Bases Flashcards
Tell me about RAF Cosford (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto & key dates)
Location: Cosford, Shropshire
Group: 22 Group - Training
Key Roles:
• Major part of DCTT
• Centre of RAFs Mission to “deliver flexible,
affordable, modern and effective technical training
that meets the needs of the UK’s Armed Forces
now and into the future”
Based Here:
• School of Physical Training (SoPT)
Motto: “Only the Beginning is Difficult”
Key Dates:
• 1938 – Formally Opened
• 1977 – RAF SoPT returned.Tell me about RAF Akrotiri (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Akrotiri, Cyprus
Group: 83 EAG
Key Roles:
• Support British Forces Cyprus and ongoing
operations in the region to protect the UKs interests
(Forward mounting base).
• Fast Jet Training
• Search and Rescue (in Collaboration with Cypriot
authorities)
Based Here:
• 903 EAW
Motto: “The Peninsular is Always Ready”
Key Dates:
• 1955 – First established
• 2015 - Four boats carrying 140 refugees came
ashore at RAF Akrotiri marking the first time since
the migrant crisis began that people have landed
directly on what is considered British sovereign soil.
Tell me about RAF Waddington (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Waddington, Lincolnshire
(One of the RAF’s Busiest Stations)
Group: 1 Group - Fighter
Key Roles:
• Hub of ISTAR - the RAF’s eyes and ears in the sky
• Provide British and NATO military commanders with
critical information about activity in all environments.
• Prepare Service Personnel through demanding and
immersive training scenarios across land, sea, and
air.
Based Here:
• School of Physical Training (SoPT)
Motto: “For Faith and Freedom”
Key Dates:
• 1916 - Opened as a Royal Flying Corps training base.
• 1992 - E-3D was declared operational and has been
involved in every major conflict since.
• Nov 2013 - The first RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft was
delivered.
Aircraft:
- Sentinal R1
- RC-135W Rivet Joint
- Shadow R1
- MQ-9A Reaper (ISTAR)
- E-3D (AEWCS)
Tell me about RAF Mount Pleasant (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands
Group: None - Operates independently under direct
orders from ACHQ
Key Roles:
• HQ of British Forces South Atlantic Islands
• Ensure the security of the Falklands, the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia.
• Form South Atlantic end of the air bridge
• Operate deterrence patrols across the immense
area between the islands
Based Here:
• 903 EAW
Motto: “The Peninsular is Always Ready”
Key Dates:
• 1985 - Opened by Prince Andrew
• 2009 – Equipped with Typhoon FGR4
Aircraft:
- Typhoon (FGR4)
- Voyager KC.Mk 2 (AAR)
- C-130J Hercules
- Chinook
Tell me about RAF Ascension Islands (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean (Strategically positioned approximately 4,000 miles from both the UK and the Falkland Islands).
Group: None. Cooperates closely with RAF Mount
Pleasant
Key Roles:
• Deter military aggression against the UK’s South
Atlantic Overseas Territories in order to maintain UK
sovereignty.
• Serve as a staging post for flights between the UK and the Falklands (8-hour flight time).
• Form the Mid posting point of the South
Atlantic air bridge.
• Work with American allies and support regular flights between America and Africa.
Motto: “Support Across the Sea”
Tell me about RAF Shawbury (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire - A worldwide centre of excellence on leading-edge battlespace management training and education.
Group: 22 Group - Training
Key Roles:
• Train students from across the UK Armed Services
and international partners.
• Deliver the next generation of helicopter instructors.
• Train the next generation of air traffic controllers
and flight operations personnel
Based Here:
• SAOC (operating under DCASO)
• DHFS & CFS (Helicopter)
Motto: “I teach, I guide, I fly”
Key Dates:
• 1917 – Opened
• 1950 - The School of Air Traffic Control started
training at RAF Shawbury.
• 1976 - Helicopter flying training commenced at RAF Shawbury.
Tell me about RAF Gibraltar (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Northern Gibraltar (South Side) - Civilian air terminal on the north side of the airfield.
Group: None. Operates independently under direct
orders from ACHQ
Key Roles:
• Location at the western end of the Mediterranean
makes it an ideal staging post for aircraft on
operations and as a supporting base for major
NATO exercises in the Mediterranean and Iberian
Peninsula areas.
• Aid the maintenance of British sovereignty of
Gibraltar.
Motto: “Guard the Gateway”
Key Dates:
• 1942 - Opened
Tell me about RAF Gibraltar (Location, Group it operates under, Key roles, key elements hosted, Motto, key dates & Aircraft)
Location: Cranwell, Lincolnshire (The world’s first Air Academy)
Group: 22 Group - Training
Key Roles:
• Select and train the next generation of officers and
aircrew.
• Deliver tri-service elementary flying training for
fixed wing and multiengine student pilots
• Oversee all University Air Squadrons
Based Here:
• OACTU
• Requiting and Selection
• Central Flying School (Oldest established flying
school in the world)
• Air Warfare School
Motto: “We Nurture the Winged”
Key Dates:
• 1918 - Flying training began at RAF Cranwell with
the formation of the RAF.
• 1920 - The RAF College was established at RAF
Cranwell.
• 1941 - The first Gloster Whittle Jet (E28/39) flew
from RAF Cranwell under great secrecy.
RAF Honington (Suffolk)
- Home to RAF force protection
- Hosts initial and further training for RAF regiment
- 1 (light armoured), 2 (parachute), 15 and 26 and 27 Sqdn
RAF Benson (Oxford)
- Support Heli main operating base
- 33 and 230 Sqdns (Pumas)
- 28 Sqdn (OCU: Pumas and Chinooks)
RAF Boulmer (Northumberland)
- Home to the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS)
- Uses Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) to detect aircraft in UK airspace.
- QRA are alerted to intercept unidentified aircraft.
RAF Coningsby (Lincolnshire)
- QRA Station
- 3 (F) Sqdn: Tyhoon and QRA
- 6 (F) Sqdn: Typhoon and QRA
RAF Digby
Joint Service Signals Organisation
RAF Flyingdales (Yorkshire)
- Continuous ballistic missile early warning system for UK and US
- Key part of ASACS
RAF Halton
- Mainly used for Airmen basic training
- Also used for force development and other training
