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RAF Wattisham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Former Air Force base in Suffolk, England (1939–1993)
For the current use of this facility, seeWattisham Flying Station.

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RAF Wattisham
Wattisham,Suffolk in England
A McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom of No. 74 Squadron which was based at RAF Wattisham.
Station badge
Supra mare supra terramque
(Latin for 'Above the sea and above the land')
Site information
TypeRoyal Air Force flying station
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force (1939–1942 and 1946–1993)
United States Army Air Forces (1942–1946)
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command (1946-)
ConditionClosed
Location
RAF Wattisham is located in Suffolk
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham
Location in Suffolk
Coordinates52°07′41″N0°57′22″E / 52.128°N 0.956°E /52.128; 0.956
Grid referenceTM025510[1]
Area409 hectares
Site history
Built1938 (1938)
Built byJohn Laing & Son Ltd
In use1939–1993 (1993)
FateTransferred to theBritish Army'sArmy Air Corps and becameWattisham Flying Station.
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGUW,WMO: 03590
Elevation89 metres (292 ft)AMSL
Runways
DirectionLength and surface
05/232,424 metres (7,953 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Wattisham or more simplyRAF Wattisham (ICAO:EGUW) was, between 1939 and 1993, the name of aRoyal Air Force station located inEast Anglia just outside the village ofWattisham, south ofStowmarket inSuffolk, England. During theCold War it was a major front-line air force base, operatingQuick Reaction Alert (South), before closing as an Royal Air Force station in 1993. Since 1993 it has been operated by theBritish Army asWattisham Flying Station.

History

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Royal Air Force use

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RAF Wattisham opened on 5 April 1939 as a medium bomber station, the squadrons there being equipped withBristol Blenheim bombers.[2] Part ofNo. 2 Group,No. 107 Squadron andNo. 110 Squadron were stationed there on the outbreak of war asNo. 83 Wing.[3] On 4 September 1939, just 29 hours after the declaration of war, bombers from Wattisham took off on the first attack of the war, against enemy shipping inWilhelmshaven harbour.[2]

In September 1942, the base was handed over to theUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[2]

United States Army Air Forces use

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27 May 1944 Aerial photograph of RAF Wattisham the control tower and airfield code are in front of the four C-Type hangars on the right.
Aerial photograph of the USAAF 4th Strategic Air Depot at RAF Wattisham looking north, 3 April 1946

Wattisham was assigned USAAF designationStation 377 andStation 470, and work began on building concrete runways with the intention of adapting the airfield for heavy bomber use. However, plans were apparently changed when it was evident that there would be sufficient heavy bomber airfields available for the USAAF, and it was decided that Wattisham would remain an air depot and also house a fighter unit.[4]

Work ceased on the runways leaving only the E-W with a concrete surface and short stretches of the other two. The main SW-NE runway was finished off with steel matting while the remaining NW-SE runway continued to be grass-surfaced for most of its length.[4]

68th Observation Group

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Between October and December 1942 the68th Observation Group operated theBell P-39D Airacobra from Wattisham.[5]

4th Strategic Air Depot

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The4th Strategic Air Depot (originally the 3rd Advanced Air Depot and then 3rd Technical Air Depot) serviced many types of aircraft but, by late 1943, was concentrating on fighter types. An additional technical area with four T2 hangars, some eighteen hardstands and a taxiway loop joining the airfield perimeter track, were constructed on the south side of the airfield. An engineering complex in temporary buildings was built around this area, chiefly in the village of Nedging Tye.[4]

The 4th Strategic Air Depot installation was officially namedHitcham, which was actually the name of a village two miles to the north-west of the site, to differentiate it from the fighter station using the same airstrip.[4] The base was, by 1944, responsible for the maintenance of all American fighters in the UK.[citation needed]

479th Fighter Group

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Along with the depot maintenance mission, Wattisham also hosted anEighth Air Force fighter group, the479th Fighter Group, arriving fromSanta Maria Army Air Field,California, on 15 May 1944.[6] The group was part of the65th Fighter Wing of theVIII Fighter Command.[7] Aircraft of the group had no cowling colour markings as did other Eighth Air Force fighter groups and were marked only with coloured tail rudders. The initial inventory of theLockheed P-38 Lightnings, many of which were hand-me-downs from other groups painted in olive drab camouflage, used geometric symbols on the tail to identify squadrons, white for camouflaged aircraft and black for unpainted (natural metal finish) Lightnings.[citation needed]

The group consisted of the following squadrons:

The 479th FG escorted heavy bombers during operations against targets on the continent, strafed targets of opportunity, and flew fighter-bomber, area andcounter-air patrol missions. Engaged primarily in escort activities and fighter sweeps until theNormandy invasion in June 1944.[6]

North American P-51B-5 Mustang42-7040 from the 434th Fighter Squadron in June 1945. This P-51B was previously assigned to the 361st FG atRAF Bottisham and was a replacement for low-hour P-51s reassigned from the group.

The group patrolled the beachhead during the invasion, strafed and dive-bombed troops, bridges, locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields, gun emplacements, flak towers, ammunition dumps, power stations and radar sites while on escort or fighter-bomber missions as theAllies drove across France during the summer and autumn of 1944. The unit flew area patrols to support the breakthrough atSaint-Lô in July and theairborne attack on the Netherlands in September.[6]

The 479th Fighter Group received aDistinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the destruction of numerous aircraft on airfields inFrance on 18 August and 5 September and during aerial battle nearMünster on 26 September. The unit continued escort and fighter-bomber activities from October to mid-December 1944. It converted to theP-51 Mustang between 10 September and 1 October, using both types on missions until conversion was completed.[6]

The group participated in theBattle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945) by escorting bombers to and from targets in the battle area and by strafing transportation targets while on escort duty. From February to April 1945 it continued to fly escort missions, but also provided area patrols to support theairborne attack across the Rhine in March.[6]

The unit returned toCamp Kilmer,New Jersey, in November 1945,[9] and was inactivated in December 1945.[6] Among the notable pilots of the 479th were its second group commander, Col.Hubert Zemke,[9] and anace, MajorRobin Olds.[citation needed]

LegacyTheUnited States Air Force (USAF)479th Tactical Fighter Wing atGeorge AFB,California, (1952–1971) was bestowed the lineage, honours and history of the World War II USAAF 479th Fighter Group. The 479th TFW deployed personnel and aircraft toKey West NAS,Florida, in response to the 1962Cuban Missile Crisis and deployed squadrons frequently toSoutheast Asia during theVietnam War. Later, the479th Tactical Training Wing atHolloman AFB,New Mexico, (1977–1991) provided pilot training.[citation needed]

The479th Fighter Group atMoody AFB, Georgia, (2000–2007) and since 2009 atNAS Pensacola, Florida, currently as the479th Flying Training Group.[citation needed]

Back to Royal Air Force control

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1946–1975

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In 1946, the base was returned to the Royal Air Force.No. 266 Squadron, with theGloster Meteor F.3, was stationed there from 4 November to 5 December 1946 and from 4 January to 16 April 1947.[10]

The Air Ministry Servicing Development Unit formed here on 1 January 1947 with a number of aircraft including theAvro York I,Hawker Tempest V,Gloster Meteor F.4 & T.7,Avro Anson T.20 and thede Havilland Vampire F.3.[11] The squadron disbanded on 1 June 1950 atRAF Wittering.[12] In the mid 1950s, the Black Arrows display team 111 squadron operated out of Wattisham, flying Hawker Hunters.

English Electric Lightning F.1A of the Wattisham Target Facilities Flight in 1971.

In 1949, new runways were laid,[citation needed] and the following yearNo. 152 Squadron arrived with Meteor NF.12 night fighters,[13] In 1954,Hawker Hunters, fromNo. 257 and263 Squadrons, the UK's next generation fighter after the Meteor, arrived to secure Wattisham's future as a major fighter station.[14][15]The Station Commander, Group Captain Edwards, had artificial legs, likeDouglas Bader before him. The Wing Commander was one of the four Sowerey brothers, all of whom held senior RAF posts.[citation needed] The Officer Commanding No. 257 Squadron was Major Howard E Tanner, a USAF exchange pilot.

There was also a Station Flight which received and serviced visiting aircraft and also had its own aircraft for various purposes. These included ade Havilland Vampire, ade Havilland Dragon Rapide and a Hunter used by the Station Flight commander.[citation needed]

TheBlack Arrows aerobatic display team, flying the Hunter, moved to Wattisham fromRAF North Weald with air displays becoming a regular feature from 1959.[5]

In the late 1950s theCold War had begun to intensify and so the RAF began to modernise Britain's air defence. Thus, in 1960, the station was equipped with the very latest in British fighter aircraft: theEnglish Electric Lightning. The capabilities of this aeroplane and Wattisham's location near theEast Anglian coast proved invaluable in countering the threats faced from the east. The airfield quickly became a preeminent front-line airbase. Throughout the Cold War RAF Wattisham operated 'QRA' or Quick Reaction Alert Sheds where live armed jets were on standby at all times. The station also functioned as the site of a major 'Blacktop' diversion runway.[citation needed]

1976–1992

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On 25 February 1976, 13McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2s ofNo. 23(Fighter) Squadron arrived to replace the Lightnings.[16]No. 56(F) Squadron followed on 9 July, arriving with their Phantoms fromRAF Coningsby.[17] From Wattisham, the Phantoms continued the role of playing a major part in defending Britain's airspace which largely involved intercepting theSovietTupolev Tu-95 Bear aircraft, as part ofQuick Reaction Alert (South). Between 4 November and early December 1976, No. 23(F) Squadron deployed toRAF Luqa,Malta, for an Armament Practice Camp (APC).[18] No. 56(F) Squadron deployed for an APC at RAF Luqa between 13 October and November 1977.[18]

No. 56 (Fighter) Squadron McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2XT903 at RAF Wattisham, 1992.

On 1 June 1979, Wattisham-based Phantom FGR.2XV424 from No. 56(F) Squadron was used to re-enact thetransatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown, crewed by pilot Squadron Leader A. J. N. "Tony" Alcock and navigator Flight Lieutenant W. N. "Norman" Browne.[19]

Following theFalklands War, it was decided to base Phantoms on the Falklands Islands.[20] In March 1983, No. 23(F) Squadron relocated from RAF Wattisham toStanley Airport, leavingthe Firebirds as the sole based squadron.[21] On 19 October 1984,No. 74(F) Squadron stood-up at RAF Wattisham equipped with the uniqueMcDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom.[22] Delivered in three batches, the squadron was brought up to full strength of 15 jets on 5 January 1985.[23]

In 1990, theOptions for Change defence review laid out the plan to withdraw the Phantoms from RAF service.[24] In January 1991, the Phantom F-4J(UK) was withdrawn from use, withthe Tigers converting over to the Phantom FGR.2.[22] The disbandment ofNo. 228 OCU on 31 January 1991 atRAF Leuchars, saw the reformation of the Phantom Training Flight as part of No. 74(F) Squadron, operating until 31 December 1991.[25]

No. 56(F) Squadron disbanded on 31 July 1992, reforming as thePanavia Tornado F.3 OCU at RAF Coningsby.[26] No. 74(F) Squadron continued to operate at RAF Wattisham until disbanding on 1 October 1992.[27]

Closure

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RAF Wattisham's future hung in the balance as a major air force base and it was decided that with the Cold War threat gone it was no longer needed by the RAF. Wattisham stood down as a fighter base on 31 October 1992.[28] The station was transferred to the control of theBritish Army in September 1993.[29] TheArmy Air Corps soon moved in and it rapidly became a major Army airfield, operating it asWattisham Flying Station. The Royal Air Force returned to operateWestland Sea KingSearch and Rescue helicopters on the site of the former QRA hangars.

Former RAF units

[edit]
SquadronPresentAircraftNotes
No. XIII SquadronJuly 1941 – 1 August 1942Bristol Blenheim IVDetachment fromRAF Odiham[30]
No. XVII Squadron9 September 1939 – 16 December 1939Hawker Hurricane IDetachment fromRAF Debden[31]
No. 18 Squadron9 December 1941 – 24 August 1942Bristol Blenheim IVRelocated toRAF West Raynham[32]
No. 23(Fighter) Squadron25 February 1976 – 30 March 1983McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2Relocated toStanley, Falkland Islands[33]
No. XXV Squadron1 March 1983 – 1 October 1989Bristol Bloodhound'C' Flight Detachment fromRAF Wyton, disbanded[34]
No. 29(F) Squadron10 May 1967 – 31 December 1974English Electric Lightning F.3Disbanded[35]
No. 34 Squadron11 February 1949 – 20 July 1949Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e /Miles Martinet TT.1 /North American Harvard T.2B /Airspeed Oxford T.2 /Bristol Beaufighter TT.10Detachment fromRAF Horsham St. Faith[36]
No. 41(F) Squadron5 July 1958 – 31 December 1963Gloster Javelin FAW.4/FAW.5/FAW.8Disbanded[37]
No. 56(F) Squadron10 July 1958 – 11 May 1967Hawker Hunter F.5/F.6 (1958–1961)English Electric Lightning F.1A/F.3 (1960–1967)Relocated toRAF Akrotiri, Cyprus
No. 56(F) Squadron21 January 1975 – 29 June 1976English Electric Lightning F.3/F.6Briefly relocated toRAF Coningsby to convert to the Phantom FGR.2
No. 56(F) Squadron9 July 1976 – 31 July 1992McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2Transferred to RAF Coningsby to form theTornado F.3 Operational Conversion Unit[17]
No. 74(F) Squadron19 October 1984 – 1 October 1992McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4J(UK) (1984–1991) Phantom FGR.2 (1991–1992)Disbanded (Included a Phantom Training Flight between 1 February 1991 and 31 December 1991)[25]
No. 85 Squadron1 October 1989 – 1 July 1991Bristol Bloodhound'E' Flight Detachment from RAF West Raynham, disbanded[36]
No. 86 Squadron3 March 1941 – 15 May 1941Bristol Blenheim IVRelocated toRAF North Coates[38]
No. 107 Squadron11 May 1939 – 3 March 1941Bristol Blenheim I/IVRelocated toRAF Leuchars[39]
No. 110 (Hyderabad) Squadron11 May 1939 – 17 March 1942Bristol Blenheim IVRelocated toRAF Drigh Road[40]
No. 111(F) Squadron18 June 1958 – 30 September 1974Hawker Hunter F.5/F.6 (1958–1961)English Electric Lightning F.1A/F.3 (1960–1974)Disbanded[41]
No. 114 (Hong Kong) Squadron31 May 1940 – 10 June 1940Bristol Blenheim IVRelocated to RAF Horsham St. Faith[42]
No. 152 Squadron30 June 1954 – 18 June 1956Gloster Meteor NF.12/NF.14Relocated toRAF Stradishall[13]
No. 226 Squadron27 May 1941 – 9 December 1941Fairey Battle (May 1941) Bristol Blenheim IV (May–November 1941)Douglas Boston III (November–December 1941)Relocated toRAF Swanton Morley[43]
No. 236 Squadron9 February 1942 – 3 July 1942Bristol Beaufighter IcRelocated toRAF Oulton[44]
No. 257 Squadron27 October 1950 – 10 June 1956Gloster Meteor F.8Relocated toRAF Wymeswold
No. 257 Squadron15 January 1957 – 31 March 1957Hawker Hunter F.2Disbanded[14]
No. 263 Squadron22 November 1950 – 10 June 1956Gloster Meteor F.8 (1950–1955)Hawker Hunter F.2/F.5 (1955–1956)Relocated to RAF Wymeswold
No. 263 Squadron15 January 1957 – 31 March 1957Hawker Hunter F.6Relocated to RAF Stradishall[15]
No. 266 Squadron4 November 1946 – 5 December 1946Gloster Meteor F.3Relocated toRAF Boxted
No. 266 Squadron4 January 1947 – 16 April 1947Gloster Meteor F.3Relocated toRAF Tangmere[10]
No. 504 Squadron9 October 1939 – 24 December 1939Hawker Hurricane Mk.IDetachment from RAF Debden[45]
No. 695 Squadron7 May 1947 – 11 February 1949Supermarine Spitfire LF.16e / Miles Martinet TT.1 / North American Harvard T.2B / Airspeed Oxford T.2 / Bristol Beaufighter TT.10Detachment from RAF Horsham St. Faith, disbanded[36]
No. 8 Blind Approach Training Flight18 January 1941 – 15 February 1941Bristol Blenheim Mk.IRelocated to RAF Horsham St. Faith[46]
No. 17 Blind Approach Training FlightOctober 1941Airspeed Oxford Mk.IRelocated to RAF Ipswich[47]
No. 1517 Beam Approach Training FlightOctober 1941 – 4 November 1941[48]
No. 1517 Beam Approach Training Flight19 May 1942 – 14 November 1942[48]
Fighter Command School of Technical TrainingJuly 1947 – September 1949[48]

See also

[edit]

References

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Public Domain This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^Birtles 2012, p. 54.
  2. ^abcBowyer 1979, p. 205.
  3. ^"Bomber Command - No. 2 Group".Royal Air Force. Archived fromthe original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved14 February 2013.
  4. ^abcdFreeman 2001, p. 230.
  5. ^abBowyer 1979, p. 206.
  6. ^abcdefMaurer 1980, p. 351.
  7. ^Maurer 1980, p. 403.
  8. ^abcMighty Eighth.Stamford,Lincolnshire,England:Key Publishing Ltd. 2013. p. 90.
  9. ^abMaurer 1980, p. 352.
  10. ^abJefford 2001, p. 81.
  11. ^Lake 1999, p. 18.
  12. ^Lake 1999, p. 19.
  13. ^abJefford 2001, p. 63.
  14. ^abJefford 2001, p. 79.
  15. ^abJefford 2001, p. 80.
  16. ^Eade, David."The Wattisham Chronicles – Part five: Phantastic Phantom's arrival".Wattisham Aviation Society. Retrieved24 February 2021.
  17. ^abJefford 2001, p. 43.
  18. ^ab"Armament Practice Camps – McD F-4 Phantom FG.1/FGR.2".Aviation in Malta. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  19. ^"McDONNELL DOUGLAS PHANTOM FGR2 XV424"(PDF).RAF Museum. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  20. ^"No. 23 Squadron".Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  21. ^"23 Squadron".Royal Air Force. Archived fromthe original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  22. ^ab"No. 74 (Trinidad) Squadron".Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  23. ^Cossey, Bob."The History of 74 (Fighter) Squadron".74 Squadron Association. Retrieved26 February 2021.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^Tom King, Secretary of State for Defence (25 July 1990)."Defence (Options for Change)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 468–486.
  25. ^abLake 1999, p. 215.
  26. ^"No.56 Squadron".www.nationalcoldwarexhibition.org. Royal Air Force Museum. Archived fromthe original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved26 February 2021.
  27. ^"74 Squadron".Royal Air Force. Archived fromthe original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved24 February 2021.
  28. ^March 1993, p. 87.
  29. ^March, Peter R. (1998).Brace by Wire to Fly-By-Wire – 80 Years of the Royal Air Force 1918–1998. RAF Fairford: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises. p. 160.ISBN 1-899808-06-X.
  30. ^Jefford 2001, p. 28.
  31. ^Jefford 2001, p. 29.
  32. ^Jefford 2001, p. 30.
  33. ^Jefford 2001, p. 32.
  34. ^Jefford 2001, p. 33.
  35. ^Jefford 2001, p. 34.
  36. ^abc"RAF Wattisham".Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved24 February 2021.
  37. ^Jefford 2001, p. 39.
  38. ^Jefford 2001, p. 51.
  39. ^"No. 107 Squadron (RAF): Second World War".History of War. Retrieved24 February 2021.
  40. ^"No. 110 Squadron (RAF): Second World War".History of War. Retrieved24 February 2021.
  41. ^Jefford 2001, p. 56.
  42. ^Jefford 2001, p. 57.
  43. ^Jefford 2001, p. 73.
  44. ^Jefford 2001, p. 75.
  45. ^Jefford 2001, p. 95.
  46. ^Lake 1999, p. 37.
  47. ^Lake 1999, p. 38.
  48. ^abc"Wattisham". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved14 February 2013.

Bibliography

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