RAF Waterbeach: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station in England}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} |
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{{Use British English|date=May 2013}} |
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}} |
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox military installation |
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| name = RAF Waterbeach |
| name = RAF Waterbeach |
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| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg |
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| ensign_size = 90px |
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| native_name = |
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| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site --> |
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| country = England |
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| caption = 1945 aerial photograph |
| caption = 1945 aerial photograph |
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| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields --> |
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| type = Military |
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| alt2 = |
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| caption2 = |
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| type = [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]] |
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| gridref = TL495665{{sfn|Birtles|2012|p=52}} |
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| pushpin_label_position = |
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| operator = [[Royal Air Force]] |
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]] |
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| controlledby = [[RAF Bomber Command]] (1941-45)<br />* [[No. 3 Group RAF]]{{sfn|Delve|1994|p=77}}<br />[[RAF Transport Command]] (1945-50)<br />[[RAF Fighter Command]] (1950-)<br />* [[No. 11 Group RAF]]{{sfn|Delve|1994|p=85}}<br />[[RAF Training Command]]<br />* [[No. 38 Group RAF]]{{sfn|Delve|1994|p=89}} |
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| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> |
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| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> |
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| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc --> |
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| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc --> |
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| code = <!--facility/installation code --> |
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| built = {{Start date|1940}} |
| built = {{Start date|1940}} |
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| used = 1941-{{End date|2013}} |
| used = 11 January 1941 - {{End date|2013}} |
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| battles = [[European theatre of World War II]]<BR>[[Cold War]] |
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| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> |
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| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group --> |
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| occupants = <!-- squadrons only --> |
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| r1-length-f = <s>6070</s> |
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| website = |
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| footnotes = <!-- catchall in case it's needed to preserve something in infobox --> |
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<!-- begin airfield information --> |
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| r2-length-f = <s>4140</s> |
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| r3-length-f = <s>4250</s> |
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| airfield_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox --> |
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| airfield_other = <!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities --> |
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'''Royal Air Force Waterbeach''' or more simply '''RAF Waterbeach''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] station located in [[Waterbeach]], [[Cambridgeshire]] which is about {{Convert|5.5|mi}} north of [[Cambridge]], England. The site was transferred to the [[Royal Engineers]], part of the [[British Army]], in 1966, as [[Waterbeach Barracks]]. |
'''Royal Air Force Waterbeach''' or more simply '''RAF Waterbeach''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[List of former Royal Air Force stations|station]] located in [[Waterbeach]], [[Cambridgeshire]] which is about {{Convert|5.5|mi}} north of [[Cambridge]], England. The site was transferred to the [[Royal Engineers]], part of the [[British Army]], in 1966, as [[Waterbeach Barracks]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Royal Air Force=== |
===Royal Air Force=== |
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The airfield was built in 1940 on the northern edge of Waterbeach village and operated under the control of [[RAF Bomber Command]]. |
The airfield was built in 1940 on the northern edge of Waterbeach village and operated under the control of [[RAF Bomber Command]].{{sfn|Hamlin|Merrington|2011|p={{page needed|date=April 2021}}}} The original control tower and many RAF buildings, including several hangars, are still present.<ref>Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum, displays and unpublished archives.</ref> |
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====RAF units and aircraft |
====RAF units and aircraft – Bomber Command, WW2==== |
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{|class="wikitable" |
{|class="wikitable" |
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|1941-1942 |
|1941-1942 |
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|No. 26 Conversion Flight RAF |
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|[[Short Stirling]] |
|[[Short Stirling]] |
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|I |
|I |
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|1943 |
|1943 |
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|[[No. 1678 Conversion Unit RAF]] |
|[[No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF]] |
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|[[Avro Lancaster]] |
|[[Avro Lancaster]] |
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|II |
|II |
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|[[Avro Lancaster]] |
|[[Avro Lancaster]] |
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|I, II and III |
|I, II and III |
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| 437 aircrew were killed flying with 514 Squadron |
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====Transport Command, 1945-1949==== |
====Transport Command, 1945-1949==== |
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After the [[World War II|Second World War]], [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator]]s and [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas Dakota]]s from [[RAF Transport Command]] flew from RAF Waterbeach. |
After the [[World War II|Second World War]], [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|Consolidated Liberator]]s and [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas Dakota]]s from [[RAF Transport Command]] flew from RAF Waterbeach.{{sfn|Hamlin|Merrington|2011|pp=31–35}} |
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====RAF units and aircraft |
====RAF units and aircraft – Transport Command==== |
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{|class="wikitable" |
{|class="wikitable" |
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[[RAF Fighter Command]] took over the base on 1 March 1950 and used [[Gloster Meteor]]s, [[Supermarine Swift]]s, [[de Havilland Venom]]s, [[de Havilland Vampire]]s and [[Gloster Javelin]]s. In addition [[Hawker Hunter]] fighters arrived in May 1955 and, two years later, the prototype [[English Electric Lightning|English Electric P1 (Lightning)]] visited RAF Waterbeach.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} |
[[RAF Fighter Command]] took over the base on 1 March 1950 and used [[Gloster Meteor]]s, [[Supermarine Swift]]s, [[de Havilland Venom]]s, [[de Havilland Vampire]]s and [[Gloster Javelin]]s. In addition [[Hawker Hunter]] fighters arrived in May 1955 and, two years later, the prototype [[English Electric Lightning|English Electric P1 (Lightning)]] visited RAF Waterbeach.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} |
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====RAF units and aircraft |
====RAF units and aircraft – Fighter Command==== |
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{|class="wikitable" |
{|class="wikitable" |
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After the last RAF fixed-wing aircraft, from [[No. 54 Squadron RAF]], left in August 1963,{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=42}} the site was used by the [[Airfield Construction Branch RAF]] until 1966. |
After the last RAF fixed-wing aircraft, from [[No. 54 Squadron RAF]], left in August 1963,{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=42}} the site was used by the [[Airfield Construction Branch RAF]] until 1966.{{sfn|Hamlin|Merrington|2011|pp=21–22}} |
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===Royal Engineers=== |
===Royal Engineers=== |
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In 1966 the station and airfield remained the property of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], but was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the [[Royal Engineers]], part of the [[British Army]], as [[Waterbeach Barracks]].<ref>[http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4858DA08-9275-4E62-992E-FB72CECC64EE/0/EastofEnglandCallforproposalsAppendix1v1DennyStFrancisFinal.pdf Planning Application CP88 |
In 1966 the station and airfield remained the property of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]], but was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the [[Royal Engineers]], part of the [[British Army]], as [[Waterbeach Barracks]].<ref>[http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4858DA08-9275-4E62-992E-FB72CECC64EE/0/EastofEnglandCallforproposalsAppendix1v1DennyStFrancisFinal.pdf Planning Application CP88 – Denny St Francis (Waterbeach)], Cambridgeshire County Council, retrieved 2011-07-20</ref> Until the closure of nearby [[RAF Oakington]] in the early 1970s, the main runway at Waterbeach remained active, along with the control tower, and was used as a relief landing ground for Varsities used in the advanced pilot training role. The former airfield was used as a training area for troops, with occasional visits by helicopters and, in the past, by the [[Hawker Siddeley Harrier]].<ref>Waterbeach Barracks, 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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===Bibliography=== |
===Bibliography=== |
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*{{cite book |last1=Birtles|first1=Philip|title=UK Airfields of the Cold War |year=2012 |publisher= Midland Publishing|isbn=978-1-85780-346-4}} |
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* Hamlin, John F. & Oliver J. Merrington (2011, updated 2014) At the 'Beach: the story of Royal Air Force Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks. Peterborough: GMS Enterprises (available from Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum) {{ISBN|1-904514-63-4}} |
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*{{cite book |last1= |
*{{cite book |last1=Delve |first1=Ken |title= The Source Book of the RAF|year=1994 |publisher= Airlife Publishing|location= [[Shrewsbury]], UK |isbn= 1-85310-451-5 }} |
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*{{cite book |last1=Hamlin |first1=John F. |first2=Oliver J. |last2=Merrington |year=2011 |orig-year=updated 2014 |title=At the Beach: the story of Royal Air Force Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks |place=Peterborough |publisher=GMS Enterprises |isbn=978-1-904514-63-3}}{{vn|date=April 2021|reason=Only one match found for ISBN on Karlsruhe Virtual Catalog and that was not a complete citation. 2011 ISBN 978-1904514633}} |
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*{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C. G. |title=RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher=Airlife |location=[[Shrewsbury]], UK |isbn= 1-85310-053-6}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Military aviation museums in England]] |
[[Category:Military aviation museums in England]] |
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[[Category:Waterbeach|RAF]] |
Latest revision as of 17:15, 7 February 2024
RAF Waterbeach | |||||||||||
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Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire in England | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 52°16′28″N 000°11′24″E / 52.27444°N 0.19000°E | ||||||||||
Grid reference | TL495665[1] | ||||||||||
Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||
Controlled by | RAF Bomber Command (1941-45) * No. 3 Group RAF[2] RAF Transport Command (1945-50) RAF Fighter Command (1950-) * No. 11 Group RAF[3] RAF Training Command * No. 38 Group RAF[4] | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
Built | 1940 | ||||||||||
In use | 11 January 1941 - 2013 | ||||||||||
Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II Cold War | ||||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||||
Elevation | 10 metres (33 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||
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Royal Air Force Waterbeach or more simply RAF Waterbeach is a former Royal Air Force station located in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire which is about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) north of Cambridge, England. The site was transferred to the Royal Engineers, part of the British Army, in 1966, as Waterbeach Barracks.
History[edit]
Royal Air Force[edit]
The airfield was built in 1940 on the northern edge of Waterbeach village and operated under the control of RAF Bomber Command.[5] The original control tower and many RAF buildings, including several hangars, are still present.[6]
RAF units and aircraft – Bomber Command, WW2[edit]
Years | Unit | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
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1941-1942 | No. 99 Squadron RAF | Vickers Wellington | Ic, II | |
1941-1942 | No. 26 Conversion Flight RAF | Short Stirling | I | On 2 January 1942 it was upgraded to form 1651 CU |
1942–1943 | No. 1651 Conversion Unit RAF | Short Stirling | I, III | During 1942 it flew 49 operational sorties, with a loss of five aircraft |
1942 | 214 Squadron Conversion Flight RAF | Short Stirling | I | Two short stays April–May and August–October 1942 |
1943 | No. 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF | Short Stirling | I | |
1943 | No. 1678 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF | Avro Lancaster | II | The training unit for No. 514 Squadron RAF |
1943-1945 | No. 514 Squadron RAF | Avro Lancaster | I, II and III | 437 aircrew were killed flying with 514 Squadron |
Transport Command, 1945-1949[edit]
After the Second World War, Consolidated Liberators and Douglas Dakotas from RAF Transport Command flew from RAF Waterbeach.[7]
RAF units and aircraft – Transport Command[edit]
Years | Unit | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
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1945-1946 | No. 59 Squadron RAF | Consolidated Liberator | B, C and GR | Carrying troops to and from India and the Far East |
1945-1946 | No. 220 Squadron RAF | Consolidated Liberator | C Mk V, VI and VIII | |
1946 | 1552 (BABS) Flight RAF | Airspeed Oxford | Training in Beam Approach Beacon System, March–July | |
1946-1947 | No. 51 Squadron RAF | Avro York | C | |
1947–1949 | No. 77 Squadron RAF | Douglas Dakota | Participated in Operation Plainfare, the Berlin Airlift | |
1947–1949 | No. 62 Squadron RAF | Douglas Dakota | Participated in Operation Plainfare, the Berlin Airlift | |
1947–1949 | No. 53 Squadron RAF | Douglas Dakota | Participated in Operation Plainfare, the Berlin Airlift | |
1947-1950 | No. 18 Squadron RAF | Douglas Dakota | Participated in Operation Plainfare, the Berlin Airlift | |
1949-1950 | No. 24 Squadron RAF | Avro Lancastrian Douglas Dakota Avro York |
C2 C Mk IV C Mk I |
Participated in Operation Plainfare and then European scheduled services |
Fighter Command, 1950-1963[edit]
RAF Fighter Command took over the base on 1 March 1950 and used Gloster Meteors, Supermarine Swifts, de Havilland Venoms, de Havilland Vampires and Gloster Javelins. In addition Hawker Hunter fighters arrived in May 1955 and, two years later, the prototype English Electric P1 (Lightning) visited RAF Waterbeach.[citation needed]
RAF units and aircraft – Fighter Command[edit]
Years | Unit | Aircraft | Variant | Notes |
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1950-1959 | No. 56 Squadron RAF | Gloster Meteor Supermarine Swift Hawker Hunter |
F4 and F8 F1 and F2 F5 and F8 |
27 Meteor F4s from RAF Thorney Island arrived on 10 May 1950 |
1950-1958 | No. 63 Squadron RAF | Gloster Meteor Hawker Hunter |
F4 and F8 F6a |
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1955-1957 | No. 253 Squadron RAF | de Havilland Venom de Havilland Vampire |
NF2a T11 |
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1957-1958 | No. 153 Squadron RAF | Gloster Meteor Gloster Javelin |
NF12 and 14 FAW 7 and 9 |
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1958-1961 | No. 25 Squadron RAF | Gloster Meteor Gloster Javelin |
NF12 and 14 FAW 7 and 9 |
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1959-1961 | No. 46 Squadron RAF | Gloster Javelin | FAW 2 | |
1961-1962 | No. 64 Squadron RAF | Gloster Javelin | FAW 9 | |
1961-1963 | No. 1 Squadron RAF | Hawker Hunter | F6 and FGA9 | |
1961-1963 | No. 54 Squadron RAF | Hawker Hunter | FGA9 | Hunter XG264 was the last to leave RAF Waterbeach for RAF West Raynham on 8 August 1963 |
After the last RAF fixed-wing aircraft, from No. 54 Squadron RAF, left in August 1963,[8] the site was used by the Airfield Construction Branch RAF until 1966.[9]
Royal Engineers[edit]
In 1966 the station and airfield remained the property of the Ministry of Defence, but was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Engineers, part of the British Army, as Waterbeach Barracks.[10] Until the closure of nearby RAF Oakington in the early 1970s, the main runway at Waterbeach remained active, along with the control tower, and was used as a relief landing ground for Varsities used in the advanced pilot training role. The former airfield was used as a training area for troops, with occasional visits by helicopters and, in the past, by the Hawker Siddeley Harrier.[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ Birtles 2012, p. 52.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 77.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 85.
- ^ Delve 1994, p. 89.
- ^ Hamlin & Merrington 2011, p. [page needed].
- ^ Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum, displays and unpublished archives.
- ^ Hamlin & Merrington 2011, pp. 31–35.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 42.
- ^ Hamlin & Merrington 2011, pp. 21–22.
- ^ Planning Application CP88 – Denny St Francis (Waterbeach), Cambridgeshire County Council, retrieved 2011-07-20
- ^ Waterbeach Barracks, 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group
Bibliography[edit]
- Birtles, Philip (2012). UK Airfields of the Cold War. Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-346-4.
- Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
- Hamlin, John F.; Merrington, Oliver J. (2011) [updated 2014]. At the Beach: the story of Royal Air Force Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks. Peterborough: GMS Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-904514-63-3.[verification needed]
- Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
External links[edit]
- Waterbeach Barracks and Airfield (Urban&Civic)
- Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum (former Barracks Museum)
- 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group, Royal Engineers (now at RAF Wittering)
- 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support), Royal Engineers (now at Kinloss Barracks)