Smaller Royal Air Force Stations
Many Stations and Units of the Royal Air Force do not operate aircraft, nor are they based at or near an active airfield. A good example of this is RAF Spadeadam, the Electronic Countermeasures Range. Other roles of the stations in this section are as diverse as the maintenance of satellite communications at RAF Oakhanger to safeguarding the health of serving personnel at the Centre of Aviation Medicine, RAF Henlow.
Amport House
Amport House, the Armed Forces Chaplain Centre, was inaugurated on the 1 April 1996 to provide religious and welfare support and training for uniformed personnel of all three services. Originally the RAF Chaplain's School, the School moved to Amport House in 1962, having first been based at Dowdswell Court in Cheltenham.
RAF Bampton Castle
Parented by RAF Brize Norton, the Station is home to No 2 and 81 Signals Units which are involved with High Frequency Communications.
RAF Barkston Heath
The primary function of RAF Barkston Heath is as a Relief Landing Ground for the flying training activities at RAF Cranwell. The airfield originally opened in 1941 and was home to the 61st Troop Carrier Group of the 9th USAAF during the Second World War. Nowadays, it is a regular home to only one unit, the Joint Elementary Flying Training School which operates 18 Mk II Firefly two seat trainers.
RAF Bentley Priory
Famous for its pivotal role as Fighter Command Headquarters during the Battle of Britain, Bentley Priory is now the home of several RAF directorates including the Air Historical Branch.
RAF Boddington
A signals Station, Boddington is home to No 9 Signals Unit and Headquarters TARE Units.
Boscombe Down
Home of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment, the RAF presence at Boscombe Down has been reduced to the Southampton University Air Squadron.
RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow
RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow is the result of the merger of Brampton Wyton (itself a merger) with Henlow which took place on 1 Apr 01. The sites retain their own identities but are run under single command, with many of the support functions centralised. The unit also provides support for RAF Stanbridge and parenting for some activity at RAF Chelveston. The Station Commander is based at Wyton but maintains offices at all 3 locations, as do his 2 functional wing commanders, OC Personnel Support Wing and OC Station Support Wing. The role of the Station is to provide support for the lodger units thereon, most of which are Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) formations.
RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton is the largest of the 3 sites and provides the principal home for Equipment Support (Air) (ES(Air)), the air pillar of the DLO. In addition, it houses Corporate Technical Services, another DLO element. The Station's active airfield has now re-opened and is the home of the University of London Air Squadron, the Cambridge University Air Squadron and No 5 AEF.
RAF Brampton
RAF Brampton is ever synonymous with the Joint Air Reconnaissance Centre (JARIC), but in addition it provides support to a number of other lodger units including elements of the DLO. It is also the base for the Defence Security Standards Organisation and RAF Infrastructure Organisation East Region.
RAF Henlow
Henlow has been a ground-training base specialising in electronics since the end of the Second World War and was for many years synonymous with the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment (RAFSEE). The Station is now home to the Directorate of Engineering Interoperability (DEI), which is part of the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA) within the DLO. In addition it houses the Joint Arms Control and Inspection Group (JACIG), HQ Provost & Security Services (RAF), including the newly-formed Tactical Provost Wing, the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM) and No 616 Volunteer Gliding School which operates Vigilant T1 motor gliders.
Royal Marines Base Chivenor
Originally a civil airfield opened in the 1930s, the RAF took over the site from May 1940 for use as a Coastal Command Station. Post war, the Station was largely used for training, particularly weapons training as the home of No 2 Tactical Weapons Unit, from 1980 until fixed wing flying ceased in 1994. The only units now based at Chivenor are "A" Flight of 22 Squadron with two Sea King HAR3A helicopters for Search and Rescue duties and its HQ Flight, and No 624 Volunteer Gliding School operating Vigilant T1 motor gliders.
RAF Church Fenton
Church Fenton is currently the home of Yorkshire University Air Squadron, flying Tutor T1s, and serves as a relief landing ground for Tucano T1s from RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
RAF Cosford
Cosford has been involved with the training of RAF ground tradesmen since it opened in 1938. Units currently based at Cosford are No 1 School of Technical Training, the Birmingham University Air Squadron operating Tutor T1s, and No 633 Volunteer Gliding School with Vigilant T1s.
Station Website
RAF Digby
RAF Digby, originally called RAF Scopwick, was established on 28 March 1918. It has been home to a number of units, including Nos. 2 and 3 Flying Training Schools and both Guy Gibson and Douglas Bader were station here. In 1942, the Station became a Royal Canadian Air Force Station operating Mosquito aircraft. Following a brief period as a Technical Training Unit, the role of the Station changed yet again in 1955 with the arrival of No. 399 Signals Unit. This was later joined by 591 Signals Unit and the Aerial Erectors School. No. 399 Signals Unit changed its name to the Joint Service Signals Unit on 15 September 1998, reflecting not only its tri-Service environment, but also its bi-National one with members of all three US forces serving alongside RAF, Army and Royal Navy personnel.
RAF Dishforth
An Army Air Corps helicopter base, Dishforth is also a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton and is home to the RAFGSA Cleveland Gliding Club.
Donna Nook
Donna Nook is the an East Coast bombing range.
RAF Halton
Halton is home to the School of Recruit Training, the RAF Institute of Health, Headquarters Defence Dental Agency, and a Volunteer Gliding School, No 613, flying Vigilant T1s.
Station Website
RAF Headley Court
Purchased after the Second World War with money from the "Royal Air Force Pilots and Crews Fund", a public collection as a tribute to the deeds of the RAF, Headley Court is now the Defence Services Medical Rehabilitation Unit, which aims to return all those service personnel injured or seriously ill to full fitness.
RAF Holbeach
Holbeach is the Wash Bombing Range.
Leconfield
Located at the Defence School of Transport, Europe's largest driver training establishment, are 2 Sea King HAR3s of "E" Flight of No 202 Squadron are based on the airfield and operate over the local area and North Sea on search and rescue duties.
RAF Machrihanish
Currently the Station is under enhanced care and maintenance status.
RAF Mona
Due to the sheer numbers of Hawk T1/T1As operating at RAF Valley, Mona is the very necessary Relief Landing Ground for 4 Flying Training School.
RAF Oakhanger
This Station is the focal point of military satellite communications in the UK. Two satellite communications (Satcom) units are based at Oakhanger, No 1001 Signals Unit and a NATO Satellite Ground Terminal.
RAF Pembrey Sands
This bombing and firing range is adjacent to the old Pembrey airfield on the South Wales coast.
Prestwick
The Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre is under the control of Headquarters Military Air Traffic Operations (MATO) and is responsible for providing a radar service to military and civil aircraft.
RAF St Athan
St Athan is the home of the Defence Aircraft Repair Agency (DARA). Major maintenance tasks on a wide variety of RAF aircraft ranging from Harriers and Tornados to VC10s is carried out here. Other units are a Mountain Rescue Team, the University of Wales Air Squadron with Tutor T1s and No 634 Volunteer Gliding School with Viking TX1s.
RAF Sealand
Originally a civil airfield, the RFC took over Sealand in 1916, and the Station was used for training and later, maintenance, a role that continues today. No 30 Maintenance Unit first moved to Sealand in 1937, and today is responsible for the third line repair of airborne avionic equipment for all three Armed Services. No 631 Volunteer Gliding School operates Viking TX1s from the South Airfield.
RAF Spadeadam
Spadeadam became an RAF Station in 1976, and was the first Electronic Warfare Range in Western Europe. It is now a NATO Electronic Countermeasures Range.
Station website
RAF Stafford
Stafford is home to two long standing RAF units. No 16 Maintenance Unit was formed in 1939, and still serves as an Equipment Supply Depot. No 2 Mechanical Transport Squadron moved to Stafford in 1958, and is responsible for providing transport assistance for unit moves, and the handling of large or abnormal loads. The Squadron also trains HGV Class 1 drivers for the RAF. Also at Stafford is the Tactical Supply Wing (TSW), which operates mobile aviation fuel handling facilities for helicopters and Harriers deployed in the field.
RAF Syerston
Initially a bomber station when it opened in 1940, Syerston became a training base post-war, until it closed as an operational station in 1976. Syerston is currently home to the RAF's Air Cadets Central Gliding School, responsible for the allocation and maintenance of gliders, and No 644 Volunteer Gliding School.
Tain
Tain is a bombing range on the Moray Firth.
RAF Topcliffe
Topcliffe is a satellite airfield of RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
RAF Uxbridge
Units stationed at Uxbridge are the Headquarters of Music Services and No 63 Squadron of the RAF Regiment, better known as the Queens Colour Squadron.
RAF Wainfleet
Wainfleet is the Wash (North Side) bombing range.
Wattisham Airfield
Once a fully operational RAF station, Wattisham is now only home to a search and rescue helicopter unit, "B" Flight of No 22 Squadron, equipped with 2 Sea King HAR3A helicopters.
West Drayton
Although the RAF station at West Drayton closed many years ago, the site still hosts the military air traffic control centre co-located with the civil London Area and Terminal Control Centre. The unit provides a vital link between civil and military flying and airspace requirements.
RAF Woodvale
Woodvale is currently home to the Liverpool and Manchester University Air Squadrons which both operate Tutor T1s, and No 10 Air Experience Flight.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 
