Wattisham Flying Station | |||||||
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Wattisham, Suffolk in England | |||||||
Coordinates | 52°07′37″N000°57′21″E / 52.12694°N 0.95583°E | ||||||
Type | Army Air Corps airfield | ||||||
Site information | |||||||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||
Operator | British Army | ||||||
Controlled by | Army Air Corps | ||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||
Site history | |||||||
Built | 1913 | ||||||
In use | Royal Air Force (1939–1942 and 1946–1992) US Army Air Forces (1942–1946) Army Air Corps (1993 – present) | ||||||
Garrison information | |||||||
Garrison | |||||||
Airfield information | |||||||
Identifiers | ICAO: EGUW, WMO: 035900 | ||||||
Elevation | 86.2 metres (283 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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Other airfield facilities | Dummy landing deck | ||||||
Source: UK Military AIP [1] |
Wattisham Flying Station, formerly Wattisham Airfield, is a British Army airfield and barracks located near the village of Wattisham in Suffolk, England. It is home to the Army Air Corps' Apache attack helicopter force. A helicopter repair facility provided by 7 Aviation Support Battalion, REME and 132 Aviation Supply Squadron, RLC is also based at the airfield.
The RAF maintains a presence at the airfield with a section of Survival Equipment Specialists who maintain survival equipment carried by Apache aircrew, including their helmets.
The airfield covers a site of 1,072 acres (434 ha), with approximately 2,000 troops stationed on site.
Wattisham Airfield has had a long and distinguished history. First opening in April 1939, the airfield was used by the RAF before being lent to the United States Army Air Forces in 1942. After the Second World War, Wattisham became one of the UK's front-line air force fighter airfields during the Cold War, with aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert on a rotational basis with other UK fighter stations. [2]
Wattisham used to house 'B' Flight, 22 Squadron Royal Air Force with its Search & Rescue Sea King helicopters, until the privatisation of SAR provision in 2015, which led to 22 Squadron standing down. The closest SAR base under the new Bristow Helicopters contract is Lydd Airport in Kent. [3]
As of 1 November 2018, there were 852 personnel assigned to 3 and 4 Regiments and 429 to 7 Aviation Support Battalion. [4]
Apart from the military, the Anglia Gliding Club also operates from the airfield. [5] (making it the oldest serving member of Wattisham, having been there as a RAFGSA club when the RAF occupied). Also resident is No 1287 Sqn, Air Training Corps. [6]
There is a museum on site which tells the history of the airfield and this is open on Sundays during April to October. [7]
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Wattisham Airfield. [8] [9] [10] [11]
1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team / Army Air Corps
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Army Air Corps (AAC) is the aviation arm of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army. Today, there are eight regiments of the AAC, as well as two independent flights and two independent squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations around the world. Regiments and flights are located in the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Canada. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade, through Joint Helicopter Command.
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Royal Air Force Wattisham or more simply RAF Wattisham was, between 1939 and 1993, the name of a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base, operating Quick Reaction Alert (South), before closing as an Royal Air Force station in 1993. Since 1993 it has been operated by the British Army as Wattisham Flying Station.
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No. 663 Squadron was an air observation post (AOP) unit, manned with Polish Army personnel, which was officially formed in Italy on 14 August 1944. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons were air observation post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.
663 Squadron AAC is a flying unit of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC).
Dishforth Airfield is a former Royal Air Force and current British Army station in North Yorkshire, England. It was previously an Army Air Corps helicopter base and a Relief Landing Ground for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. 6 Regiment RLC is currently located at Dishforth. It is located next to the A1(M) at Junction 49 with the A168. Dishforth airfield is built over part of the Great North Road which is also the old A1. It is 4.4 miles (7.1 km) east of Ripon, North Yorkshire and 11.5 miles (18.5 km) north east of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
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No. 662 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC) which flies the Boeing AH-64E Apache from Wattisham Flying Station as part of 3 Regiment Army Air Corps. It was formerly No. 662 Squadron, a Royal Air Force air observation post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during the Second World War and later part of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were air observation post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these squadrons, 664–666, were manned with Canadian personnel. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.
3 RegimentArmy Air Corps is a regiment of the British Army and is under the command of the 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team within Joint Aviation Command (JAC). The regiment operates the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, and is based out of Wattisham Flying Station.
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