111-527: Royal Air Force Brawdy , or more simply RAF Brawdy , is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids , Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard , Pembrokeshire, Wales . It was operational between 1944 and 1992; it was used by the Royal Air Force (1944–1946 and 1971–1992) and the Royal Navy (1946–1971), before the site
222-679: A Private Finance Initiative with newly purchased Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW189 aircraft. The new contract means that all UK SAR coverage is now provided by Bristow aircraft. In 2018, the RAF's vision of a future constellation of imagery satellites was initiated through the launch of the Carbonite-2 technology demonstrator. The 100 kg Carbonite-2 uses commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to deliver high-quality imagery and 3D video footage from space. The Royal Air Force celebrated its 100th anniversary on 1 April 2018. It marked
333-682: A Royal Marines band and a Fleet Air Arm fly past, before the air station was confided to the RAF. In February 1974, 'D' Flight of No. 22 Squadron was the first RAF unit to arrive with their search and rescue Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopters. In September of the same year No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit , later renamed the Tactical Weapons Unit (1 TWU), relocated with the Hawker Hunter T.8 aircraft from RAF Chivenor in Devon . Between 1 September 1976 and July 1978
444-409: A metronome , and screened to reduce visibility to a couple of yards so that the ‘enemy’ could only be seen when the target had been successfully acquired and control the speed at which the ‘pilot’ of the trike intercepted their target. This was done using the aircraft compass and instructions from the student Fighter Direction Officers (FDOs). They were situated in the airfield control tower and used
555-726: A polar grid , a series of concentric circles centred on a common point, with a series of lines passing through it denoting angles, to calculate the direction and speed needed to intercept. At the end of 1941 Coke was replaced by Lieutenant Commander Archie Fleming RN , then in July 1943, the Fighter Direction School moved across Yeovilton airfield and was located in Speckington Manor, with Commander Philip Yorke in charge. The Fighter Direction School had been operating at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron ), however,
666-825: A transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft , along with Gloster Meteor T.7 and T.8 aircraft. The Meteor aircraft were used for target towing , while the Hunter FGA.9 and FR.10 were used to train in Air-to-ground weaponry , including bombs , machine guns , autocannons , air-to-surface missiles and rockets , as well as tactical low level flying . The squadron was also equipped with BAC Jet Provost aircraft for pilot refresher training . No. 63 Squadron RAF and No. 234 Squadron RAF both operated Hawker Hunter F.6 and T.7 aircraft. These were used to train air-to-air gunnery, using other Hunter or Meteor aircraft to simulate air combat. Pilots would graduate from
777-637: A wing commander and, for a fast-jet squadron, have an complement of around twelve aircraft. Independent flights are so designated because they are explicitly smaller in size than a squadron. Many independent flights are, or have been, front-line flying units. For example, No. 1435 Flight carries out air defence duties for the Falkland Islands , with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighters based at RAF Mount Pleasant . Support capabilities are provided by several specialist wings and other units. Command, control, and support for overseas operations
888-765: A Fighter. Another trainee Fighter Direction Offer used a radio, to direct the tricycle-based trainee Fighter Direction Offer, to intercept the tricycle-based Wren. This approach continued in use, until controllable artificial radar echoes became available, during the 1950s. On 1 February 1948 the facility was officially commissioned as HMS Harrier . However, 790 Naval Air Squadron had already relocated to RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk ) , Cornwall , in December 1947 and following this, in March 1948 RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest ) and it's satellite airfield RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest II) were placed into Care & Maintenance Status. At
999-610: A Heavy Twin Conversion Course for FAA pilots. But this unit moved to RAF St Davids in September 1951. RNAS Brawdy was commissioned as HMS Goldcrest on 4 September 1952, with a ceremony outside the headquarters which featured over 300 officers and ratings. There were significant modifications between 1951 and 1956. These included new lighting and radio for airfield Homing and Approach, new Ground Radar, extra workshops and buildings, refurbished Control Tower, resurfacing of
1110-536: A detachment at Brawdy from the 7 February 1945 for three weeks. Composed of three Miles Martinet and two Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII aircraft, the unit undertook target towing for the anti-aircraft school at RAF Manorbier . An additional detachment of Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb and Mk XII aircraft operated from Brawdy from the end of February until June and took part in trials involving target gliders to provide practice for coastal AA batteries . 800 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron, reformed at RNAS Brawdy on
1221-530: A detachment at RAF Brawdy from December 1944 until May 1945. It was equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft, for its meteorlogical flights. An RAF Radio Meteorological Flight worked out of Brawdy when the airfield was initially taken over by the Admiralty. From January to July in 1946 it operated with six Airspeed Oxford aircraft. 'D' Flight of No. 22 Squadron RAF arrived in February 1974, as
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#17327902139851332-530: A detachment of 202 Squadron flying Westland Whirlwind HAR.10s used the airfield. In October 1979, No. 22 sqn was replaced by 'B' Flight of No. 202 Squadron, with Westland Sea King HAR3, for Search and Rescue operations. By the late 1970s the TWU operated BAe Hawk T.1A aircraft ( 234 and 79 Squadron). with this gradually replacing the Hunter aircraft from 1978. The station was home to Hawker Hunter aircraft of
1443-524: A fifteen-minute readiness during daylight hours and a forty five minute readiness during the hours of darkness. In 1990 the Flight responded to its highest number of calls in a year, 170 in total, both civilian and military, and airlifted 169 people. In its time at Brawdy it had over 2,000 call-outs. The Dyfed Wildlife Trust also asked the Flight to transport equipment and supplies to the islands of Skomer and Skokholm from time to time. ‘B’ Flight of No. 22 Sqn
1554-572: A front-line training responsibility – their job is to group the University Air Squadrons and the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons together. The commanding officer of No. 2 FTS holds the only full-time flying appointment for a Group Captain in the RAF, and is a reservist. HMS Harrier (shore establishment) HMS Harrier was a shore establishment of the Royal Navy , located at Kete, Pembrokeshire. It
1665-644: A minor role in the Korean War , with flying boats taking part. From 1953 to 1956 the RAF Avro Lincoln squadrons carried out anti- Mau Mau operations in Kenya using its base at RAF Eastleigh . The Suez Crisis in 1956 saw a large RAF role, with aircraft operating from RAF Akrotiri and RAF Nicosia on Cyprus and RAF Luqa and RAF Hal Far on Malta as part of Operation Musketeer . The RAF suffered its most recent loss to an enemy aircraft during
1776-464: A programme and he devised a three-week training course of theoretical and practical tasks. Promoted to Commander , Coke had planned to use aircraft services to enable students to get the experience of using the RDF in live intercepts, however, not enough Fleet Air Arm aircraft services were available. Therefore, ice cream vendor tricycles were fitted out with an aircraft compass , R/T equipment and
1887-620: A quarter of Bomber Command's personnel were Canadian. Additionally, the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine per cent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theatres. During the Battle of Britain in 1940, the RAF defended the skies over Britain against the numerically superior German Luftwaffe . In what is perhaps the most prolonged and complicated air campaign in history,
1998-594: A single Hawker Tempest F.6 in January 1949. Before Britain developed its own nuclear weapons , the RAF was provided with American nuclear weapons under Project E . However, following the development of its own arsenal, the British Government elected on 16 February 1960 to share the country's nuclear deterrent between the RAF and submarines of the Royal Navy, first deciding to concentrate solely on
2109-626: A support enabler role. A Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at RAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling a Recognised Air Picture of UK air space and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force . In order to achieve this Boulmer is supported by a network of eight Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) spread the length of the UK. The UK operates permanent military airfields (known as Permanent Joint Operating Bases) in four British Overseas Territories . These bases contribute to
2220-490: A war that remained under low profile. The Konfrontasi against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war. The RAF played a large role in the Aden Emergency between 1963 and 1967. Hawker Hunter FGA.9s based at RAF Khormaksar , Aden , were regularly called in by
2331-506: A wide sector over the sea. The Aircraft Direction Centre was situated on the coast 0.5 miles (0.80 km) South East of the village of Dale and 0.25 miles (0.40 km) North of St. Anne's Head , the Western entrance point of Milford Haven waterway. The town of Milford Haven lies 5 miles (8.0 km) East, with Haverfordwest lying 11 miles (18 km) North East and Pembroke Dock lying 10 miles (16 km) South East. The site
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#17327902139852442-999: Is also responsible for the RAF Medical Services, RAF Support Force, consisting of the RAF's engineering, logistics, intelligence, signals, musical and mountain rescue assets, RAF's Combat and Readiness Force, comprising the RAF Regiment , and the Air Security Force, comprising RAF Police . It oversees stations at RAF Benson and RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire, RAF Honington in Suffolk, RAF Odiham in Hampshire and RAF Northolt in West London. No. 11 Group
2553-501: Is at RAF High Wycombe co-located with Air Command. Groups are the subdivisions of operational commands and are responsible for certain types of capabilities or for operations in limited geographical areas. There are five groups subordinate to Air Command, of which four are functional and one is geographically focused: No. 1 Group is responsible for combat aircraft (comprising the Lightning Force and Typhoon Force) and
2664-660: Is defined as "the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events". Today, the Royal Air Force maintains an operational fleet of various types of aircraft, described by the RAF as being "leading-edge" in terms of technology. This largely consists of fixed-wing aircraft, including those in the following roles: fighter and strike , airborne early warning and control , intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR), signals intelligence (SIGINT), maritime patrol, air-to-air refueling (AAR) and strategic & tactical transport . The majority of
2775-814: Is part of the Ministry of Defence and body legally responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories . The Chief of the Air Staff chairs the Air Force Board Standing Committee (AFBSC) which decides on the policy and actions required for the RAF to meet the requirements of the Defence Council and His Majesty's Government . The Chief of the Air Staff is supported by several other senior commanders: Administrative and operational command of
2886-657: Is responsible for integrating operations across the air , cyber and space domains whilst responding to new and evolving threats. It includes the RAF's Battlespace Management Force which controls the UK Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS). The group oversees stations at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire and RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria. No. 22 Group
2997-731: Is responsible for the supply of qualified and skilled personnel to the RAF and provides flying and non-flying training to all three British armed services. It is the end-user of the UK Military Flying Training System which is provided by civilian contractor Ascent Flight Training . The group oversees stations at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire, RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, MOD St Athan in
3108-517: Is typically provided through Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs). Each wing is brought together as and when required and comprises the deployable elements of its home station as well as other support elements from throughout the RAF. Several Expeditionary Air Wings are based overseas: The RAF Schools consist of the squadrons and support apparatus that train new aircrew to join front-line squadrons. The schools separate individual streams, but group together units with similar responsibility or that operate
3219-643: The 1948 Arab–Israeli War : during the withdrawal of the former Mandatory Palestine in May 1948 where British Supermarine Spitfire FR.18s shot down four Royal Egyptian Air Force Spitfire LF.9s after the REAF mistakenly attacked RAF Ramat David airbase; and during encounters with the Israeli Air Force which saw the loss of a single de Havilland Mosquito PR.34 in November 1948 and four Spitfire FR.18s and
3330-593: The Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean , which was used to support military planning, as no weather ships operated in the Atlantic. The squadron also operated Handley Page Hampden , Lockheed Hudson , Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Short Stirling Met 4s for meteorological training. It moved to RAF Weston Zoyland in September 1945. No. 521 Squadron RAF , was a meteorological observation unit, it operated
3441-653: The British Army as close air support to carry out strikes on rebel positions. The Radfan Campaign (Operation Nutcracker) in early 1964 was successful in suppressing the revolt in Radfa, however it did nothing to end the insurgency with the British withdrawing from Aden in November 1967. One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the Cold War was the air campaign during the 1982 Falklands War , in which
RAF Brawdy - Misplaced Pages Continue
3552-647: The British Empire , including establishing bases to protect Singapore and Malaya. The RAF's naval aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm , was founded in 1924 but handed over to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939. The RAF adopted the doctrine of strategic bombing , which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War . The Royal Air Force underwent rapid expansion prior to and during
3663-678: The London Eye , the RAF Memorial and (at 13.00) the Ministry of Defence building . Four major defence reviews have been conducted since the end of the Cold War: the 1990 Options for Change , the 1998 Strategic Defence Review , the 2003 Delivering Security in a Changing World and the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). All four defence reviews have resulted in steady reductions in manpower and numbers of aircraft, especially combat aircraft such as fast-jets. As part of
3774-544: The Norwegian campaign in 1940, the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal ’s Air Signals Officer, Lieutenant Commander Charles Coke, had to rely on RDF detection and tracking reports for enemy aircraft activity, from the carriers’ accompanying cruisers , HMS Sheffield or HMS Curlew , due to Ark Royal not being fitted with any radar . These reports were sent to the carrier via wireless telegraph Morse code . There were no fighter direction facilities aboard
3885-659: The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). This was done as recommended in a report prepared by the South African statesman and general Jan Smuts . At that time it was the largest air force in the world. Its headquarters was located in the former Hotel Cecil . After the war, the RAF was drastically cut and its inter-war years were relatively quiet. The RAF was put in charge of British military activity in Iraq , and carried out minor activities in other parts of
3996-862: The Royal Naval College, Greenwich to HMS Harrier in October 1946. Upon opening at Kete, the school had only three members of staff. The first course was three months long and was also the last course to train midshipman . In 1947 the Naval Airman ( Met ) branch formed part of the Fleet Air Arm , and the Women's Royal Naval Service , and rating (Met) courses, moved to Kete from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus ) , Hampshire . The meteorological training relocated to RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk ), where it later included Oceanography , after fourteen years at Kete. Rating training moved in 1959 and
4107-683: The Royal Navy 's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army 's Army Air Corps also operate armed aircraft. The Royal Air Force was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the third independent air force in the world after the Mexican Air Force (established 5 February 1915) and the Finnish Air Force (established 6 March 1918), by merging the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and
4218-698: The Sea Mosquito T.R.33. The squadron departed for RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) , in March 1947. The station was next used by Airwork Services Ltd from January 1950, who ran a civilian-operated unit for the Royal Navy, the Airwork Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU). Airwork was contracted by the Fleet Air Arm to exercise the Aircraft Direction School at nearby HMS Harrier . They also undertook
4329-558: The Second World War , the RAF established air superiority over Nazi Germany 's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain , and led the Allied strategic bombing effort. The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence (MOD), which are to "provide the capabilities needed to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support
4440-417: The UK Military Flying Training System which is dedicated to training aircrew for all three UK armed services. Specialist ground crew training is focused at RAF Cosford , RAF St Mawgan and MOD St. Athan . Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity focussed at RAF Honington which coordinates Force Protection and RAF Leeming & RAF Wittering which have
4551-631: The United States Air Force , the RAF formed its own RPAS squadron in 2007 when No. 39 Squadron was stood up as a General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unit at Creech AFB , Nevada. The RAF's 90th anniversary was commemorated on 1 April 2008 by a flypast of the RAF's Aerobatic Display Team the Red Arrows and four Eurofighter Typhoons along the River Thames , in a straight line from just south of London City Airport Tower Bridge,
RAF Brawdy - Misplaced Pages Continue
4662-740: The Westland Puma HC2 for search and rescue. No. 230 Squadron , based at Medicina Lines , Brunei, also operate the Puma HC2. A flying squadron is an aircraft unit which carries out the primary tasks of the RAF. RAF squadrons are somewhat analogous to the regiments of the British Army in that they have histories and traditions going back to their formation, regardless of where they are based or which aircraft they are operating. They can be awarded standards and battle honours for meritorious service. Most flying squadrons are commanded by
4773-438: The heading and airspeed to intercept. Using Morse code, Coke sent his information to the carrier's fighter aircraft via wireless telegraph. Initially, only the incoming enemy's location , course, and airspeed was passed to the aircraft carrier's fighters. Coke called this the "informative method" of interception and it was left to the fighter pilots to work out an intercept. However, Coke later worked out how he could track
4884-462: The 19 April 1956, reforming on the 30 July, this time with Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.4 aircraft. These were replaced by FGA.6 in January 1957, in which month it joined HMS Ark Royal . Further spells on other aircraft carriers followed, however, it disbanded at RNAS Brawdy, on 30 April 1959. Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force ( RAF ) is the air and space force of the United Kingdom , British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies . It
4995-450: The 1991 Gulf War , the 1999 Kosovo War , the 2001 War in Afghanistan , the 2003 invasion and war in Iraq , the 2011 intervention in Libya and from 2014 onwards has been involved in the war against the Islamic State . The RAF began conducting Remotely-piloted Air System (RPAS) operations in 2004, with No. 1115 Flight carrying out missions in Afghanistan and Iraq with the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator . Initially embedded with
5106-443: The 4 April. It then reformed on the 7 May at RNAS Brawdy and took part in Suez operations from HMS Albion , in the November. In 1958 the squadron operated from HMS Ark Royal when not at RNAS Brawdy, solely using FGA.6, but finally disbanded at the air station on the 3 March 1959. 801 Naval Air Squadron a fighter squadron, was based at RNAS Brawdy from the 4 May 1957. It was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 and worked up during
5217-405: The 4 September 1974 No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit RAF relocated from RAF Chivenor . The unit was renamed No. 1 Tactical Weapons Unit RAF (1 TWU). It was tasked with training pilots in air combat , air to ground attack and tactical low flying . The unit was initially made up of Nos. 63, 79 and 234 Squadron RAF. No. 79 Squadron RAF was equipped with Hawker Hunter FGA.9, FR.10 and T.7,
5328-402: The 8 November 1954. Throughout its time at the air station, it operated different variants of Hawker Sea Hawk aircraft, and was initially equipped with the FB.3 aircraft. In June 1955 these were withdrawn and replaced with FGA.4 and FGA.6 variants, as the squadron worked-up for embarkation on HMS Ark Royal , in the September. On returning to RNAS Brawdy in March 1956, the squadron disbanded on
5439-587: The Advanced Flying Training Unit and housed the Airborne Early Warning HQ. Fairey Gannet and Hawker Hunter aircraft were based at RNAS Brawdy, with 849 Naval Air Squadron operating Gannet, 759 Naval Air Squadron with two seat Hunter and 738 Naval Air Squadron with single seat Hunter. Gannet were primarily used in Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role and the Hunter for advanced flying training, including low-level navigation, ground attack and air-to-air weapons training. 759 Naval Advanced Flying Training School reformed at RNAS Brawdy in August 1963, providing Part 1 of
5550-443: The Battle of Britain contributed significantly to the delay and subsequent indefinite postponement of Operation Sea Lion , Hitler's plans for an invasion of the UK. In the House of Commons on 20 August, prompted by the ongoing efforts of the RAF, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a speech to the nation, where he said " Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" . The largest RAF effort during
5661-504: The Berlin Blockade take place. As part of Operation Pitting , the RAF helped evacuate over 15,000 people in two weeks. Between April and May 2023, the RAF helped evacuate over 2,300 people from Sudan due to the 2023 Sudan conflict as part of Operation Polarbear . In April 2024, Typhoon FGR4s operating from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, engaged and destroyed Iranian drones over Iraqi and Syrian airspace during Iran's strikes against Israel . The professional head and highest-ranking officer of
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#17327902139855772-426: The Fighter Direction Training Unit, relocated to RNAS Dale, to provide live interception flights for the Air Direction School. The squadron operated many different types of aircraft. Ground instruction for trainee Direction Officers was still based on Coke's tricycle method. A Wren on a tricycle represented an enemy and pedalled in time to a metronome. A trainee Fighter Direction Offer on another tricycle, represented
5883-493: The Fleet Air Arm's Advance Flying Training course. 738 Advanced Training Squadron relocated to RNAS Brawdy in January 1964, from RNAS Lossiemouth, where it operated as Part 2 of the Advanced Flying Training course. 849 Airbourne Early Warning squadron arrived in December 1964. It operated variants of Gannet aircraft, across four flights , and at different times, embarking on the aircraft carriers HMS Ark Royal , HMS Eagle , HMS Hermes and HMS Victorious . In 1967 RNAS Brawdy
5994-500: The Flying School at RAF Valley to the Tactical Weapons Unit at Brawdy and upon graduating from the TWU classes, the pilots would be posted to an operational conversion unit (OCU) for either Blackburn Buccaneer , Hawker Siddeley Harrier , McDonnell Douglas Phantom or Panavia Tornado aircraft. During 1978 Hawker Siddeley Hawk aircraft started to replace the Hawker Hunter at Brawdy. Starting with No. 234 Sqn, followed by No. 63 Sqn in 1979 and No. 79 Sqn completed in 1984. No. 63 Sqn
6105-454: The Government's foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security". The RAF describes its mission statement as "... [to provide] an agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission". The mission statement is supported by the RAF's definition of air power , which guides its strategy. Air power
6216-507: The Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces , Andrew Robathan , announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012. RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern. Lossiemouth generally covers
6327-508: The RAF is delegated by the Air Force Board to Headquarters Air Command , based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire . Air Command was formed on 1 April 2007 by combining RAF Strike Command and RAF Personnel and Training Command , resulting in a single command covering the whole RAF, led by the Chief of the Air Staff. Through its subordinate groups , Air Command oversees the whole spectrum of RAF aircraft and operations. United Kingdom Space Command (UKSC), established 1 April 2021 under
6438-408: The RAF operated alongside the Fleet Air Arm . During the war, RAF aircraft were deployed in the mid-Atlantic at RAF Ascension Island and a detachment from No. 1 Squadron was deployed with the Royal Navy, operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes . RAF pilots also flew missions using the Royal Navy's Sea Harriers in the air-to-air combat role, in particular Flight Lieutenant Dave Morgan
6549-546: The RAF's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities. It oversees stations at RAF Coningsby and RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Marham in Norfolk. The group's Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 aircraft protect UK and NATO airspace by providing a continuous Quick Reaction Alert capability. No. 2 Group controls the Air Mobility Force which provides strategic and tactical airlift , air-to-air refuelling and command support air transport (CSAT). The group
6660-427: The RAF's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Aviation Command in support of ground forces. Most of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK, with many others serving on global operations (principally over Iraq and Syria ) or at long-established overseas bases ( Ascension Island , Cyprus , Gibraltar , and the Falkland Islands ). Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm,
6771-401: The Royal Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff , who is the professional head of the British Armed Forces . The incumbent Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton who was appointed in 2023. The management of the RAF is the responsibility of the Air Force Board , a sub-committee of the Defence Council which
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#17327902139856882-399: The Royal Air Force returned to Brawdy, to undertake search and rescue operations. It was equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter. 'B' Flight of No. 202 Squadron RAF took over from No. 22 Sqn from September 1976. It was initially equipped with Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter, but from October 1979 these were replaced by Westland Sea King HAR.3 helicopter. The Flight kept
6993-495: The Royal Naval School of Meteorology started to relocate by training course. The rating training moved to RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) in 1959, and this was followed by the officers’ courses, along with the rest of the school, during 1960. In July 1960 the Radar Plotter Training relocated to HMS Dryad (shore establishment) , and by the end of the year the Aircraft Direction Officer Training had returned, after fifteen years at Kete, to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) . RNADC Kete
7104-478: The Second World War. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939, the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed " Article XV squadrons " for service with RAF formations. Many individual personnel from these countries, and exiles from occupied Europe , also served with RAF squadrons. By the end of the war the Royal Canadian Air Force had contributed more than 30 squadrons to serve in RAF formations, similarly, approximately
7215-423: The Suez Crisis, when an English Electric Canberra PR7 was shot down over Syria . In 1957, the RAF participated heavily during the Jebel Akhdar War in Oman, operating both de Havilland Venom and Avro Shackleton aircraft. The RAF made 1,635 raids, dropping 1,094 tons and firing 900 rockets at the interior of Oman between July and December 1958, targeting insurgents, mountain top villages and water channels in
7326-644: The TWU, and the gate guardian at the base was initially a Supermarine Spitfire ; this was replaced in the early 80s by Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (XE624). This airframe was subsequently sold to Steve Petch, a private collector. As part of the rationalisation of advanced and tactical weapons training, flying training ceased at Brawdy on 31 August 1992. A small number of RAF personnel remained, including No. 202 Squadron and their Westland Sea Kings , which eventually left in July 1994. 51°52′15.3″N 005°08′13.8″W / 51.870917°N 5.137167°W / 51.870917; -5.137167 In 1974 Naval Facility Brawdy
7437-421: The United States and works in close cooperation with the U.S. Air Force in the development of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning . No. 80 Squadron is part of the Australia, Canada and United Kingdom Reprogramming Laboratory (ACURL) at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida, and is tasked with compiling and testing the Mission Data File Sets (MDFS) for the F-35. No. 84 Squadron is located at RAF Akrotiri, operating
7548-578: The Vale of Glamorgan, RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and RAF Valley on Anglesey. The No. 22 Group also manages the Royal Air Force Air Cadets . An RAF station is ordinarily subordinate to a group and is commanded by a group captain . Each station typically hosts several flying and non-flying squadrons or units which are supported by administrative and support wings. Front-line flying operations are focused at eight stations: Flying training takes places at RAF Barkston Heath , RAF College Cranwell , RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley , each forming part of
7659-439: The air force's V bomber fleet. These were initially armed with nuclear gravity bombs , later being equipped with the Blue Steel missile . Following the development of the Royal Navy's Polaris submarines , the strategic nuclear deterrent passed to the navy's submarines on 30 June 1969. With the introduction of Polaris, the RAF's strategic nuclear role was reduced to a tactical one, using WE.177 gravity bombs. This tactical role
7770-402: The air station for around one month before disbanding on the 30 September 1959. 806 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron reformed at RNAS Brawdy, on the 2 March 1953. It was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk F.1, being the first front-line squadron in the Fleet Air Arm to use the type. It embarked, to take part in angle-deck trials, later in 1953, on aircraft carrier USS Antietam . The squadron
7881-494: The arrival of jet fighters and bombers. During the early stages of the Cold War, one of the first major operations undertaken by the RAF was the Berlin Airlift , codenamed Operation Plainfire. Between 26 June 1948 and the lifting of the Russian blockade of the city on 12 May 1949, the RAF provided 17% of the total supplies delivered, using Avro Yorks , Douglas Dakotas flying to Gatow Airport and Short Sunderlands flying to Lake Havel. The RAF saw its first post-war engagements in
7992-657: The carrier's fighters, with dead reckoning and a regular radar check, enabling him to order the course, airspeed and sometimes altitude to intercept. This was known as the "directive method". Coke attended the Naval Air Division in the Admiralty in May 1941 to arrange for his next duty, after completing his tour on Ark Royal . Following on from his experiences, he was posted to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron ) , in Somerset , to set up fighter direction school with
8103-440: The carrier. Coke used a corner of the aircraft carrier's Bridge Wireless Office, a Telegraphist who wrote down the RDF reports from the cruisers, and a Bigsworth Board , a portable device used by air observers, which was roughly two feet across and had pantograph -plotting arm fitted, which was a small mechanical device to solve the wind triangle . This was used by Coke to work out the course and airspeed to track, and later
8214-414: The command of Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey is a joint command, but sits "under the Royal Air Force." Godfrey is of equal rank to the commanders of 1, 2, 11, and 22 Groups. The new command has "responsibility for not just operations, but also generating, training and growing the force, and also owning the money and putting all the programmatic rigour into delivering new ..capabilities." UKSC headquarters
8325-594: The decline of the British Empire, global operations were scaled back, and RAF Far East Air Force was disbanded on 31 October 1971. Despite this, the RAF fought in many battles in the Cold War period. In June 1948, the RAF commenced Operation Firedog against Malayan pro-independence fighters during the Malayan Emergency . Operations continued for the next 12 years until 1960 with aircraft flying out of RAF Tengah and RAF Butterworth . The RAF played
8436-658: The end of 1949, 790 Fighter Direction Training Unit disbanded at RNAS Culdrose. The civilian company, Airwork Services Ltd, was then contracted to provide the live interception flights from January 1950, operating out of RNAS Brawdy and its satellite, RAF St Davids . This was known as the Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU) and it initially operated with de Havilland Sea Mosquito and Taylorcraft Auster V aircraft. Later on, acquiring de Havilland Sea Hornet , Supermarine Attacker and de Havilland Sea Venom aircraft. The RN School of Meteorology, moved from
8547-579: The existing school was unable to meet the demand for Air Direction Officers. It was a lodger unit at a full RNAS Yeovilton. A new Fighter Direction School for the Royal Navy was constructed at Kete, 0.5 miles (1 km) down the coast from RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest ) , in Pembrokeshire , on the coast. The new facility was known as the RN Aircraft Direction Centre (RNADC), RNADC Kete. On 30 August 1945 790 Naval Air Squadron ,
8658-569: The first hint of something abnormal, a controller has the option to put them on a higher level of alert, 'a call to cockpit'. In this scenario the pilot races to the hardened aircraft shelter and does everything short of starting his engines". On 4 October 2015, a final stand-down saw the end of more than 70 years of RAF Search and Rescue provision in the UK. The RAF and Royal Navy's Westland Sea King fleets, after over 30 years of service, were retired. A civilian contractor, Bristow Helicopters , took over responsibility for UK Search and Rescue, under
8769-399: The following month. The Air Direction Training Unit (ADTU) returned from RAF St Davids in October 1958, but in January 1961 it left for RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) The main runway was extended in 1960, and three interconnecting hangars were added, along with a new technical block. Accommodation was improved and expanded, including specific quarters for Wrens. From 1963 to 1971, it was home to
8880-418: The following six months, embarking on HMS Bulwark on the 14 November 1957. The squadron was based out of RNAS Brawdy when not on detachment abroad or on an aircraft carrier, until disbanding on the 26 July 1960. 804 Naval Air Squadron a fighter squadron, was at RNAS Brawdy in 1959 following deployments, and was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6. The squadron arrived on the 17 August, but only remained at
8991-522: The great bulk of the RAF's bombing campaign, mainly due to Harris, but it also developed precision bombing techniques for specific operations, such as the infamous "Dambusters" raid by No. 617 Squadron , or the Amiens prison raid known as Operation Jericho . Following victory in the Second World War, the RAF underwent significant re-organisation, as technological advances in air warfare saw
9102-737: The highest scoring pilot of the war. Following a British victory, the RAF remained in the South Atlantic to provide air defence to the Falkland Islands, with the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 based at RAF Mount Pleasant which was built in 1984. With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the RAF's focus returned to expeditionary air power . Since 1990, the RAF has been involved in several large-scale operations, including
9213-782: The latest 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft was cancelled due to over spending and missing deadlines. Other reductions saw total manpower reduced by 5,000 personnel to a trained strength of 33,000 and the early retirement of the Joint Force Harrier aircraft, the BAE Harrier GR7/GR9 . In recent years, fighter aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) have been increasingly required to scramble in response to Russian Air Force aircraft approaching British airspace. On 24 January 2014, in
9324-401: The next nine months from here. 773 Pilotless Aircraft Unit was relocated from RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) , in March 1946. It was set up as a service trials unit, to develop pilotless drone aircraft. Both squadrons disbanded at RNAS Brawdy in September 1946. 811 Two seat Fighter Squadron, arrived at RNAS Brawdy in December 1946. It was notably the only front line FAA squadron to operate
9435-431: The northern sector of UK airspace, while Coningsby covers the southern sector. Typhoon pilot Flight Lieutenant Noel Rees describes how QRA duty works. "At the start of the scaled QRA response, civilian air traffic controllers might see on their screens an aircraft behaving erratically, not responding to their radio calls, or note that it's transmitting a distress signal through its transponder. Rather than scramble Typhoons at
9546-478: The occasion on 10 July 2018 with a flypast over London consisting of 103 aircraft. Between March 2020 and 2022, the RAF assisted with the response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom as part of Operation Rescript . This saw the service provide repatriation flights and aeromedical evacuations of COVID-19 patients, drivers and call-handlers to support ambulance services and medics to assist with
9657-499: The physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of the British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conduct expeditionary military operations . Although command and oversight of the bases is provided by Strategic Command , the airfield elements are known as RAF stations. Four RAF squadrons are based overseas. No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron is based at Edwards Air Force Base , California, in
9768-568: The rest of the school and officers in the following year. The third Royal Naval school to be based at Kete, was the RN Radar Plotter Training School, which in September 1949 moved from HMS Wildfire (1964 shore establishment) , in Sheerness , to HMS Harrier . Over the next decade the school operated at Kete until July 1960, when it transferred to HMS Dryad (shore establishment) . In 1959
9879-636: The runways and additional hardstanding. All domestic accommodation was also significantly improved. On the 2 March 1953, the Hawker Sea Hawk first entered service with the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Brawdy, with 806 Naval Air Squadron , which reformed on that date. In January 1956, 727 Dartmouth Cadet Air Training Squadron formed, to give non-flying junior officers air experience. 767 Fighter Pilot Pool Squadron arrived from RNAS Ford in August 1956, to provide an armament work-up course, however, departing
9990-419: The same aircraft type. Some schools operate with only one squadron, and have an overall training throughput which is relatively small; some, like No. 3 Flying Training School , have responsibility for all Elementary Flying Training (EFT) in the RAF, and all RAF aircrew will pass through its squadrons when they start their flying careers. No. 2 Flying Training School and No. 6 Flying Training School do not have
10101-534: The satellite station when its headquarters, sick bay and workshops facilities, moved to RAF Brawdy in November 1945. Between the 2 February 1944 and the 27 April 1946, No. 595 Squadron RAF aircraft may have had a detachment based here with a variety of aircraft. On 1 January 1946, the station was transferred over to the Admiralty from the Air Ministry , on loan, and became Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy ( RNAS Brawdy , also known as HMS Goldcrest II ). It
10212-517: The squadron embarked on HMS Albion . 895 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron, reformed at RNAS Brawdy, on the 23 April 1956. It was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.4 and FGA.6 aircraft, embarking in HMS Bulwark , in August. It swapped these for FB.3 variants and then took part in Suez operations . 897 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron, reformed at RNAS Brawdy, on the 7 November 1955. It
10323-482: The staffing of hospitals, testing units and vaccination centres. Under Operation Broadshare , the RAF has also been involved with COVID-19 relief operations overseas, repatriating stranded nationals and delivering medical supplies and vaccines to British Overseas Territories and military installations. The UK's 20-year long operations in Afghanistan came to an end in August 2021, seeing the largest airlift since
10434-555: The war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany by Bomber Command. While RAF bombing of Germany began almost immediately upon the outbreak of war at first it was ineffectual; it was only later, particularly under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Harris , that these attacks became increasingly devastating, from early 1943 onward, as new technology and greater numbers of superior aircraft became available. The RAF adopted night-time area bombing on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden . Night time area bombing constituted
10545-481: Was No. 521 Squadron RAF , from December 1944 until May 1945, as a detachment operating the Boeing Fortress I . Between February and June in 1945, No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF was a lodger unit at Brawdy, due to lack of space at RAF Haverfordwest , providing photo reconnaissance training with a detachment of Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito aircraft. RAF St Davids became
10656-607: Was commissioned on 1 February 1948 and was the home of the RN School of Aircraft Direction from the end of the Second World War , opened on 1 January 1945, until 1961, when the Aircraft Direction Officer Training returned to RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) . The site at Kete was ideal for air interception exercises, with the centre located 1 mile South of RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest) , from where the live interception flights were provided from, and it had
10767-681: Was added in January 1959, enabling a twice weekly service. Swansea Airport was added as an optional stop to this service, beginning on June 2. The last flight took place on the 29 September 1959, with Croydon closing the following day. The Royal Navy left in 1971 and the base was controlled by the Department of Environment . The air base was kept in reasonable order and fully maintained by a civilian team, ensuring that all buildings were ready for use and that hot water systems were fully functioning. The Royal Air Force took back control in January 1974, with an official ceremony on 1 April, which included
10878-577: Was also the last front-line Fleet Air Arm squadron to use the Sea Hawk, disbanding at RNAS Brawdy with the FGA.6 variant, on the 15 December 1960. 807 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron, moved from RNAS Anthorn (HMS Nuthatch) , 5 May 1954, it received Hawker Sea Hawk F.2. As the squadron worked-up, these were swapped for FB.3 variant, in November, before embarking on HMS Bulwark , in February 1955, for two weeks. FGA.4 variants arrived in March, and in July,
10989-666: Was continued by the V bombers into the 1980s and until 1998 by the Panavia Tornado GR1 . For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of Western Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union , with many squadrons based in West Germany . The main RAF bases in RAF(G) were RAF Brüggen , RAF Gutersloh , RAF Laarbruch and RAF Wildenrath – the only air defence base in RAF(G). With
11100-890: Was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk FB.3 aircraft, embarking in HMS Eagle in April 1956. In October 1956, it swapped to the FGA.6 variant and took part in Suez operations. 898 Naval Air Squadron fighter squadron, reformed at RNAS Brawdy, on the 24 August 1953. It was equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk F1 aircraft, however, these we replaced by FB.3 in July 1954. Embarking in HMS Albion in September 1954 for six months, before briefly joining HMS Bulwark in May 1955. It re-equipped with Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6 aircraft, and in September 1955 embarked in HMS Ark Royal . It disbanded at RNAS Brawdy on
11211-499: Was established adjacent to Royal Air Force Station Brawdy as the terminus of new Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) arrays covering the eastern Atlantic. After commissioning on 5 April 1974 NAVFAC Brawdy became the first "super NAVFAC" with some four hundred U.S. and United Kingdom military and civilian personnel assigned. In 1985 a new type of fixed surveillance system, the Fixed Distributed System (FDS), test array
11322-576: Was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Following the Allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918, the RAF emerged as the largest air force in the world at the time. Since its formation, the RAF has played a significant role in British military history . In particular, during
11433-541: Was initially used as a Relief Landing Ground for RNAS Dale . On 31 March 1948, Brawdy was reduced to Care & Maintenance status as War Reserve. Following the closure of RNAS Dale, RNAS Brawdy was then commissioned as HMS Goldcrest on 4 September 1952. The base went into reserve, in 1960, to enable modernisation work, reopening in April 1963, before paying off on the 1 March 1971. In January 1946, 784 Night Fighter Training Squadron moved to RNAS Dale, but operated out of RNAS Brawdy, providing night fighter instruction for
11544-653: Was officially opened on 2 February 1944, as a satellite station for the nearby RAF St Davids , under No. 19 Group , RAF Coastal Command , with No 517 Meteorological Squadron moving in the day before. The unit operated with the Handley Page Halifax Mk V, before changing to the Mk III, in March 1945. The squadron moved to RAF Chivenor in November 1945. No. 58 and No. 502 Sqns used the airfield to undertake anti-submarine patrols from February 1944, while based at RAF St Davids. The next squadron to move in
11655-576: Was originally RAF Kete , an early warning radar , Chain Home Low , site , it was taken over by the Royal Navy in 1943. Construction began for a Fighter Direction School in 1944 and this was followed by the Royal Naval School of Meteorology. The whole site became a satellite of HMS Goldcrest (RNAS Dale) and opened on 1 January 1945 as HMS Goldcrest II . In 1948 it was commissioned as HMS Harrier . The site closed in 1961. During
11766-626: Was part of No. 17 Group RAF , RAF Coastal Command . It trained aircrew on a wide range of photo-reconnaissance aircraft, including the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito . On the 27 February 1945 a detachment of around thirty Spitfire and Mosquito aircraft of No. 8 (C) OTU arrived at Brawdy, due to lack of space at RAF Haverfordwest . The unit became a lodger and remained at Brawdy until June when it relocated to RAF Mount Farm . No. 595 Squadron RAF , an anti-aircraft co-operation unit based at RAF Aberporth , operated
11877-554: Was terminated at the facility. The facility was decommissioned 1 October 1995 after its arrays had been "remoted" and its equipment moved to the Joint Maritime Facility, St Mawgan , Cornwall. Brawdy was transferred to the British Army in 1995 and became Cawdor Barracks, the army's main electronic warfare base. The name originated from the local Earls of Cawdor (who owned the Stackpole Estate ). On
11988-495: Was the last unit to leave RAF Brawdy in 1996. The Joint Forward Air Control Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU) operated out of RAF Brawdy, made up of No. 610 Tactical Air Control Party (Forward Air Controller) (TACP(FAC)) and No. 501 Ground Liaison Section, out of the Joint Warfare Establishment's School of Land/Air Warfare that moved from RAF Chivenor . No. 8 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF
12099-507: Was transferred to No. 2 TWU, based at RAF Chivenor, on 1 the August 1980 No. 517 Squadron RAF , a meteorological squadron, arrived on 2 February 1944, equipped with Handley Page Halifax Mk II and Mk V aircraft, modified for meteorological work to Met 3 and Met 5 respectively, from RAF St Davids . The unit undertook meteorological flights over the Western Approaches , obtaining valuable meteorological data, from patrols over
12210-477: Was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks . The village of Brawdy is adjacent to the south-east of the airfield, which lies one mile inland from the north-east shores of St. Bride's Bay and seven miles east south east of St David's Head . Haverfordwest lies seven miles (11 km) south-east. Notable landmarks are St. David's peninsula, with the city of St. Davids and its cathedral , along with Ramsey Island . The Pembrokeshire base
12321-654: Was used by 736 NAS and 800 NAS , operating Blackburn Buccaneer , as a base to attack and bomb the oil tanker SS Torrey Canyon from, whch had struck Pollard's Rock on West end of the Seven Stones between the Cornish mainland and the Isles of Scilly on 18 March, in an attempt to release and burn off its residual cargo of oil. Morton Air Services started to operate weekly Croydon Airport to Brawdy flights in April 1958. Another de Havilland Heron 1B aircraft
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