avia.wikisort.org - AerodromeRoyal Air Force Witchford or RAF Witchford is a former Royal Air Force station about 2 miles (3 km) southwest of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and 13 miles (21 km) north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.
Airport in Witchford, Cambridgeshire
RAF Witchford
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Airport type | Military |
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Owner | Air Ministry |
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Operator | Royal Air Force |
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Location | Witchford, Cambridgeshire |
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Built | 1942 |
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In use | 1943–46 |
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Elevation AMSL | 46 ft / 14 m |
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Coordinates | 52°22′52″N 000°13′51″E |
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Location in Cambridgeshire |
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Direction |
Length |
Surface |
ft |
m |
04/22 |
0 |
0 |
Asphalt |
10/28 |
0 |
0 |
Asphalt |
16/34 |
0 |
0 |
Asphalt |
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History
- No. 115 Squadron RAF first started using RAF Witchford from 26 November 1943 with the Avro Lancaster II before changing to the Mk I and III Lancasters in March 1944 before moving to RAF Graveley on 10 September 1945.
- No. 195 Squadron RAF reformed at the airfield on 1 October 1944 with the Lancaster I and III before moving to RAF Wratting Common on 13 November 1944 where the squadron disbanded on 14 August 1945.
- No. 196 Squadron RAF started using the airfield on 19 Jul 1943 with the Vickers Wellington X until these were replaced with the Short Stirling III during their stay. The squadron left on 18 November 1943 moving to RAF Leicester East.
- No. 513 Squadron RAF formed at Witchford on 15 September 1943 with the Stirling III before disbanding on 21 November 1943 at the airfield.
- No. 29 Aircrew Holding Unit.[4]
A total of 99 bombers despatched on operations from Witchford were lost, 8 being Stirlings and 91 Lancasters.[5]
RAF Witchford was initially included among the initial sites for the Project Emily deployment of PGM-17 Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles, at the instigation of the Americans in 1958, but the land was owned by the Church Commissioners, and nearby RAF Mepal was substituted. The main selection criterion was the condition of the road network connecting the bases; a grade of more than one in seventeen was considered an unacceptable risk of grounding the missile transport.
An extensive history of the station, with some coverage of RAF Mepal, is contained in 'Memories of RAF Witchford' by Barry and Sue Aldridge.
Current use
Most of the site is now the Lancaster Way Business Park,[7] with the rest used for farming.[5]
See also
- List of former Royal Air Force stations
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Aldridge, Barry; Aldridge, Sue. Memories of RAF Witchford, A collection of personal stories, memories and photographs from 1943 onwards. Cambridge: Milton Contact. ISBN 978-0-9571959-6-7.
- Boyes, John (2015). Thor Ballistic Missile: The United States and the United Kingdom in Partnership. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-78155-481-4.
- Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
External links
 Royal Air Force  |
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Formations and units | Units |
- Commands
- Groups
- Wings
- Squadrons
- Flights
- Conversion units
- Operational Training units
- Schools / Training units
- Ferry units
- Glider units
- Misc units
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Stations |
- Active
- Former
- Satellite Landing Grounds
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Regiment | |
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Branches and components |
- Air Force Board
- RAF Regiment
- RAF Chaplains Branch
- RAF Intelligence
- RAF Legal Branch
- RAF Medical Services
- Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service
- RAF Police
- RAF Search and Rescue Force
- RAF Mountain Rescue Service
- RAF Marine Branch
- RAF Ground Trades
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Reserve forces |
- Royal Auxiliary Air Force
- RAF Volunteer Reserve
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Associated civil organisations |
- Air Training Corps
- RAF Association
- RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
- RAF Benevolent Fund
- RAF Football Association
- RAF Museum
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Equipment | |
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Personnel |
- Officer ranks
- Other ranks
- List of notable personnel
- List of serving senior officers
- Personnel numbers
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Appointments |
- Chief of Air Staff
- Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
- Air Member for Personnel
- Air Secretary
- Air Member for Materiel
- Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
- Warrant Officer of the RAF
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Symbols and uniform |
- Ensign
- Badge
- Roundels
- Uniform
- Heraldic badges
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