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50-474: Royal Air Force Wittering or more simply RAF Wittering ( ICAO : EGXT ) is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough , Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire . Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire . Wittering's use as

100-492: A heavily loaded bomber taking off crashed on nearby Hellesdon which was under the flightpath. In September 1944, like other bomber groups in the area it participated in shipping fuel for American forces to France. The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April 1945, flying 240 missions losing 47 aircraft in combat along with another 18 in accidents before returning to Sioux Falls AAF South Dakota in July 1945. The airfield

150-605: A heavy bomber station with hard surface runways and concrete hardstands and a perimeter track. The move was not particularly popular with the men of the 56th who had to give up the comparative comfort of Horsham's barracks for the temporary hut (and muddy) accommodations at Halesworth. With runway construction finished, The 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy), arrived at Horsham St Faith late in January 1944 from Tonopah Army Airfield Nevada . The group flew its first mission on 24 February with Consolidated B-24 Liberators . On 2 March

200-636: A military airfield dates back to 5 May 1916 when it began as RFC Stamford. The aerodrome was initially created for A Flight of No. 38 (Home Defence) Squadron . In common with other Home Defence squadrons at the time it was used for training during the day and for air defence at night. From the flight's operational declaration in December 1916 until it deployed to France in November 1917, its BE2cs , RE7s , and FE2bs were involved in anti- Zeppelin patrols. The station's training role expanded when it became

250-417: A pair of artificial legs for Wing Commander Douglas Bader who had been shot down over France and had lost his artificial limbs in the process. In December 1941 No. 105 Squadron RAF arrived from RAF Swanton Morley to begin training on the new de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber and from June 1942, the squadron carried out photographic and bombing missions over Germany. In September 1942 Horsham St Faith

300-526: A powerful searchlight insulated in the nose of Havocs and Bostons . In April 1943 No. 141 Squadron were moved in, operating de Havilland Mosquitoes . 1943 also saw the station host 2 USAAF squadrons, albeit temporarily: 63 Fighter Squadron USAAF with its P47s operated from Wittering between January and March before moving to RAF Horsham St Faith ; 55 Fighter Squadron operated its P38s and P51s from Wittering between August and March 1944 before moving to nearby RAF Kingscliffe . Emergency landing ground K3

350-552: Is a former Royal Air Force station near Norwich , Norfolk , England which was operational from 1939 to 1963. It was then developed as Norwich International Airport . The airfield was first developed in 1939 and officially opened on 1 June 1940 as a bomber station. It had been built pre-war and had five C-type hangars , permanent brick and tiled buildings with central-heating and a high standard of domestic accommodation. The first aircraft there were Bristol Blenheims dispersed from No. 21 Squadron RAF at RAF Watton in 1939 but

400-480: Is a pseudo-code, used in flight plans for aerodromes with no ICAO code assigned. ICAO codes are sometimes updated. Johannesburg Airport in Johannesburg , South Africa, for instance, was formerly known as Jan Smuts International Airport, with code FAJS. When the airport was renamed O. R. Tambo International Airport, its ICAO code was updated to FAOR. Some airports have two ICAO codes, usually when an airport

450-751: Is shared by civilian and military users. Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt , Germany, for instance, has been assigned ICAO code EDDF while Rhein-Main Air Base was assigned ICAO code EDAF until its closure. Sion Airport in Switzerland has code LSGS while its military facilities have the ICAO code LSMS. Brussels Airport in Brussels , Belgium, has the ICAO code EBBR for its civilian facilities, and Melsbroek Air Base has been assigned ICAO code EBMB, even though

500-723: The Blue Danube , was deployed to RAF Wittering in November 1953. The first V-bombers (the Vickers Valiant , the Handley Page Victor and the Avro Vulcan ) were delivered in July 1955. In 1957–58 tests were carried out on the first British hydrogen bomb. This was fitted into the existing Blue Danube casing, and four Valiant bombers flew out of Wittering to Christmas Island in the Pacific, one of them dropping

550-606: The Jezero Crater on Mars is assigned the special ICAO code JZRO. Codes beginning with I (Ixx and Ixxx) are often used for navigational aids such as radio beacons, while the Q code is reserved for international radiocommunications and non-geographical special use. In Russia , Latin letter X, or its Morse / Baudot Cyrillic equivalent Ь , are used to designate government, military, and experimental aviation airfields in internal airfield codes similar in structure and purpose to ICAO codes but not used internationally. ZZZZ

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600-541: The RAF Regiment 's 40th anniversary celebrations. During January 1992, a new station museum opened in the original station church, which was built in 1944. It was announced in December 2009 that RAF Wittering was to become the sole operational base for the Harriers of Joint Force Harrier after the announcement that RAF Cottesmore was to close. However, as a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review ,

650-725: The Royal Engineers , would move from Waterbeach Barracks to RAF Wittering in 2012–13. Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Wittering. No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support) RAF No. 22 Group (Training) RAF Royal Engineers Naval Air Fighting Development Unit Night Fighter Interception Unit The station commanders have been: RAF Wittering has received the Freedom of several locations throughout its history; these include: ICAO airport code The recommendations for ICAO airport codes were adopted on 24 March 1959, and came into force on 1 October

700-683: The Royal Flying Corps 's No.1 Training Depot Station in 1917. The neighbouring airfield, RFC Easton on the Hill , also dates back to 1916 and it became No. 5 Training Depot Station in 1917. Following the formation of the Royal Air Force , Easton on the Hill became RAF Collyweston on 1 April 1918. Stamford was retitled RAF Wittering on 10 April 1918. RAF Wittering officially reopened in 1924 following an Air Defence Review in 1923. A significant amount of development took place to re-open

750-628: The Battle of Britain many squadrons were rotated through Wittering to spells in the south of England with No. 11 Group that was bearing the brunt of the battle. With many of the Luftwaffe raids during the Blitz taking part at night, Wittering-based squadrons were instrumental in the development of night combat techniques. These included the use of the Turbinlite aircraft which replaced the nose with

800-537: The Cold War saw RAF Wittering become a vital part of the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear deterrent under the control of Bomber Command in 1953. The current airfield was created by the merging of RAF Wittering and nearby Collyweston Relief Landing Ground, by the construction of a 1.7-mile runway between them in 1941. Conversion to a Bomber airfield saw the construction of a new concrete runway (slightly to

850-525: The Falklands in 17 hours, which set an RAF record. The Harriers were from 1(F) Sqn. On 27 May 1982, Sqn Ldr (later Gp Capt) Bob Iveson was hit by anti-aircraft fire from GADA 601 's 35mm cannon , and he ejected seconds before his aircraft exploded in mid-air near Goose Green . He evaded capture for two and a half days before being rescued by helicopter. The Queen visited the station in June 1982 as part of

900-754: The Harrier fleet was withdrawn in December 2010. In March 2019, the Ministry of Defence indicated that RAF Wittering, alongside RAF Waddington and RAF Leeming , was being considered as the future home of the RAF Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows. In May 2020 however it was confirmed that the team would move to Waddington. In 2016 the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Station would be one of

950-546: The ICAO code indicate the country; the remaining letters identify the airport. ICAO codes are used partly for geographical context. For example, the ICAO code for Heathrow International Airport in London, is EGLL, with its first letters reflecting that it is based in the United Kingdom . On the other hand, IATA codes do not provide geographic reference. For example, LHR, representing Heathrow, does not enable one to deduce

1000-535: The RAF Support Force (the Royal Air Force's engineering and logistic Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSUs)). Previously the home of No 1 Training Depot Station (at Stamford aerodrome) and No 5 Training Depot Station (at Easton on the Hill aerodrome) of the Royal Flying Corps during World War 1 and then the Royal Air Force 's Central Flying School and No. 11 Flying Training School between

1050-563: The RAF's 'well found centres of specialisation for' 'Support Enablers' along with RAF Leeming . The station is part of No 2 Group . The station commander of RAF Wittering is currently Wing Commander Jeremy Case who assumed command from Group Captain Jo Lincoln on 10 June 2021. The station's honorary air commodore is Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh . The station is the home of

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1100-472: The United Kingdom, but nearby civilian Port Stanley Airport is assigned SFAL, consistent with South America . Saint Pierre and Miquelon is controlled by France, and airports there are assigned LFxx as though they were in Europe. Kosovo is assigned the code BKxx grouping it with Greenland and Iceland rather than its geographical neighbors which have Lxxx (described below). Jerusalem International Airport

1150-635: The World Wars. RAF Wittering's return to flying training was marked on 4 February 2015 with the arrival of Cambridge University Air Squadron and the University of London Air Squadron . RAF Wittering is also the birthplace of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association 's Four Counties Gliding Club. In November 2011 the Ministry of Defence announced that 44 Service personnel from HQ 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, part of

1200-568: The base became part of Strike Command . From October 1972 until August 1976, there were two squadrons flying the Hawker Hunter No. 45 Squadron initially and then 58 Squadron as well. From 1968 the station was known as the Home of the Harrier : the first Harriers arrived for No. 1(Fighter) Squadron in August 1969. In May 1971, four aircraft from 1(F) Sqn operated from HMS Ark Royal ,

1250-514: The first device on 15 May 1957 on Operation Grapple . Until January 1969 two squadrons (100 and 139) of Victor B.2 bombers equipped with Blue Steel stand-off missiles were part of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) force of the RAF. Two nuclear armed aircraft were permanently on 15 minutes readiness to take off. They were parked within 100 m (110 yd) of the westerly runway threshold. In times of higher tension, four bombers could be stationed beside

1300-478: The first operational aircraft there were fighters: Supermarine Spitfires of No. 19 and No. 66 squadrons from RAF Duxford . Boulton Paul Defiants of A Flight, No. 264 Squadron RAF began sorties on 12 May 1940. The first operational bomber units were No. 139 Squadron RAF and No. 114 Squadron RAF of No. 2 Group of RAF Bomber Command with the Blenheim IV. No. 114 then moved onto RAF Oulton which

1350-718: The first time the Harrier had operated from an aircraft carrier, under Wing Commander (later Sir) Kenneth Hayr , later killed at the Biggin Hill airshow on 2 June 2001. In 1982, six Harrier GR3 aircraft were taken down to the Falklands on SS Atlantic Conveyor , and survived the Exocet attack, later to board HMS Hermes in May 1982. In June 1982, 12 GR3 aircraft were flown from Wittering, via RAF Ascension Island and mid-air refuelling with Victor tankers, on an 8,000-mile journey to

1400-548: The following squadrons: The group entered combat with a fighter sweep in the area of St Omer on 13 April 1943, and flew numerous missions over France, the Low Countries , and Germany to escort bombers that attacked industrial establishments, V-weapon sites, submarine pens , and other targets on the Continent. On 8 July, the group had to move to RAF Halesworth when work started on enlarging Horsham St Faith for use as

1450-546: The group stayed until 11 November when the group reassigned to Twelfth Air Force as part of the North African Campaign at Saint-Leu Airfield , Algeria . The airfield then lay unused over the winter. With the departure of the Marauders to North Africa, the next USAAF group to use Horsham St Faith was the 56th Fighter Group , transferring from RAF Kings Cliffe on 6 April 1943. The group consisted of

1500-605: The location of the airport LHV with any greater certainty; it is William T. Piper Memorial Airport in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania in the United States . There are a few exceptions to the regional structure of the ICAO code that have been historically for political or administrative reasons. RAF Mount Pleasant air base in the Falkland Islands , for instance, is assigned the ICAO code EGYP as though it were in

1550-441: The name of the airport or the city it serves, while ICAO codes are distributed by region and country. Far more aerodromes (in the broad sense) have ICAO codes than IATA codes, which are sometimes assigned to railway stations as well. The selection of ICAO codes is partly delegated to authorities in each country, while IATA codes, which have no geographic structure, must be decided centrally by IATA. The first one or two letters of

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1600-540: The runway on the ORP (Operational Readiness Platform). If the aircraft were manned they could all be airborne within 30 seconds, a feat often demonstrated at V force stations across the country. Since the incoming missile warning from the RAF Fylingdales BMEWS array was only four minutes before impact this ensured if the country came under attack, the bombers would be scrambled and able to retaliate. In 1968,

1650-462: The runway was extended from 1,400 yards to 3 miles long to reduce landing accidents at night and in bad weather. The Station's innovative role continued and developed throughout the war. It became the home of both fighter and gunnery research and development units working with new equipment and techniques. In addition, No. 1426 (Captured Enemy Aircraft) Flight (colloquially known as the RAFwaffe)

1700-510: The same year. ICAO codes are separate and different from IATA codes , the latter of which have three letters and are generally used for airline timetables , reservations, and baggage tags. For example, the IATA code for London 's Heathrow Airport is LHR and its ICAO code is EGLL. IATA codes are commonly seen by passengers and the general public on flight-tracking services such as FlightAware . In general IATA codes are usually derived from

1750-408: The site redeveloped as housing. The remaining MOD property, formerly airmen's quarters, has become married quarters for nearby RAF stations. Whilst most runways and taxi-tracks from the military airfield remain, only one runway is primarily used, east–west runway 09–27, which was extended eastwards by the RAF in 1956, to avoid take-offs and landings over built-up areas. A section of the old main runway

1800-644: The south of the 1941 runway), taxiways and dispersals (with further H-dispersals and QRA dispersals being added later) that still form the majority of the Station's aircraft operating surfaces. A wide-span Gaydon hangar for the Canberra B2 bombers was constructed along with a new control tower, avionics building and nuclear storage and maintenance facilities. In its new guise as a bomber station, RAF Wittering initially operated Avro Lincolns from 1953 although these were replaced by English Electric Canberras later that year. The first British operational atomic bomb,

1850-575: The station became a Fighter Command station within No 12 Group . This conversion required another expansion with more land being purchased to the south and east of the station which closed the Stamford to Oundle road. Further airmen's accommodation, airmen's mess, technical accommodation and station headquarters were constructed as was a sector control room to control fighter squadrons and anti-aircraft gun batteries within 12 Group's 'K' Sector. The airfield

1900-466: The station including four new accommodation blocks for airmen, a corporals and airmen's institute, a Senior Non-Commissioned Officers' Mess , the Officers' Mess, and a new guardroom. The station retained two aircraft hangars from 1917 and an aircraft repair shed. The Central Flying School was at Wittering from 1926 until 1935 being replaced by No. 11 Flying Training School until 1938. In April 1938,

1950-583: The station, as did Andrew Humphrey (later Chief of the Defence Staff from 1976 to 1977, who flew Supermarine Spitfires with 266 Squadron ). Immediately after the war RAF Wittering, once again, transferred back to Fighter Command in 1946 providing a home to a variety of squadrons operating Spitfires, Mosquitos and Hornets. In 1948, the Station transferred back to Training Command for 2 years before Maintenance Command took responsibility to undertake some significant redevelopment between 1950 and 1952 as

2000-602: The style LFddnn , where dd indicates the department while nn is a sequential counter. The French Federation of Ultralight Motorized Gliders was formally named the keeper of these codes. Aerodrome de Torreilles in France, for instance, has code LF6651. In Antarctica many aerodromes have pseudo ICAO-codes with AT and two digits, while others have proper codes from countries performing air control such as NZ for New Zealand . RAF Horsham St Faith Royal Air Force Horsham St Faith or more simply RAF Horsham St Faith

2050-549: The top has been restored and a new tower has been built adjacent to the present main runway. Other wartime buildings now form part of the airport industrial estate (owned by the County and City Councils) and are intermingled with many newer structures. The former RAF accommodation blocks situated towards Catton were until 1993 used by the University of East Anglia as accommodation for students. Known to students as "Fifers Lane" or "Horsham" halls, these have since been demolished and

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2100-524: The two airports share runways and ground and air control facilities. In small countries like Belgium or the Netherlands, almost all aerodromes have an ICAO code. For larger countries like the UK or Germany this is not feasible, given the limited number of letter codes. Some countries have addressed this issue by introducing a scheme of sub-ICAO aerodrome codes; France, for example, assigns pseudo ICAO codes in

2150-497: Was a new satellite station for Horsham. Two of the early visitors to the new airfield were the Right Honourable Neville Chamberlain and General Sir Alan Brooke . In August 1941, a Bristol Blenheim bomber from No. 18 Squadron RAF flying from Horsham St Faith en route to attack a power station at Gosnay , re-routed over the airfield at Saint-Omer (Wizernes) where it delivered (by parachute)

2200-691: Was assigned both LLJR (its Israeli persona) as well as OJJR (its Jordanian persona), but the airport itself fell into disuse. In the contiguous United States and Canada, many airports have ICAO codes that are simply copies of their three-letter IATA codes, with the geographical prefix added on (e.g., YEG and CYEG both refer to Edmonton International Airport , while IAD and KIAD both refer to Washington Dulles International Airport ). This similarity does not extend to Alaska (PAxx), Hawaii (PHxx), or U.S. territories. Kahului Airport on Maui , for instance, has an IATA code of OGG and an ICAO code of PHOG. ICAO airport codes do not begin with I or J or X or Q, though

2250-451: Was based at Collyweston Landing Ground with its wide range of captured Luftwaffe aircraft both evaluating their performance and touring allied bases. In January 1945, the captured enemy aircraft were removed. During the war, the airfield was bombed five times, with seventeen people being killed on 14 March 1941. Aircraft from the station downed 151 Luftwaffe aeroplanes and 89 V-1 flying bombs . Hugh Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Putney served at

2300-525: Was deactivated on 1 August 1963. The following units were here at some point: With the end of military control, RAF Horsham St Faith was redeveloped into Norwich International Airport . Most of the Second World War buildings remain, although converted for a variety of purposes. Three of the five large pre-war hangars are still being used for aircraft maintenance. Two have been converted for commercial use. The control tower still exists although

2350-581: Was enhanced with the construction of three new Type C (1934 variant) hangars. During the Second World War, the station was very active during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz in 1940–41 in No. 12 Group (controlled from RAF Watnall in Nottingham ) as it was the main fighter station for a lot of the southern East Midlands, and fighters from the station would often patrol as far as Birmingham . During

2400-653: Was made available to the United States Army Air Forces for use by the Eighth Air Force . The USAAF designated the airfield as Station 123 (HF). USAAF Station Units assigned to RAF Horsham St Faith were: Regular Army Station Units included: The first USAAF tenants at the airfield was the 319th Bombardment Group (Medium), arriving from RAF Shipdham on 4 October 1942. Flying the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber,

2450-475: Was renamed as Collyweston Landing Ground in 1940 with the construction of some blister hangars, a perimeter track and some dispersals, although the next main fighter station further north was RAF Coleby Grange . Embry in Mission Completed states that in 1940 (the station's official history indicates that this was actually in 1941), while used by 25 squadron, equipped with Beaufighter night fighters,

2500-497: Was transferred to RAF Fighter Command on 10 July 1945 when it was occupied by four Gloster Meteor Squadrons one of which. No. 307, was entirely composed of Polish personnel. Meteor jet aircraft arrived during 1946–1948 and in June, an echo of the airfield's former occupants was provided by a visit by a Swedish North American P-51 Mustang squadron. RAF Horsham St Faith was a front-line RAF station for many years, and its squadrons participated in many post-war exercises. The station

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