topcliffe

Topcliffe



Trimingham

Trimingham



Valley

Valley



Waddington

Waddington



WOTG

WOTG



Wittering

Wittering



Woodvale

Woodvale



Wyton

Wyton



Benbecula

Benbecula



Brizlee Wood

Brizlee Wood



Buchan

Buchan



Neatishead

Neatishead



Portreath

Portreath



Saxa Vord

Saxa Vord



Staxton Wold

Staxton Wold



Spadeadam

Spadeadam



Cape Wrath

Cape Wrath



Donna Nook

Donna Nook



Holbeach

Holbeach



Pembrey Sands

Pembrey Sands



Tain

Tain



Aberporth

Aberporth



Boscombe Down

Boscombe Down



Hebrides

Hebrides



St. Athan

St. Athan



West Freugh

West Freugh



Alconbury

Alconbury



Barford St John

Barford St John



Croughton

Croughton



Fairford

Fairford



Feltwell

Feltwell



LN

LN



Menwith Hill

Menwith Hill



Mildenhall

Mildenhall



Molesworth

Molesworth



Welford

Welford





Location dot red.svg Flying Station Location dot orange.svg Training Station Location dot green.svg Support Station Location dot blue.svg UK Air Surveillance And Control System Sites Location dot purple.svg Air Weapons Range Location dot deeppink.svg MOD Aeronautical Test and Evaluation Site Location dot black.svg US Air Force Installation

WOTG = Weston-on-the-Green, LN = Lakenheath



See also


  • List of former RAF stations

  • List of Royal Air Force schools

  • Royal Air Force station

  • List of V Bomber dispersal bases

  • Battle of Britain Airfields

  • List of UK Thor missile bases

  • List of air stations of the Royal Navy

  • List of airfields of the Army Air Corps

  • List of airports in the United Kingdom

  • List of British Army installations

  • Class A airfield

  • Air Ministry Experimental Station

  • Chain Home


References



Citations




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Bibliography


.mw-parser-output .refbeginfont-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ullist-style-type:none;margin-left:0.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>ddmargin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100font-size:100%

  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980.
    ISBN 0-85130-083-9.

  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988.
    ISBN 0-85130-164-9.

  • 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.

  • Rawlings, John. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (second edition 1976).
    ISBN 0-354-01028-X.



External links



  • RAF Stations official web page listing current Royal Air Force stations

  • Current functions of RAF bases

  • UK "Secret Bases"

  • gallery of RAF images ServicePals.com


  • Subterranea Britannica - Cold War

  • Pastscape Search English Heritage records







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