RAF Abingdon

Royal Air Force Abingdon or more simply RAF Abingdon was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It is now known as Dalton Barracks and is used by the Royal Logistic Corps.

RAF Abingdon
Near Abingdon, Oxfordshire in England
An aerial view of RAF Abingdon circa 1972.
Proudly
RAF Abingdon
Location in Oxfordshire
Coordinates51°41′N 001°19′W
TypeRoyal Air Force flying station
Area288 hectares
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1931 (1931)
In use1932–1992 (1992)
FateTransferred to the British Army and became Dalton Barracks. Airfield continued to be used as a satellite station for RAF helicopter training.
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: ABB, ICAO: EGUD
Elevation69 metres (226 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
18/36 1,802 metres (5,912 ft) Asphalt
08/26 1,067 metres (3,501 ft) Asphalt

History

The airfield was opened in 1932, initially as a training station for RAF Bomber Command.

On 16 November 1933 HQ Central Area moved to RAF Abingdon.[1] It was disbanded by being renamed No. 1 (Bomber) Group RAF on 1 May 1936.

Second World War

Orders arrived on 24-25 August 1939 to mobilise the squadrons at Abingdon prior to proceeding to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force (AASF). On receipt of orders to move to France, Headquarters No. 1 Group became Headquarters AASF and the station headquarters and the two Fairey Battle squadrons (one of which was No. 15 Squadron) at Abingdon became No. 71 (Bomber) Wing RAF.[2] As noted in the table below, two Battle squadrons departed for France on 2 September.

No. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF was based at the airfield from April 1940 until 1946. From 1940 to 1942, Abingdon's station commander was Herbert Massey.[3]

1945–1960

After the Second World War RAF Abingdon became part of RAF Transport Command, and also became the home of No. 1 Parachute Training School which is now stationed at RAF Brize Norton. The Parachute Training School, and RAF Abingdon generally, featured heavily in the 1953 Alan Ladd film The Red Beret (called Paratrooper in the USA), and the Parachute Training School was used as a location for some scenes for the films Carve Her Name With Pride (1958) and Operation Crossbow (1965) as well as the French comedy Babette s'en va-t-en guerre (1959) which starred Brigitte Bardot. On 14 June 1968 Queen Elizabeth II conducted a royal review at RAF Abingdon to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF.

About 1948–49 Headquarters No. 47 Group RAF, Transport Command, was at RAF Abingdon. The station, its personnel and aircraft (Yorks and Hastings) were involved in the Berlin Airlift.[4]

In 1952 a ferry unit was based at RAF Abingdon. It moved Mosquito, Hornet, Meteor, Vampire and Spitfire aircraft. 15 Sabres were ferried from Canada but only 12 arrived. After checks and servicing the Sabres went to RAF Germany.

In 1953 all flying units dispersed to other units to make way for Nos. 24 and 47 Squadrons operating Handley Page Hastings Mks 1, 2 and 4. The three Mk 4 Hastings ("shiny fleet") belonged to 24 Squadron, serialled WD324, 326 and 500.

Also 1953, RAF Abingdon received the freedom of Abingdon.

On 22 April 1953 the spy George Blake arrived at RAF Abingdon, back from Korea via Moscow and Berlin.[5]

In 1955 47 Squadron changed its Hastings for the Blackburn Beverley. Later 24 Squadron moved to RAF Colerne. It was replaced by No. 53 Squadron RAF operating the Beverley.

1961–1992

Besides London University Air Squadron, the Oxford University Air Squadron was based at RAF Abingdon. Abingdon was also the home of No. 6 AEF (Air Experience Flight) operating between 6 and 8 DHC Chipmunks for ATC/CCF Air Cadet flight experience training. 6 AEF was one of a very few locations that offered air cadets the "Air Cadet Navigator" training course, leading to the award of Cadet Navigation Wings.

In the late 1960s the Blackburn Beverleys' hangars had dormer extensions put in the roof to take the extra height of the tailplane of the Short Belfasts of No. 47 Squadron. Once the nose of the Belfast was in the hangar the nose had to be lifted to get the tail fin under the lip of the roof. The nose was then lowered and the tail fin rose up into the dormer roof for that parking position. No. 46 Squadron was also at Abingdon at this time flying Andovers, one of their roles being to support UK MAMS (United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements). A small Army Air Dispatch unit was also supported by the airfield at this time.

From 1975 through to the 1990s, Abingdon became a maintenance field, with the AMS (Aircraft Maintenance Squadron) servicing BAE Hawk, SEPECAT Jaguar, Hawker Hunter and Blackburn Buccaneer aircraft. In the early 80s the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster bomber spent a couple of winters at RAF Abingdon to undergo major refurbishment. During this period, RAF Abingdon was also home to the Field Repair Squadron (later Repair & Salvage Squadron) which included Aircraft Repair Flight, Aircraft Salvage and Transportation Flight (formerly 71 MU "Crash & Smash") and Battle Damage Repair Flight.

From 1986 to 1988 RAF Abingdon became home to the Thames Valley Police Air Support Unit, flying a helicopter on police operations. It was also the home of the London University Air Squadron in the seventies. An annual airshow took place at RAF Abingdon until the early nineties.

From 1981 many ex-airline Vickers VC10s were stored at the station following their purchase by the MoD. By the early 1990s, the aircraft were either converted to tankers or scrapped. It was intended that the 3 Air Maintenance Support (3 AMS) unit would move from RAF Brize Norton, only a few miles away, to undertake the major servicing of the VC10 military fleet. This would have involved the modification of a number of hangars to raise the roof to allow access for the VC10 high tail section at a cost of £5m.

Closure

In July 1992 a white paper to review defence requirements "Option for Change" recommended the closure of RAF Abingdon and that a new hangar, known as "Twin Peaks" be built at RAF St Athan with the reforming of 3 AMS, from RAF Brize Norton to 1 AMS at RAF St Athan in August 1992.

RAF Abingdon closed on 31 July 1992, with the Oxford and London University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight moving to RAF Benson.[6] The station was transferred to the British Army and it was renamed Dalton Barracks. RAF Benson continues to use Abingdon as a diversion airfield and for helicopter training.

Squadrons
SquadronEquipmentFromToToNotes
No. 15 Squadron RAFHawker Hart
Hawker Hind
Fairey Battle		1 June 19342 September 1939BethenivilleReformed here.[7]
No. 24 Squadron RAFHandley Page Hastings C.1/C.2/C.46 May 19531 January 1957RAF Colerne[8]
No. 27 Squadron RAFNo equipment1 November 194724 November 1947RAF OakingtonReformed here.[9]
No. 30 Squadron RAFNo equipment1 November 194724 November 1947RAF OakingtonReformed here.[10]
No. 30 Squadron RAFDakota27 November 19502 May 1952[10]
No. 30 Squadron RAFVickers Valetta C.127 November 19502 May 1952RAF Benson[10]
No. 40 Squadron RAFGordon
Hart (Special)
Hind
Battle		8 October 19322 September 1939BethenivilleReformed here.[11]
No. 46 Squadron RAFDakota
Andover C.1		16 December 1946
1 September 1966		24 November 1947
9 September 1970		RAF Oakington
RAF Thorney Island
Reformed here.[12]
No. 47 Squadron RAFHastings C.2
Blackburn Beverley C.1		13 May 195331 October 1967Disbanded[12]
No. 51 Squadron RAFAvro York C.11 December 194725 June 1949RAF Bassingbourn[13]
No. 52 Squadron RAFHind18 January 19371 March 1937RAF UpwoodReformed here.[13]
No. 53 Squadron RAFHastings C.1/C.2
Beverley C.1		1 January 195730 June 1963Disbanded[14]
No. 59 Squadron RAFYork C.11 December 194725 June 1949RAF BassingbournDetachment at Wunstorf Air Base for the Berlin Airlift.[15]
No. 62 Squadron RAFHind3 May 193712 July 1937RAF CranfieldReformed here.[15]
No. 63 Squadron RAFBattle
Avro Anson I		9 September 193917 September 1939RAF Benson[15]
No. 97 Squadron RAFAnson I
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley II/III		17 September 19398 April 1940Disbanded[16]
No. 98 Squadron RAFHind17 February 193621 August 1936RAF HucknallReformed here.[16]
No. 103 Squadron RAFBattle15 June 194018 June 1940RAF Honington[17]
No. 104 Squadron RAFHind7 January 193621 August 1936RAF Hucknall[17]
No. 106 Squadron RAFHind
Battle		1 June 19381 September 1938RAF ThornabyReformed here.[18]
No. 147 Squadron RAFNo equipment1 February 195316 April 1953RAF BensonReformed here.[19]
No. 166 Squadron RAFWhitley I/III17 September 19396 April 1940DisbandedDetachment at RAF Jurby.[20]
No. 167 Squadron RAFNo equipment1 February 195316 April 1953RAF BensonReformed here.[20]
No. 185 Squadron RAFHind
Battle		1 March 19381 September 1938RAF ThornabyDetachment at RAF Thornaby.[21]
No. 238 Squadron RAFDakota1 December 194624 November 1947RAF OakingtonDetachment at Schwechat.[22]
No. 242 Squadron RAFYork C.11 December 194725 June 1949RAF LynehamDetachment at Wunstorf.[23]
No. 525 Squadron RAFDakota31 October 19461 December 1946DisbandedDetachment at Schwecat.[24]

Units

The following units were also here at some point:[25]

Accidents and incidents

The operational training unit at RAF Abingdon suffered numerous air crashes from 1939 to 1946.[26][27] Many of the crashes were close to the airfield.[28]

  • On 17 January 1941 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V N1494 was taking off from Abingdon for a night training flight despite there being a snowstorm. The aircraft crashed in Wootton Road, killing the pilot and three other members of the crew. Two other crewmen parachuted to safety. The survivors reported that ice had caused one engine to fail.[29]
  • On 5 July 1941 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V Z6667 was on a night training flight from Abingdon when it crashed at Chiselhampton. The cause was variously attributed to either a Luftwaffe night fighter or friendly fire by a local anti-aircraft unit. All six crew were killed.[30]
  • On 22 June 1953 Handley Page Hastings WJ335 stalled and crashed on takeoff at RAF Abingdon. The elevator control locks had been left engaged. All six crew were killed.
  • On 5 March 1957 a 53 Squadron Blackburn Beverley took off from the airfield but suffered fuel starvation, tried to turn back and crashed at Sutton Wick 2 miles (3 km) from the airfield.[31] Three crew, 15 passengers (including RAF Police and six of their dogs) and two civilians on the ground were killed.[32][33]

While at RAF Abingdon from mid 1951 and Nov 1952. A Mosquito doing circuits and bumps on one engine crashed on its landing approach. Subsequently a Sea Otter crashed on takeoff killing the pilot and an OR passenger. This was probably in 1952. Sorry I do no have precise dates

  • On 6 July 1965 another RAF Handley Page Hastings took off for a parachute drop but crashed at Little Baldon, killing all 41 people aboard.[34][35]
  • On 23 September 1988 a Lockheed S-3 Viking failed to stop on the runway, skidded across the grass and came to a stop on Barrow road to the south of the airfield, while ferrying from USS Theodore Roosevelt. No crew members were injured.
  • On 23 September 1988 a McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 crashed at the airfield while practising for the annual airshow, killing both crew (Flt Lt Chris Lackman & Flt Lt Jack Thompson).
  • On 14 September 1989 a Panavia Tornado crashed near the airfield.
  • On 14 June 2009 an RAF Grob Tutor and a civilian glider crashed near the airfield, killing an Air Training Corps cadet and an instructor. The glider pilot parachuted from his aircraft in time and was unharmed.

References

Citations
  1. http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Cmd_H2.htm
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20081007040316/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h1gp.html, accessed June 2020.
  3. RAF Web
  4. personal service records
  5. Turner, John Frayn (2012). Traitor: British Double Agents 1930–80. Osprey Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 978-1780967295.
  6. 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. 158. ISBN 1-899808-06-X.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 29.
  8. Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  9. Jefford 1988, p. 33.
  10. Jefford 1988, p. 35.
  11. Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  12. Jefford 1988, p. 40.
  13. Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  14. Jefford 1988, p. 42.
  15. Jefford 1988, p. 44.
  16. Jefford 1988, p. 53.
  17. Jefford 1988, p. 54.
  18. Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  19. Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  20. Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  21. Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  22. Jefford 1988, p. 76.
  23. Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  24. Jefford 1988, p. 96.
  25. "Abingdon". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  26. Minns, Pat. "Aircraft Losses 1939–42". RAF Abingdon 10 OTU. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  27. Minns, Pat. "Aircraft Losses 1939–46". RAF Abingdon 10 OTU. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  28. Minns, Pat. "Local crashes". RAF Abingdon 10 OTU. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  29. "17.04.1941 No. 10 O.T.U. Whitley V N1494 F/O Doggett". Archive Report: Allied Forces. Aircrew Remembered. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  30. "04/05.07.1941 No. 10 O.T.U. Whitley V Z6667 Fl/Sgt. Lynch". Archive Report: Allied Forces. Aircrew Remembered. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  31. "Giant Abingdon Plane Hits Houses: 20 Feared Dead". Oxford Mail. 5 March 1957.
  32. Halley 2001, p. 39.
  33. Accident description for Blackburn Beverley crash at Sutton Wick, 5 March 1957 at the Aviation Safety Network
  34. "41 killed in Oxon crash". Oxford Mail. 7 July 1965. pp. 8–9.
  35. Accident description for Handley Page Hastings crash at Little Baldon, 6 July 1965 at the Aviation Safety Network

Bibliography
  • Halley, James J (2001). Royal Air Force Aircraft, XA100 to XZ999. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-311-0.
  • 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 Publishing, ISBN 1-84037-141-2
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