RAF Cosford

Last updated

RAF Cosford
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Near Cosford, Shropshire in England
24 Approach.jpg
Runway 24 at RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford badge.png
Seul le premier pas coute
(French for 'Only the first step is difficult.')
Shropshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
RAF Cosford
Shown within Shropshire
Coordinates 52°38′42″N002°15′20″W / 52.64500°N 2.25556°W / 52.64500; -2.25556
Type Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Air Force
Controlled by No. 22 Group
Open to
the public		RAF Museum only
Website Official website
www.rafmuseum.org.uk/midlands/
Site history
Built1938 (1938)
In use1938–present
Garrison information
Current
commander		 Group Captain Penny Brady Chartered
Occupants
Airfield information
Identifiers ICAO: EGWC
Elevation83 metres (272 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
06/241,127 metres (3,698 ft)  Asphalt

Royal Air Force Cosford or RAF Cosford (formerly DCAE Cosford) [1] ( ICAO : EGWC) is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, England just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton.

Contents

It is a training station, home to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering headquarters, the Defence School of Photography, No. 1 Radio School, and the RAF School of Physical Training.

History

Origins

RAF Cosford opened in 1938 as a joint aircraft maintenance, storage and technical training unit. [2] It was originally intended to be opened as RAF Donington (the parish in which it is located) but to avoid confusion with the nearby army camp at Donnington it was named after Cosford Grange House which was located at the south western edge of the airfield. [3] It has remained mainly a training unit to this day. The Fulton barrack block was built just before the Second World War as the largest single building barrack block in the UK. The block was named after Captain Fulton (an early Air Force pioneer) and paid for by his widow, Lady Fulton. [4] It is a listed building and is now used for technical training. [5]

No 2 School of Technical Training was formed in 1938 and during the Second World War it trained 70,000 airmen in engine, airframe and armament trades. No 2 School of Technical Training was subsumed into the No 1 School of Technical Training when it moved to Cosford from RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. [6]

In the Second World War No. 12 Ferry Pool of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) was formed at Cosford. This unit delivered Spitfires from the station, returning with bombers or fighters for No 9 Maintenance Unit. Ferry flights were often flown by women pilots. Amy Johnson came to Cosford on more than one occasion. [7]

In 1940 after the Fall of France a depôt was established at RAF Cosford for Free Czechoslovak personnel joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. [8]

The airfield runway was originally a grass strip. [9] During the bad winter of 1940–41 landing heavy aircraft, such as Vickers Wellingtons and Avro Ansons, turned the strip into a mudbath. This prompted the construction of a paved runway of 1,146 yards (1,048 m) long and 46 yards (42 m) wide. [10]

A substantial hospital staffed by Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service personnel was established at RAF Cosford and was the most westerly such RAF hospital in the UK. It consisted of wooden spurred huts. It was the main centre for repatriated prisoners of war, processing more than 13,000 by 1948. Many from the Far East had to remain for long-term treatment. [11] The hospital was open to the general public as well as servicemen and women. It was closed on 31 December 1977 and demolished in 1980. [12]

The extensive sports facilities at Cosford, located around a banked indoor running track, became well known nationally through televised annual indoor championships that featured top athletes from all over the world. [13]

Defence Training Review

A Grob G 115E Tutor operated by No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF posted to RAF Cosford. Grob G 115E EA-3.JPG
A Grob G 115E Tutor operated by No. 8 Air Experience Flight RAF posted to RAF Cosford.

Following the UK Government's 2001 Defence Training Review (DTR), the Ministry of Defence proposed handing over armed forces skills training to a private sector bidder for a 25-year term, and it was announced on 17 January 2007 that the Metrix consortium had been awarded Preferred Bidder status for Package 1 of this programme. As a consequence, it was anticipated that all technical training would move from Cosford to Metrix's main campus to be built on the RAF St Athan site over a 5-year period from 2008. [14] This in turn was deferred with no anticipated move from Cosford to St Athan for DCAE and No1 RS staff and trainees before 2014–15 at the earliest. For those other training schools, headquarters and units then at Cosford, decisions were yet to be made about their future location. [15]

On 31 January 2008, the Government announced that when 1 Signal Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade withdrew from Germany they would move to Cosford. It was also noted that Metrix proposed to establish a Learning Centre and Design facility at the Cosford site. [16]

In December 2012 the Government announced that training facilities from RAF Cosford would be moved by the end of 2015 to the site of the former RAF Station at Lyneham as part of the projected tri-service Defence College of Technical Training, in common with Army and Royal Navy training facilities that would also be consolidated on the site. However, on 15 September 2015, the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon announced in Parliament by written statement that: the Lyneham site would be used only by the army; that Cosford would not be closed and would remain as a separate RAF training establishment; that it would be given extra work, with a fourth training school (No 4 School of Technical Training) moving to Cosford from MoD St Athan in south Wales. The announcement was described in local media as "a Government U-turn". [17]

No. 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, which operated the Grob Vigilant T1, was disbanded in November 2016. [18]

No. 2 School of Technical Training reformed on 20 July 2023 and took responsibility for the activities of the Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School. [19]

Based units

A Grob G 109B Vigilant Motor Glider which was operated by No. 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at RAF Cosford. Grob g109b zh268 motorglider arp.jpg
A Grob G 109B Vigilant Motor Glider which was operated by No. 633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at RAF Cosford.

Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Cosford. [20] [21]

Royal Air Force

No. 22 (Training) Group

No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)

RAF Voluntary Bands Association

RAF Museum

Civilian

Role and operations

Training

Cosford became part of the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE), which was formed on 1 April 2004. The Defence College at RAF Cosford came under the Defence Technical Training Change Programme (DCTTP) and as such, with effect from 1 October 2012, was renamed the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE). [1]

Air Ambulance

RAF Cosford's airfield site is home to one of the Midlands Air Ambulance helicopters. The first aircraft arrived on site in October 1991 with two other platforms based elsewhere in the region. Cosford remains the operations hub for the service. [22]

RAF Museum Cosford

The site is also home to the Aerospace Museum, which is a branch of the Royal Air Force Museum. Amongst the large collection of military aircraft is a unique collection of research and development aircraft, including one of two existing examples of the TSR2, a multi-role combat aircraft, controversially scrapped by the Wilson Government and still a point of discussion within the RAF. [23]

The Cold War Exhibition was opened on 7 February 2007 by former prime minister Baroness Thatcher and HRH Princess Anne. [24] Exhibits include the only collection of three V bombers (Valiant, Victor and Vulcan) in the same place in the world. [25]

RAF Cosford Air Show

Cosford Air Show
The Red Arrows (8998800311).jpg
The Red Arrows performing at the 2013 Airshow
Statusactive
Genreair show
Date(s)Second Sunday in June [26]
Frequencyannually
VenueRAF Cosford airfield site
CountryEngland
Previous eventCosford Air Show 2024
Next eventCosford Air Show 2025
Attendance50,000+
Sponsor Royal Air Force
Website CosfordAirShow.co.uk

The Cosford Air Show is now the only Royal Air Force (RAF) air show that is officially supported by the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, [27] following the closure of RAF Leuchars, and the runway resurfacing at RAF Waddington. [note 1] The latter events led to the ending of air shows at those RAF stations. [28] [26] The event at RAF Cosford regularly hosts flying and static displays which attract more than 50,000 people. [29]

An airshow at Cosford was first proposed in 1978 [30] and has continued to the present day. The event was cancelled in 2003 owing to an inability to secure enough operational military aircraft. The war in Iraq meant that RAF aircraft were fully committed, and none could be allocated for the air show. [31] The runway at RAF Cosford is only 1,200 yards (1,100 metres) in length. [32] Consequently, most flying displays necessitate aircraft being flown in either direct from their home stations, or after a temporary overnight deployment to RAF Shawbury which has a 300 yards (270 metres) longer runway. [33] [34] [26]

The airshow varies in detail from year to year, but comprises the typical mix of flying and static displays, fun-fair rides, concession stands, food outlets, and trade stands. [35] It also serves to raise money for charity, whilst also being seen by the Royal Air Force as a recruitment event, as part of its wider public engagement. Recent years have seen the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) events, [36] with guests such as Carol Vorderman highlighting the STEM approach. [37] All profits raised at the event go to supporting charities officially recognised by the air show committee. [38] The event in 2016 raised £115,000 for RAF charities. [36]

In 2013, Prince Harry, as a member of No. 662 Squadron of the Army Air Corps, took part in the Apache helicopter demonstration at the air show, [39] and, in 2018, Cosford hosted an RAF airshow marking the centenary of the Royal Air Force. [40]

As there is restricted access by motor vehicle, all roads into the Cosford site are one-way during events, with traffic flow inwards in the morning and outwards in the afternoon and evening. Occasionally, there are tailbacks and queuing on the M54 motorway and the slip and access roads have to be closed on the site reaching its 18,000 vehicle parking limit. [41] The local train operator, Arriva Trains Wales, offers a combined rail and air show ticket at a discount, allowing users direct access to the airshow on foot. [42] Cosford railway station is next to the main crash gate access point at the eastern edge of the airfield. [43]

There are hopes that the airshow might be extended to take place over two days, to rival to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), which attracts 150,000 spectators. [36]

Heritage

Station badge and motto

The RAF Cosford Badge is adorned with an oak tree and the motto is Seul Le Premier Pas Coute, which translates as Only the Beginning is Difficult. [44] The oak tree is symbolic of the nearby oak at Boscobel which King Charles II took refuge in after the Battle of Worcester. [45] The idea behind this association is that from little acorns, great oak trees grow (from trainees the airmen of the future grow). [46] This badge was shared with the No. 2 School of Technical Training until 1986, when the School adopted a new badge depicting the iron bridge of Ironbridge and the motto, Scientia Pons Perpetuus Est which translates as Knowledge is a Lasting Bridge. [47]

Built heritage

Fulton Block Cosford Fulton Block at RAF Cosford.jpg
Fulton Block Cosford

The station's Fulton Block, a combined barracks block, institute and mess, was grade II listed in December 2005. Built between 1938 and 1939 as permanent accommodation for 1,000 personnel, it was designed in the Moderne architectural style by J H Binge, of the Air Ministry's Directorate of Works and Buildings. [48]

Station Commanders

The following are the Station Commanders for RAF Cosford, DCAE and DSAE Cosford.

DateNameDateNameDateName
July 1938Group Captain W J GuilfoyleAugust 1978Group Captain D G CampbellJuly 2020Group Captain G J Bryant
November 1939Group Captain W BudgenOctober 1980Group Captain W F MullenJuly 2022Group Captain C Gibb
November 1940Group Captain J McCraeOctober 1982Group Captain T J MorganJanuary 2024Wing Commander P Brady
February 1942Group Captain W D ClappenSeptember 1984Group Captain M W Windle
February 1943Air Commodore C E H AllenSeptember 1986Group Captain R M Best
September 1946Air Commodore P S BlockleyOctober 1988Group Captain M Van Der Veen
June 1948Air Commodore R J RodwellOctober 1990Group Captain M G Yeates
January 1952Air Commodore W L FreebodyNovember 1992Group Captain M J Gilding
October 1953Air Commodore R J Pilgrim-MorrisApril 1995Group Captain S B Schofield
April 1956Air Commodore J R MutchFebruary 1997Group Captain A J Smith
May 1956Air Commodore R HarstonSeptember 1998Group Captain D N Williams
March 1959Group Captain A W Caswell, OBEJuly 2000Group Captain A J Burrell
November 1961Group Captain L H MoultonJuly 2002 Group Captain A J Young
May 1963Group Captain C S ThomasApril 2004Air Commodore S R Sims
November 1965Group Captain H DurkinOctober 2006Air Commodore N W Gammon
July 1967Group Captain H A J MillsMarch 2009Air Commodore C H Green†
April 1970Group Captain W M SmedleyMay 2011Group Captain J B Johnston
August 1972Group Captain C L ParkinsonApril 2013Group Captain A M Sansom
January 1975Group Captain A ThirkettleJuly 2015Group Captain M Hunt
August 1976Group Captain R L SmithJune 2017Group Captain A J Baker

† Died in office May 2011. [49]

Accidents and incidents

On 4 March 2000, Julian Paszki of Wrekin Gliding Club was killed when his Ex-RAF Chipmunk aircraft crashed. The aircraft was seen to veer left and dive into the ground despite being only 30 feet (9.1 m) in the air at the time. Mr Paszki was pulled alive from the wreckage but died at Selly Oak Hospital later that same day. [50] [51]

RAF Cosford is the location for James May's Toy Stories, where the BBC's Top Gear presenter constructed a 1:1 scale Supermarine Spitfire in the style of an Airfix kit with the help of students from the Thomas Telford school and Air Cadets from the ATC. [52]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The airshow at Waddington was cancelled and has been reborn at RAF Scampton; however, the Air Force Board only support the Cosford Air Show directly within the RAF.

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References

  1. 1 2 "RAF - RAF Cosford Present". www.raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Philpott, Ian (2008). "RAF stations, airfields and other establishments". The Royal Air Force - an encyclopedia of the inter-war years. Vol. 2, Re-armament 1930 - 1939. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p.  293. ISBN   978-1-84415-391-6.
  3. ↑ Brooks 2008, p. 49.
  4. ↑ Clarke, Bob (2007). "Four; Realisation not rationalisation - expansion policy 1933-39". The archaeology of airfields. Stroud: Tempus. pp. 92–94. ISBN   978-0-7524-4401-7.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Fulton Block (Grade II) (1407287)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Delve, Ken (2007). The Military Airfields of Britain – Wales and West Midlands. Marlborough: Crowood Press. p. 87. ISBN   978-1861269-17-1.
  7. ↑ Brooks 2008, p. 54.
  8. ↑ Janoušek, Karel (1942). The Czechoslovak Air Force. London: Inspectorate-General of the Czechoslovak Air Force. p. 20.
  9. ↑ Brew 2009, p. 5.
  10. ↑ Brooks 2008, pp. 52–53.
  11. ↑ Brooks 2008, p. 57.
  12. ↑ Brew 2009, p. 6.
  13. ↑ Brew 2009, p. 95.
  14. ↑ "Uncertain future for RAF Cosford defence base". BBC News. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "RAF Cosford present". raf.mod.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Armed Forces: Borona Programme". Hansard. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "RAF Cosford future is safe after U-turn". Shropshire Star. 15 September 2015. p. 1.
  18. ↑ "633 Volunteer Gliding Squadron". Facebook. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Lane, Flight Lieutenant Christina (Winter 2023). "The Reformation of No.2 School of Technical Training". Cosford Apprentice: 17.
  20. ↑ "RAF Cosford – Who's Based Here". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "No1 School of Technical Training". RAF Cosford. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Midlands Air Ambulance History". Midlands Air Ambulance. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  23. ↑ "British Aircraft Corporation TSR 2". RAF Museum. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  24. ↑ "High life for painters at museum". Shropshire Star. 27 April 2016. p. 5.
  25. ↑ "RAF Museum Cosford". Visit Shropshire. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  26. 1 2 3 "RAF Cosford Airshow 2017 Flying Display Programme - Military Airshows in the UK". Military-Airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  27. ↑ "PREVIEW: RAF Cosford Air Show 2017". Airshows.org.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  28. ↑ "RAF Cosford Air Show by UK airshow review". Airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "50,000 flock to RAF Cosford Air Show 2016". Shropshire Star . MNA Media. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  30. ↑ "Air show called off". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  31. ↑ "Interest 'high' in RAF air show". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 28 March 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  32. ↑ McLelland 2010, p. 86.
  33. ↑ McLelland 2010, p. 203.
  34. ↑ "Unusual air activity at RAF Shawbury". RAF.MoD.uk. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  35. ↑ "Air show returns to county". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 26 December 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  36. 1 2 3 Williams, Simon, ed. (7 April 2017). "Cosford goes for the double". RAF News (1416). RAF High Wycombe: Royal Air Force: 9. ISSN   0035-8614.
  37. ↑ "Carol Vorderman returns to Cosford Air Show". RAF.MoD.uk. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  38. ↑ "RAF Cosford's 75th anniversary marked at air show". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Prince Harry shows off Apache helicopter tricks at airshow". Daily Telegraph . 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  40. ↑ "RAF Cosford 2018 Airshow a major success". Royal Air Force. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  41. ↑ "Record crowd at Cosford Air Show". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 14 June 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  42. ↑ "Air show train service decimated". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  43. ↑ "More trains to ease show traffic". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 17 March 2005. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  44. ↑ Reyburn, Ross (2 December 2000). "Down Your Way: A sound base for training; Cosford offers more to the community and the RAF itself than just the famous air show". Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. pp. 8–9.
  45. ↑ "Story of England - Charles The II and The Royal Oak". English Heritage . Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  46. ↑ Howells, F (2000). "100 Years in Albrighton". Chat Histories: 58.
  47. ↑ Joyner, Andrew (1994). "Royal Air Force Cosford The War Years". Cosford: Royal Air Force Cosford: 9. OCLC   810764883.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  48. ↑ Historic England. "Fulton Block, RAF Cosford (1407287)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  49. ↑ "RAF Cosford station commander's funeral held". BBC News. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  50. ↑ Hudson, Jenny (4 March 2000). "Mystery over flight launch pilot's death". Sunday Mercury . Trinity Mirror.
  51. ↑ "Inquiry after pilot dies in mystery plane crash". Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. 6 March 2000. p. 4. ISSN   0963-7915.
  52. ↑ "Flying high with James May". Coventry Telegraph. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2021.

Bibliography

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