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RAF North Luffenham

January 01, 1970

Royal Air Force North Luffenham or more simply RAF North Luffenham is a former Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England. It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham.

RAF North Luffenham
Edith Weston, Rutland in England
The station gate guardian, a Bloodhound surface-to-air missile during 1997.
Station Badge
RAF North Luffenham
Location in Rutland
RAF North Luffenham
RAF North Luffenham (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates52°37′56″N 000°36′38″W / 52.63222°N 0.61056°W / 52.63222; -0.61056
Grid referenceSK940050[1]
TypeRoyal Air Force flying and missile station
Area292 hectares[2]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Controlled byRAF Bomber Command
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In useJanuary 1941 –23 October 1997 (1997)[3]
FateTransferred to the British Army and became St George's Barracks.
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
03/21 1,315 metres (4,314 ft) Concrete
06/24 1,858 metres (6,096 ft) Concrete
12/30 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) Concrete

History edit

Second World War edit

 
Aerial photograph of the airfield, 2 March 1944. The technical site with two T2 hangars are at the left (west). There are three more T2 hangars and the bomb dump north of the perimeter track. A large number of aircraft are parked on the north/south crosswind runway and on the hardstand loops around the perimeter track

The station was built as a training airfield, opening in 1940. It was later taken over by 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command as a heavy bomber base, and was expanded by the building of concrete runways later in the war.

Post war edit

In 1951, the station was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force to become the temporary home of 1 Fighter Wing, the first Canadian NATO base in Europe. 1 Wing moved to Marville, France in 1955.

In late 1955, No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit, temporarily renamed No. 238 OCU, was detached to North Luffenham from RAF Leeming which was having its runways extended to 7000 ft to accommodate Gloster Javelins. The OCU remained for over a year before returning to Leeming.

From 1959 to 1963, North Luffenham was the base for PGM-17 Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles, operated by No. 144 Squadron RAF. The Thor missile site was listed as a Grade II* building in 2011.[4][5]

In mid-1964 No. 3 Ground Radio Servicing Squadron was transferred from RAF Norton, Sheffield, Yorkshire. No. 3GRSS was responsible for the third-line maintenance repair of all ground radar and radio communication/navigational and landing aids located at airfields throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

In 1963 the RAF Aviation Medical Training Centre (AMTC) moved from its original location at RAF Upwood to RAF North Luffenham. The Centre was commanded by a senior RAF Medical Officer who with his medical and technical team were responsible for fitting and instructing aircrew in the use of flying protective clothing and equipment, including partial pressure suits, which kept the pilot conscious in the event of loss of cabin pressure at high altitude. Instruction in medical aspects of high performance aviation included experience of hypoxia and exposure to sudden explosive decompression of an aircraft cabin. This was carried out in a complex of RAF Mark V decompression chambers installed on the site for aircrew training and research purposes. Many of the aircrew medical monitoring techniques, oxygen systems and items of aircrew protective flying clothing developed at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, were assessed by staff of AMTC.

 
Station Headquarters in 1997

From 1965 to 1997 part of the Joint Services Language School was based here. Primary languages taught included Russian and Mandarin. Russian-language graduates of the school were employed at radio monitoring stations located close to the USSR border mostly in Gatow, Berlin, in order to monitor Russian air-to-ground radio voice traffic during airborne interception/ border incursion etc. Some also were stationed at Digby, and some were sent on airborne duties, variously stationed including Wyton, Cyprus etc. Most of the Chinese graduates were officers and stationed in Hong Kong. Most of the teachers were emigres or ex-Russian military. A plaque to commemorate the Language School was unveiled in 2005 by Air Commodore Bruce Benstead, the last Station Commander at RAF North Luffenham.[6] Recruits from RAF Swinderby completed their fieldcraft training at this base in the 80s and early 90s.

Notable former rugby players from RAF North Luffenham include Sir Augustus Walker (RAF & England), Peter Larter (Northampton & England) and Martin Whitcombe (Leicester Tigers & England 'B' international).

When the RAF vacated the base, the gates from the main entrance were donated to the village of North Luffenham. The gates which bear the station badge were later erected at the entrance to the village's recreation ground.

The station was taken over by the British Army and renamed St George's Barracks in 1998.[7]

Units edit

The following units were here at some point:[8]

Units

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Birtles 2012, p. 42.
  2. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 - Annex A" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 18. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ March 1998, p. 87.
  4. ^ "Cold War missile sites get listed status". BBC News. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Thor missile site at former RAF North Luffenham (1400806)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  6. ^ RAF Linguist Association North Luffenham 2005[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Royal Regiment of Fusiliers". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  8. ^ "North Luffenham". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 44.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 56.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 90.
  12. ^ March 1988, p. 74.
  13. ^ March 1991, p. 82.

Bibliography edit

  • Birtles, Philip (2012). UK Airfields of the Cold War. Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-346-4.
  • Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • March, Peter R. (1988). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1988. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
  • March, Peter R. (1991). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1991. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
  • March, Peter R. (1998). Royal Air Force Yearbook 1998. Fairford, UK: Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

External links edit

    January 01, 1970
    north, luffenham, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources RAF North Luffenham news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Royal Air Force North Luffenham or more simply RAF North Luffenham is a former Royal Air Force station in Rutland England It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham RAF North LuffenhamEdith Weston Rutland in EnglandThe station gate guardian a Bloodhound surface to air missile during 1997 Station BadgeRAF North LuffenhamLocation in RutlandShow map of RutlandRAF North LuffenhamRAF North Luffenham the United Kingdom Show map of the United KingdomCoordinates52 37 56 N 000 36 38 W 52 63222 N 0 61056 W 52 63222 0 61056Grid referenceSK940050 1 TypeRoyal Air Force flying and missile stationArea292 hectares 2 Site informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperatorRoyal Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceControlled byRAF Bomber CommandConditionClosedSite historyBuilt1940 1940 In useJanuary 1941 23 October 1997 1997 3 FateTransferred to the British Army and became St George s Barracks Airfield informationRunwaysDirection Length and surface03 21 1 315 metres 4 314 ft Concrete06 24 1 858 metres 6 096 ft Concrete12 30 1 200 metres 3 937 ft Concrete Contents 1 History 1 1 Second World War 1 2 Post war 2 Units 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Citations 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editSecond World War edit nbsp Aerial photograph of the airfield 2 March 1944 The technical site with two T2 hangars are at the left west There are three more T2 hangars and the bomb dump north of the perimeter track A large number of aircraft are parked on the north south crosswind runway and on the hardstand loops around the perimeter track The station was built as a training airfield opening in 1940 It was later taken over by 5 Group of RAF Bomber Command as a heavy bomber base and was expanded by the building of concrete runways later in the war Post war edit In 1951 the station was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force to become the temporary home of 1 Fighter Wing the first Canadian NATO base in Europe 1 Wing moved to Marville France in 1955 In late 1955 No 228 Operational Conversion Unit temporarily renamed No 238 OCU was detached to North Luffenham from RAF Leeming which was having its runways extended to 7000 ft to accommodate Gloster Javelins The OCU remained for over a year before returning to Leeming From 1959 to 1963 North Luffenham was the base for PGM 17 Thor intermediate range ballistic missiles operated by No 144 Squadron RAF The Thor missile site was listed as a Grade II building in 2011 4 5 In mid 1964 No 3 Ground Radio Servicing Squadron was transferred from RAF Norton Sheffield Yorkshire No 3GRSS was responsible for the third line maintenance repair of all ground radar and radio communication navigational and landing aids located at airfields throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland In 1963 the RAF Aviation Medical Training Centre AMTC moved from its original location at RAF Upwood to RAF North Luffenham The Centre was commanded by a senior RAF Medical Officer who with his medical and technical team were responsible for fitting and instructing aircrew in the use of flying protective clothing and equipment including partial pressure suits which kept the pilot conscious in the event of loss of cabin pressure at high altitude Instruction in medical aspects of high performance aviation included experience of hypoxia and exposure to sudden explosive decompression of an aircraft cabin This was carried out in a complex of RAF Mark V decompression chambers installed on the site for aircrew training and research purposes Many of the aircrew medical monitoring techniques oxygen systems and items of aircrew protective flying clothing developed at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine Farnborough were assessed by staff of AMTC nbsp Station Headquarters in 1997From 1965 to 1997 part of the Joint Services Language School was based here Primary languages taught included Russian and Mandarin Russian language graduates of the school were employed at radio monitoring stations located close to the USSR border mostly in Gatow Berlin in order to monitor Russian air to ground radio voice traffic during airborne interception border incursion etc Some also were stationed at Digby and some were sent on airborne duties variously stationed including Wyton Cyprus etc Most of the Chinese graduates were officers and stationed in Hong Kong Most of the teachers were emigres or ex Russian military A plaque to commemorate the Language School was unveiled in 2005 by Air Commodore Bruce Benstead the last Station Commander at RAF North Luffenham 6 Recruits from RAF Swinderby completed their fieldcraft training at this base in the 80s and early 90s Notable former rugby players from RAF North Luffenham include Sir Augustus Walker RAF amp England Peter Larter Northampton amp England and Martin Whitcombe Leicester Tigers amp England B international When the RAF vacated the base the gates from the main entrance were donated to the village of North Luffenham The gates which bear the station badge were later erected at the entrance to the village s recreation ground The station was taken over by the British Army and renamed St George s Barracks in 1998 7 Units editThe following units were here at some point 8 No 61 Squadron RAF between 17 July and September 1941 with the Avro Manchester 9 No 111 Squadron RAF between 19 February and 18 June 1958 with the Hawker Hunter F 6 10 Detachment of No 408 Squadron RCAF between December 1941 and September 1942 11 Units No 12 Pilots Advanced Flying Unit RAF No 17 Elementary Flying Training School RAF No 21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF No 29 Operational Training Unit RAF No 73 Base RAF No 102 Flying Refresher School RAF No 151 Air Defence Missile Wing RAF No 151 SAM Servicing Wing RAF No 151 Surface to Air Missile Wing RAF No 240 Operational Conversion Unit RAF No 1382 Transport Conversion Unit RAF No 1653 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF No 2749 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2797 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2899 Squadron RAF Regiment No 2952 Squadron RAF Regiment All Weather and Night Fighter Operational Conversion Unit Flying Training Command Instructors School Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF Midland Radar 1966 12 12 January 1990 13 See also editList of former Royal Air Force stationsReferences editCitations edit Birtles 2012 p 42 Defence Estates Development Plan DEDP 2009 Annex A PDF GOV UK Ministry of Defence 3 July 2009 p 18 Retrieved 30 June 2018 March 1998 p 87 Cold War missile sites get listed status BBC News 16 October 2012 Retrieved 11 June 2016 Historic England Thor missile site at former RAF North Luffenham 1400806 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 7 December 2012 RAF Linguist Association North Luffenham 2005 permanent dead link Royal Regiment of Fusiliers British Army units 1945 on Retrieved 1 June 2014 North Luffenham Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 7 June 2020 Jefford 1988 p 44 Jefford 1988 p 56 Jefford 1988 p 90 March 1988 p 74 March 1991 p 82 Bibliography edit Birtles Philip 2012 UK Airfields of the Cold War Midland Publishing ISBN 978 1 85780 346 4 Jefford C G 1988 RAF Squadrons A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury UK Airlife ISBN 1 85310 053 6 March Peter R 1988 Royal Air Force Yearbook 1988 Fairford UK Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund March Peter R 1991 Royal Air Force Yearbook 1991 Fairford UK Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund March Peter R 1998 Royal Air Force Yearbook 1998 Fairford UK Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund External links editOfficial RAF WW2 History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF North Luffenham amp oldid 1178125052, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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