RAF Coltishall
Encyclopedia
The former Royal Air Force Station Coltishall, more commonly known as RAF Coltishall , was a Royal Air Force
station, a military
airbase, 10 miles (16.1 km) North-North-East of Norwich
, in the English
county
of Norfolk
, East Anglia
, from 1938 to 2006.
It was a fighter base in the Second World War and afterwards a base for night fighters then ground attack aircraft until closure.
After longstanding speculation, the future of the station was sealed once the Ministry of Defence
announced that the Typhoon
, a rolling replacement aircraft, displacing the ageing Jaguars
, would not be based there. The last of the Jaguar squadrons left on 1 April 2006 and the station finally closed, one month early and £10 million under budget, on 30 November 2006.
The station motto
was Aggressive in Defence. The station crest is a stone tower surmounted by a mailed fist grasping three bind bolts (arrows), which symbolised a position of strength in defence of the homeland, indicative of the aggressive spirit which Coltishall fighter aircraft were prepared to shoot down the enemy.
Aerodrome, was initially built as a bomber base, on land near Scottow Hall. Following the established tradition, the station would have been named after the nearest railway station
, which would have made it "RAF Buxton", but to avoid possible confusion with the town of Buxton in Derbyshire
, it was named after the local village
of Coltishall
instead. The airfield was completed and entered service in May 1940 as a fighter base. The first aircraft movement at Coltishall was a Bristol Blenheim IV
L7835 flown by Sergeant
RG Bales and Sergeant Barnes.
During the Second World War, Coltishall operated the Hawker Hurricane
, and a notable Coltishall fighter pilot was Douglas Bader
. It later became home to night fighter
s. At the same time the Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
operated aircraft from RAF Coltishall over the North Sea
. At the end of the war, Coltishall was briefly given over to Polish
squadrons until they returned home.
In the 1950s, RAF Coltishall was a designated a "V-Bomber dispersal base", whereby V bomber
s (the British nuclear deterrent carrying aircraft) - the Avro Vulcan
, Handley Page Victor
and Vickers Valiant
- could use in the event of their home base being damaged by enemy action.
Post-war
, the station was home to a variety of units and aircraft including de Havilland Mosquito
s, Gloster Javelin
s, English Electric Lightning
s and - from 1963 - the "Historic Aircraft Flight" (now known as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
). The last Lightnings left Coltishall in 1974, and were replaced by the Anglo-French
SEPECAT Jaguar
. The first Jaguar squadron, No. 54 Squadron RAF, arrived at Coltishall on 8 August 1974.
In terms of fixed wing aircraft, the station was exclusively a Jaguar station from then on, and some of the station's pink painted Jaguars participated in the 1991 Gulf War
Operation GRANBY
and Operation Warden, without sustaining a single loss of man or machine, and in subsequent operations over Balkans
(Operation Deny Flight
)) and then later Iraq
once more. Coltishall was also home to the yellow Search And Rescue
(SAR) helicopters of 202 Sqn
conducting air-sea rescue
operations (Sea King
) and latterly 22 Sqn
(Wessex
), but under subsequent reorganisation, the SAR operations were moved to RAF Wattisham
, in Suffolk
where they remain.
Coltishall eventually became the last surviving operational RAF airbase involved in the Battle of Britain
, and a visible remnant in the form of a Second World War revetment
still stands on the North-West taxiway
.
With the anticipated arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon
in the RAF, the gradual retirement of the Jaguar force began. Coltishall was not chosen as a future Typhoon base for a number of reasons, and so, with no future RAF role for Coltishall, the station was earmarked for closure.
The UK's Ministry of Defence
, in the Delivering Security in a Changing World
review, announced that the station would close by December 2006. The first two Jaguar squadrons to disband, No. 16 Squadron RAF
and No. 54 Squadron RAF, did so on 11 March 2005. The final Jaquar squadrons departed on 1 April 2006, when No. 6 Squadron RAF
transferred to RAF Coningsby
, but was subsequently disbanded on 31 May 2007 (to await delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon
at RAF Leuchars
in Scotland
), and No. 41 Squadron RAF
transferred to RAF Coningsby
in OCU role. The final front line RAF movement from the station was by Jaguar XZ112, piloted by Jim Luke, on 3 April 2006.
Of the final gate guardian
s, the replica Hawker Hurricane was transferred to High Wycombe, and the Jaguar was formally named the Spirit of Coltishall, and was subsequently transferred to the grounds of Norfolk County Council http://www.norfolk.gov.uk, where she is dedicated to the memory of all those who served at Coltishall.
Some limited flying from light aircraft including those of the Coltishall Flying Club did continue after the end of RAF flying operations, until October 2006. While 1 April 2006 saw the disbandment parade for the station, it did not actually disband and finally close until 30 November 2006. Associated facilities such as the Douglas Bader Primary School were also closed. The final day of the station saw the gates being opened to the public - anybody with photographic ID was welcomed onto the station to have a look around and view the final closing ceremony, which saw a flypast
by four RAF Jaguars, and a solitary Hawker Hurricane
from the Imperial War Museum Duxford
.
On 30 November 2006, RAF Coltishall was officially handed over to Defence Estates
(the MoD agency responsible for all UK Military sites) who are to handle the disposal of the site, and will be formally known as MoD Coltishall until its ultimate disposal.
Some 40-plus different types of aircraft have operated out of Coltishall at various points in its history, among these:
SAR Air/Sea Rescue squadron detachments
Operated by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
BBMF
As home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
, a sole Avro Lancaster
bomber operated out of Coltishall post war.
, who started the lengthy process of upgrading the former military housing into civilian houses for sale on the open market.
During January 2007, the Home Office
expressed an interest in the site, and in early February earmarked it for potential use as an immigration detention facility, but this was subsequently ruled out.
In July 2007, a petition was set up on the 10 Downing St website by Jeremy Godwin to campaign for Coltishall to be reopened as a Civil Airfield.
In December 2007, fresh reports in the media suggested the site would be used as a prison
, but this angered local residents who had not been informed of the disposal progress.
In January 2009, a plan to build a Category C prison at the site was approved by North Norfolk District Council. The entire site is now under the temporary control of the Ministry of Justice
(MoJ), and as of October 2009, building works on converting all of the former H-block
s is near completion, along with the completion of the dual perimeter fences, and a new access road. The new establishment will be known as HMP Bure
, named after a nearby river, and will house 500 male sex offenders.
On 19 July 2010, North Norfolk District Council proposed that the entire site should be designated as a Conservation Area
because of its historical and architectural interest http://www.northnorfolk.org/planning/7083.asp
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
station, a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
airbase, 10 miles (16.1 km) North-North-East of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county
Counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. By the Middle Ages counties had become established as a unit of local government, at least in England. By the early 17th century all...
of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, from 1938 to 2006.
It was a fighter base in the Second World War and afterwards a base for night fighters then ground attack aircraft until closure.
After longstanding speculation, the future of the station was sealed once the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
announced that the Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
, a rolling replacement aircraft, displacing the ageing Jaguars
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
, would not be based there. The last of the Jaguar squadrons left on 1 April 2006 and the station finally closed, one month early and £10 million under budget, on 30 November 2006.
The station motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was Aggressive in Defence. The station crest is a stone tower surmounted by a mailed fist grasping three bind bolts (arrows), which symbolised a position of strength in defence of the homeland, indicative of the aggressive spirit which Coltishall fighter aircraft were prepared to shoot down the enemy.
History
Work on RAF Coltishall was started in February 1939. The airfield, then known as ScottowScottow
Scottow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located some north of Coltishall and south of North Walsham.The civil parish has an area of and in 2001 had a population of 1,774 in 357 households...
Aerodrome, was initially built as a bomber base, on land near Scottow Hall. Following the established tradition, the station would have been named after the nearest railway station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
, which would have made it "RAF Buxton", but to avoid possible confusion with the town of Buxton in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, it was named after the local village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Coltishall
Coltishall
Coltishall is a village on the River Bure, west of Wroxham, in the English county of Norfolk, within the Norfolk Broads.Coltishall was a place of note even when the Domesday Book was compiled. For 250 years it was a centre of the malting industry...
instead. The airfield was completed and entered service in May 1940 as a fighter base. The first aircraft movement at Coltishall was a Bristol Blenheim IV
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
L7835 flown by Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
RG Bales and Sergeant Barnes.
During the Second World War, Coltishall operated the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
, and a notable Coltishall fighter pilot was Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
. It later became home to night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
s. At the same time the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
operated aircraft from RAF Coltishall over the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. At the end of the war, Coltishall was briefly given over to Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
squadrons until they returned home.
In the 1950s, RAF Coltishall was a designated a "V-Bomber dispersal base", whereby V bomber
V bomber
The term V bomber was used for the Royal Air Force aircraft during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear strike force known officially as the V-force or Bomber Command Main Force...
s (the British nuclear deterrent carrying aircraft) - the Avro Vulcan
Avro Vulcan
The Avro Vulcan, sometimes referred to as the Hawker Siddeley Vulcan, was a jet-powered delta wing strategic bomber, operated by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A V Roe & Co designed the Vulcan in response to Specification B.35/46. Of the three V bombers produced,...
, Handley Page Victor
Handley Page Victor
The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft produced by the Handley Page Aircraft Company during the Cold War. It was the third and final of the V-bombers that provided Britain's nuclear deterrent. The other two V-bombers were the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. Some aircraft...
and Vickers Valiant
Vickers Valiant
The Vickers-Armstrongs Valiant was a British four-jet bomber, once part of the Royal Air Force's V bomber nuclear force in the 1950s and 1960s...
- could use in the event of their home base being damaged by enemy action.
Post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
, the station was home to a variety of units and aircraft including de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
s, Gloster Javelin
Gloster Javelin
The Gloster Javelin was an "all-weather" interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force in the late 1950s and most of the 1960s...
s, English Electric Lightning
English Electric Lightning
The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
s and - from 1963 - the "Historic Aircraft Flight" (now known as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
). The last Lightnings left Coltishall in 1974, and were replaced by the Anglo-French
Anglo-French relations
United Kingdom – French relations are the relations between the governments of France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . In recent years the two countries have experienced a very close relationship....
SEPECAT Jaguar
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
. The first Jaguar squadron, No. 54 Squadron RAF, arrived at Coltishall on 8 August 1974.
In terms of fixed wing aircraft, the station was exclusively a Jaguar station from then on, and some of the station's pink painted Jaguars participated in the 1991 Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
Operation GRANBY
Operation Granby
Operation Granby was the name given to the British military operations during the Gulf War. 53,462 troops were deployed during the conflict. The total cost of operations was £2.434 billion of which at least £2.049 billion was paid for by other nations such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; £200...
and Operation Warden, without sustaining a single loss of man or machine, and in subsequent operations over Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
(Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
)) and then later Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
once more. Coltishall was also home to the yellow Search And Rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
(SAR) helicopters of 202 Sqn
No. 202 Squadron RAF
No. 202 Squadron of the Royal Air Force presently operates the Sea King HAR.3 in the Search and rescue role at three stations in the northern half of the United Kingdom. It was originally formed as one of the first aeroplane squadrons of the RNAS before it became part of the RAF.-Formation and...
conducting air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
operations (Sea King
Westland Sea King
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
) and latterly 22 Sqn
No. 22 Squadron RAF
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
(Wessex
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
), but under subsequent reorganisation, the SAR operations were moved to RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham
RAF Wattisham was a Royal Air Force station located in East Anglia just outside the village of Wattisham, south of Stowmarket in Suffolk, England. During the Cold War it was a major front-line air force base...
, in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
where they remain.
Coltishall eventually became the last surviving operational RAF airbase involved in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, and a visible remnant in the form of a Second World War revetment
Revetment
Revetments, or revêtements , have a variety of meanings in architecture, engineering and art history. In stream restoration, river engineering or coastal management, they are sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs in such a way as to absorb the energy of incoming water...
still stands on the North-West taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
.
With the anticipated arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
in the RAF, the gradual retirement of the Jaguar force began. Coltishall was not chosen as a future Typhoon base for a number of reasons, and so, with no future RAF role for Coltishall, the station was earmarked for closure.
The UK's Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, in the Delivering Security in a Changing World
Delivering Security in a Changing World
The 2003 Defence White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the British military, and was preceded by the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the...
review, announced that the station would close by December 2006. The first two Jaguar squadrons to disband, No. 16 Squadron RAF
No. 16 Squadron RAF
No. 16 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. It formed in 1915 at Saint-Omer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War...
and No. 54 Squadron RAF, did so on 11 March 2005. The final Jaquar squadrons departed on 1 April 2006, when No. 6 Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
transferred to RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
, but was subsequently disbanded on 31 May 2007 (to await delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
at RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
), and No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
transferred to RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
in OCU role. The final front line RAF movement from the station was by Jaguar XZ112, piloted by Jim Luke, on 3 April 2006.
Of the final gate guardian
Gate guardian
A gate guardian or gate guard is a withdrawn piece of equipment, often an aircraft, armoured vehicle, artillery piece or locomotive, mounted on a plinth and used as a static display near to and forming a symbolic display of "guarding" the main entrance to somewhere, especially a military base...
s, the replica Hawker Hurricane was transferred to High Wycombe, and the Jaguar was formally named the Spirit of Coltishall, and was subsequently transferred to the grounds of Norfolk County Council http://www.norfolk.gov.uk, where she is dedicated to the memory of all those who served at Coltishall.
Some limited flying from light aircraft including those of the Coltishall Flying Club did continue after the end of RAF flying operations, until October 2006. While 1 April 2006 saw the disbandment parade for the station, it did not actually disband and finally close until 30 November 2006. Associated facilities such as the Douglas Bader Primary School were also closed. The final day of the station saw the gates being opened to the public - anybody with photographic ID was welcomed onto the station to have a look around and view the final closing ceremony, which saw a flypast
Flypast
Flypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft...
by four RAF Jaguars, and a solitary Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
from the Imperial War Museum Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford
Imperial War Museum Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum near the village of Duxford in Cambridgeshire, England. Britain's largest aviation museum, Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven...
.
On 30 November 2006, RAF Coltishall was officially handed over to Defence Estates
Defence Estates
Defence Infrastructure Organisation is an operating arm of the Ministry of Defence , in the United Kingdom, which is responsible for the built and rural estate. The organisation formed on 1 April 2011 after a reorganisation of the Ministry of Defence's bodies in charge of infrastructure. It...
(the MoD agency responsible for all UK Military sites) who are to handle the disposal of the site, and will be formally known as MoD Coltishall until its ultimate disposal.
Station Commanders
- Note: The ranks shown are the ranks held at the time of holding the appointment of Commanding OfficerCommanding officerThe commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
, Royal Air Force Coltishall.
| date from | date to | Rank | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 1940 | 9 January 1941 | Wing Commander Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... |
W K Beisiegal |
| 9 January 1941 | 11 September 1942 | Group Captain Group Captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore... |
Ronald Lees Ronald Lees Air Marshal Sir Ronald Beresford Lees KCB CBE DFC & Bar RAF was a senior Royal Air Force commander.-RAF career:... |
| 11 September 1942 | 20 April 1943 | Group Captain | George D Harvey |
| 20 April 1943 | 10 December 1943 | Group Captain | Arthur V Harvey |
| 10 December 1943 | 25 May 1945 | Group Captain | A H Donaldson |
| 25 May 1945 | 9 August 1945 | Group Captain | A H Dunn |
| 9 August 1945 | 27 February 1946 | Group Captain | T H Rolski |
| 27 February 1946 | 13 February 1947 | Group Captain | Aleksander Gabszewicz Aleksander Gabszewicz Aleksander Klemens Gabszewicz was a Polish fighter pilot and a World War II fighter ace, with a score of 9½ confirmed and 2 probable kills.-Biography:... |
| 13 February 1947 | 22 January 1948 | Wing Commander | Robert Stanford Tuck Robert Stanford Tuck Wing Commander Roland Robert Stanford Tuck DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC was a British fighter pilot and test pilot.Tuck joined the RAF in 1935. Tuck first engaged in combat during the Battle of France, over Dunkirk, claiming his first victories... |
| 22 Jan 1948 | 6 Mar 1950 | Wing Commander | Denis Spotswood Denis Spotswood Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:... |
| 6 Mar 1950 | 1 Feb 1951 | Wing Commander | E L Colbeck-Welch |
| 1 Feb 1951 | 8 May 1953 | Group Captain | A H Smythe |
| 8 May 1953 | 12 Dec 1955 | Group Captain | P P Hanks |
| 12 Dec 1955 | 25 Nov 1958 | Group Captain | J C Sisson |
| 25 Nov 1958 | 1 June 1959 | Wing Commander | W Laing |
| 1 Jun 1959 | 15 Nov 1961 | Group Captain | Harold A C Bird-Wilson Harold Bird-Wilson Air Vice Marshal Harold Arthur Cooper "Birdie" Bird-Wilson CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar, AFC & Bar was a British Royal Air Force ace during World War II.-Family Background:... |
| 15 Nov 1961 | 1 November 1963 | Group Captain | L H Malins |
| 1 Dec 1963 | 3 June 1966 | Group Captain | R L Topp |
| 4 June 1966 | 3 January 1969 | Group Captain | M E Hobson |
| 3 Jan 1969 | 20 Nov 1969 | Group Captain | W J Stacey |
| 20 Nov 1969 | 18 Nov 1971 | Group Captain | J T Jennings |
| 18 Nov 1971 | 28 Dec 1973 | Group Captain | J A Gilbert |
| 28 Dec 1973 | 6 August 1976 | Group Captain | L Swart |
| 6 Aug 1976 | 6 Sep 978 | Group Captain | J H Honey |
| 6 Sept 1978 | 15 Oct 1980 | Group Captain | T H Stonor |
| 15 Oct 1980 | 3 Dec 1982 | Group Captain | T J Nash |
| 3 Dec 1982 | 8 Feb 1985 | Group Captain | G R Profit |
| 8 Feb 1985 | 4 June 1987 | Group Captain | M R French |
| 4 June 1987 | 2 August 1989 | Group Captain | F J Hoare |
| 3 Aug 1989 | 16 Aug 1991 | Group Captain | M J Abbott |
| 16 Aug 1991 | 5 July 1993 | Group Captain | J P Dacre |
| 5 July 1993 | 28 July 1995 | Group Captain | N C Rusling |
| 28 July 1999 | 5 Sept 1997 | Group Captain | T C Hewlett |
| 5 Sept 1997 | 5 September 1999 | Group Captain | Stephen G G Dalton Stephen Dalton Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Gary George Dalton, KCB, BSc, FRAeS, RAF is the current Chief of the Air Staff and professional head of the Royal Air Force.-RAF career:... |
| 6 Sept 1999 | 5 Oct 2001 | Group Captain | Chris N Harper Chris Harper (RAF Officer) Air Marshal Sir Christopher Nigel Harper KBE is a Royal Air Force Officer, and is currently the United Kingdom Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, having served for two years as Deputy Commander Allied Joint Force Command at Brunssum in the Netherlands. Prior to that appointment... |
| 6 Oct 2001 | 28 Nov 2003 | Group Captain | R D Cobelli |
| 28 Nov 2003 | 2006 | Group Captain | Graham A Wright, OBE |
| 2006 | 13 Oct 2006 | Wing Commander | Paul Robins |
| 13 Oct 2006 | 30 Nov 2006 | Squadron Leader Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these... |
Jason Hughes |
Coltishall aircraft
Resident Squadron aircraft
- Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
- Bell P-39 Airacobra I
- Supermarine WalrusSupermarine WalrusThe Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell and operated by the Fleet Air Arm . It also served with the Royal Air Force , Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Canadian Air Force , Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New...
- Westland Whirlwind I
- Westland LysanderWestland LysanderThe Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
III - Bristol BlenheimBristol BlenheimThe Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
IVf - Hawker TyphoonHawker TyphoonThe Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
Ia - Avro AnsonAvro AnsonThe Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...
- Hawker TempestHawker TempestThe Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
V - de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
NF30 & NF36 - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
III - Gloster MeteorGloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
NF11 - de Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
NF10 - de Havilland VenomDe Havilland VenomThe de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
NF2 - Hawker HunterHawker HunterThe Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
F6 - English Electric CanberraEnglish Electric CanberraThe English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
PR9 - Gloster JavelinGloster JavelinThe Gloster Javelin was an "all-weather" interceptor aircraft that served with Britain's Royal Air Force in the late 1950s and most of the 1960s...
FAW9(R) - English Electric LightningEnglish Electric LightningThe English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...
- SEPECAT JaguarSEPECAT JaguarThe SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
Non-resident aircraft
Operated by detachments from other squadrons- Bristol BeaufighterBristol BeaufighterThe Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
If (604 Sqn AuxAF Det) - Douglas A-20 Havoc I (93 Sqn Det)
- Bristol BeaufortBristol BeaufortThe Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
I (22 Sqn Det) - Boulton Paul DefiantBoulton Paul DefiantThe Boulton Paul Defiant was a British interceptor aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force early in the Second World War. The Defiant was designed and built by Boulton Paul Aircraft as a "turret fighter", without any forward-firing guns. It was a contemporary of the Royal Navy's Blackburn Roc...
I (151 Sqn Det)
SAR Air/Sea Rescue squadron detachments
- Sycamore HR14Bristol Sycamore-See also:-External links:* on the Bristol Sycamore* on the Bristol Sycamore*...
- Westland Wessex HAR2Westland WessexThe Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
- Westland Whirlwind
- Westland Sea King HAR3Westland Sea KingThe Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
Operated by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
- AlbacoreAlbacoreThe albacore, Thunnus alalunga, is a type of tuna in the family Scombridae. This species is also called albacore fish, albacore tuna, albicore, longfin, albies, pigfish, tombo ahi, binnaga, Pacific albacore, German bonito , longfin tuna, longfin tunny, or even just tuna...
I (841 NAS) - Fairey SwordfishFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
(841 NAS) - de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 (809 NAS809 Naval Air Squadron-WWII:Formed in January 1941 at St Merryn with 12 Fairey Fulmars, the squadron embarked in HMS Victorious in July 1941. At first involved in operations against Petsamo and Bodø, and then the convoys to North Russia, Victorious and her air group fought in the Mediterranean from July 1942, including...
) - Fairey GannetFairey GannetThe Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
AEW3 (849 NAS)
BBMF
As home to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
, a sole Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
bomber operated out of Coltishall post war.
Coltishall Squadrons
- No. 1 Squadron RAFNo. 1 Squadron RAFNo. 1 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated the Harrier GR9 from RAF Cottesmore until 28 January 2011.The squadron motto is In omnibus princeps , appropriate for the RAF's oldest squadron and one that has been involved in almost every major British military operation since...
; Spitfire LFIXb,F21 - No. 3 Squadron RAFNo. 3 Squadron RAFNo 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
- No. 6 Squadron RAFNo. 6 Squadron RAFNo. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
; Jaguar GR1/1A/1B, T2/T2A, GR3/3A, T4/T4A (November 1974 - April 2006) - No. 16 Squadron RAFNo. 16 Squadron RAFNo. 16 Squadron is a flying squadron of the Royal Air Force. It formed in 1915 at Saint-Omer to carry out a mixture of offensive patrolling and reconnaissance and was disbanded in 1919 with the end of the First World War...
(? - March 2005) (Squadron Standard now laid up in Notre-Dame Cathedral Saint-OmerSaint-OmerSaint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - No. 22 Squadron RAFNo. 22 Squadron RAFNo. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at three stations in the southern United Kingdom. The squadron was originally formed in 1915 as an aerial reconnaissance unit of the Royal Flying Corps serving on the Western Front during First World War...
; Beaufort I,II, Whirlwind HAR2,HAR10, Wessex HAR2 - No. 23 Squadron RAFNo. 23 Squadron RAFNo. 23 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. Until October 2009, it operated the Boeing Sentry AEW1 Airborne Warning And Control System aircraft from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.-First World War:...
; Mosquito NF36, Vampire NF10, Venom NF2,NF3, Javelin FAW4,FAW7,FAW9R - No. 25 Squadron RAF; Mosquito VI,XVII,NFXXX
- No. 29 Squadron RAFNo. 29 Squadron RAFNo. 29 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was first raised in 1915, and is one of the world's oldest fighter squadrons. The second British squadron to receive the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is currently the Operational Conversion Unit for the RAF's newest fighter.-Service in World War I:This unit was...
; Beaufighter IF,VIF
- No. 39 Squadron RAFNo. 39 Squadron RAFNo. 39 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the MQ-9 Reaper since 2007, operating from Creech AFB, Nevada, USA.-World War I:39 Squadron was founded at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in April 1916 with B.E.2s and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12s in an attempt to defend against German Zeppelin raids on...
; Canberra T4, PR7, PR9 - No. 41 Squadron RAFNo. 41 Squadron RAFNo. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
; Javelin FAW4, Jaguar GR1/1A/1B, T2/T2A, GR3/3A, T4/T4A (1976 - April 2006) - No. 42 Squadron RAFNo. 42 Squadron RAFNo. 42 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has served during World War I as an army co-operation squadron and during World War II in various roles. In recent years, it was the Operational Conversion Unit for the Nimrod MR.2, based at RAF Kinloss, Moray, until the Nimrod MR2's retirement in 2010.-First...
; Beaufort I,II - No. 54 Squadron RAF; Jaguar GR1/1A/1B, T2/T2A, GR3/3A, T4/T4A (August 1974 - March 2005) (Squadron Standard now laid up in Norwich CathedralNorwich CathedralNorwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
) - No. 56 Squadron RAFNo. 56 Squadron RAFNumber 56 Squadron is one of the oldest and most successful squadrons of the Royal Air Force, with battle honours from many of the significant air campaigns of both World War I and World War II...
; Typhoon Ia, Ib - No. 64 Squadron RAFNo. 64 Squadron RAFNo. 64 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was first formed on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. It was last disbanded on 31 January 1991 at RAF Leuchars.- 1916 to 1919 :...
; Spitfire I,Vb, LEVc - No. 66 Squadron RAFNo. 66 Squadron RAFNo. 66 Squadron was a Royal Flying Corps and eventually Royal Air Force aircraft squadron.-In World War I:It was first formed at Filton on 30 June 1916 as a Training Squadron equipped with BE2c,d & e, BE12 and Avroe 504A machines. The squadron received its first Sopwith Pup on 3 February 1917,...
; Spitfire I - No. 68 Squadron RAFNo. 68 Squadron RAFThe name No. 68 Squadron has been used by the Royal Air Force for two quite different units.No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps was formed at Heliopolis, Egypt in 1916. For a while it was known to the British military as "No. 68 Squadron RFC" - according to some accounts in order to avoid...
; Beaufighter IF, VI, Mosquito XVII, XIX, XXX - No. 72 Squadron RAFNo. 72 Squadron RAFNo. 72 Squadron Royal Air Force started its service life supporting the army during World War I on operations in Middle East and afterwards was quickly disbanded. In its second incarnation the squadron was a real fighter unit, transitioning from Gloster Gladiator biplanes to Gloster Javelin...
; Spitfire I - No. 74 Squadron RAFNo. 74 Squadron RAFNo. 74 Squadron RAF, also known as a "Tiger Squadron" from its tiger head motif, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It operated fighter aircraft from 1917 to the 1990s.-First World War:...
"Tigers"; Spitfire IIa, Hunter F6, Lightning F1, F3 (1940, 1960–1966) - No. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force squadron active from 1917 until 1969. It was operative during both World War I and World War II.-Establishment and early service:...
; Tempest V - No. 85 Squadron RAFNo. 85 Squadron RAFNo. 85 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It most recently served as No. 85 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton.-In World War I:...
; Meteor NF11 - No. 93 Squadron RAFNo. 93 Squadron RAFNo. 93 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It operated Turbinlite-equipped Bostons from RAF Burtonwood, making night attacks and towing aerial mine charges with steel cables....
; Havoc I - No. 118 Squadron RAFNo. 118 Squadron RAFFormed at Catterick, North Yorkshire, on 1 January 1918 as a heavy night bomber unit, No. 118 Squadron never saw service in World War I and was disbanded again on 7 September 1918....
; Spitfire Vb - No. 124 Squadron RAFNo. 124 Squadron RAFNo. 124 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed to be a light bomber unit in World War I and reformed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:...
; Spitfire XI - No. 125 Squadron RAFNo. 125 Squadron RAFNo. 125 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron active during and after World War II.-World War I:Like a number of Squadrons, No. 125 was initially formed during the later months of the first world war but never became operational before the Armistice.-World War II:No...
; Mosquito XIV, XXX - No. 133 Squadron RAFNo. 133 Squadron RAF133 Squadron RAF was one of the famous Eagle squadrons formed from American volunteers serving with the RAF during World War II.-History:133 Squadron was first formed in 1918 at RAF Ternhill. It was a training unit for the Handley Page O/400, flying the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2, that was...
; one of the American-piloted Eagle SquadronEagle squadronThe Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States...
s formed 1941, Hurricane IIb - No. 137 Squadron RAFNo. 137 Squadron RAFNo. 137 Squadron RAF existed briefly as a day bomber unit in World War I but it never became operational. During World War II it flew as one of the two Whirlwind squadrons before converting to Hurricane Mk.IV fighter-bombers and later the Hawker Typhoon in the same role. The squadron was disbanded...
; Whirlwind I - No. 141 Squadron RAFNo. 141 Squadron RAFNo. 141 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 January 1918 at Rochford, for home defence in the London Area. The Squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill in February and giving up its mixed collection of types in favour of Bristol F.2 Fighters during March...
; Mosquito NF36, Meteor NF11, Venom NF3, Javelin FAW4 - No. 151 Squadron RAFNo. 151 Squadron RAF-World War I:No. 151 squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft.During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.Sixteen enemy aircraft...
; Hurricane I,IIb,IIc, Defiant I - No. 152 Squadron RAFNo. 152 Squadron RAFNo. 152 Squadron of the Royal Air Force .-History:No 152 Squadron was formed on 1 October 1918 at Rochford as a Camel night fighter unit. 30 June 1919, the squadron disbanded....
; Spitfire IIa - No. 154 Squadron RAFNo. 154 Squadron RAFNo. 154 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
; Spitfire Va,Vb - No. 167 Squadron RAFNo. 167 Squadron RAFNo. 167 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that formed just after the end of World War I. It was one of only three to be equipped with the Handley Page V/1500 heavy bomber....
; Spitfire Vb,Vc - No. 195 Squadron RAFNo. 195 Squadron RAFNo. 195 Squadron was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron that operated during the second world war at first in the ground attack role and later as heavy bomber unit with the Avro Lancaster.-History:...
; Typhoon Ib - No. 202 Squadron RAFNo. 202 Squadron RAFNo. 202 Squadron of the Royal Air Force presently operates the Sea King HAR.3 in the Search and rescue role at three stations in the northern half of the United Kingdom. It was originally formed as one of the first aeroplane squadrons of the RNAS before it became part of the RAF.-Formation and...
; Whirlwind HAR10, Sea King HAR3 - No. 222 Squadron RAFNo. 222 Squadron RAF-In World War I:The Squadron was formally formed at Thasos on 1 April 1918 from A squadron of the former No. 2 Wing, RNAS when the Royal Air Force was formed. Later, 6 April 1918 former Z Squadron of No. 2 Wing, RNAS was added to the strength. Renumbered No. 62 Wing and consisting of Nos...
; Spitfire Ia,IIa,IIb - No. 226 Squadron RAFNo. 226 Squadron RAFFirst formed on 1 April 1918 at Pizzone, Italy, by re-designating the Bombing School Pizzone, No. 226 Squadron RAF operated fast bombers and fighter aircraft and formed No. 472, 473 and 474 Flights within it in September 1918...
OCU; Lightning F1,F1A,F3,T4,T5,T55 - No. 228 Squadron RAFNo. 228 Squadron RAFNo. 228 Squadron RAF was a unit that during the greatest part of its existence flew over water, doing so in World War I, World War II and beyond, performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue tasks.-Formation and World War I:...
; Whirlwind HAR10 - No. 228 Squadron RAFNo. 228 Squadron RAFNo. 228 Squadron RAF was a unit that during the greatest part of its existence flew over water, doing so in World War I, World War II and beyond, performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance and air-sea rescue tasks.-Formation and World War I:...
OCU; Mosquito (various), Meteor (various) - No. 229 Squadron RAFNo. 229 Squadron RAFNo. 229 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force, and is an officially accredited Battle of Britain Squadron. It became No. 603 Squadron RAF in January 1945.-Formation & World War I:...
; Spitfire XI,XVI - No. 234 Squadron RAFNo. 234 Squadron RAFNo. 234 Squadron RAF had a long career within the RAF, being operational on flying boats in World War I and on fighter aircraft in World War II. After the war it remained a fighter unit till 1957. In its last incarnation the squadron was in turn Operational Training Unit , Tactical Weapon Unit and...
; Spitfire Vb,Vc - No. 266 Squadron RAFNo. 266 Squadron RAF-World War I:The squadron was formed from No's 437 and 438 Flights at Mudros, Greece on 27 September 1918 to carry out anti-submarine patrols in that area, flying Short 184s and 320s along with Felixtowe F.3s. In February 1919 it was transferred to the Caucasus on HMS Engadine. It operated from...
; Typhoon Ia,Ib - No. 242 Squadron RAFNo. 242 Squadron RAFNo. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron. It flew in many roles during its active service and it is also known for being the first squadron Douglas Bader commanded.-In World War I:No...
; Hurricane I - No. 255 Squadron RAFNo. 255 Squadron RAFNo. 255 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti–submarine unit in World War I and a night-fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
; Beaufighter IIF - No. 257 Squadron RAFNo. 257 Squadron RAF-In World War I:No. 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on 18 August 1918 from Nos. 318 and 319 Flights. It flew both seaplanes and flying boats on anti-submarine patrols from Dundee until the end of the First World War and disbanded there on 30 June 1919....
; Hurricane I,IIa,IIb,IIc - No. 264 Squadron RAFNo. 264 Squadron RAFNo. 264 Squadron RAF also known as No 264 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed from two former Royal Naval Air Service flights, No. 439 and No. 440, on 27 September 1918 at Souda Bay, Crete to perform anti-submarine patrols. It operated the Short 184 floatplanes on patrols in the...
; Mosquito NF36 - No. 274 Squadron RAFNo. 274 Squadron RAFNo. 274 Squadron RAF began to form as a patrol squadron, intended to fly Vickers Vimys, at Seaton Carew in November 1918 a few days before the end of World War I. The squadron formation was then cancelled. It was reformed on 15 June 1919 as a bomber squadron, flying Handley Page V/1500s, but...
; Tempest V - No. 275 Squadron RAFNo. 275 Squadron RAFNo. 275 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force air-sea rescue squadron that served between 1941 and 1959.-History:No. 275 Squadron RAF was formed at RAF Valley on 15 October 1941 for air-sea rescue duties in the Irish sea, the first aircraft being Lysanders Mk.IIIa's...
; Sycamore HR13,HR14 - No. 278 Squadron RAFNo. 278 Squadron RAFNo. 278 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an air-sea rescue unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed at RAF Matlaske on 22 December 1941 equipped with the Lysander, Walrus and then the Anson. Spitfires were then supplied for spotting downed aircrew...
; Lysander IIa, Walrus I,II, Anson I - No. 288 Squadron RAFNo. 288 Squadron RAFNo. 288 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as an anti-aircraft co-operation unit in World War II.-Formation in World War II:The squadron formed at RAF Digby on 17 November 1941 and was equipped with Lysanders, Blenheims and Hurricanes to provide practice for the anti-aircraft...
; Hurricane I, Defiant TT II/III - No. 303 Polish Fighter SquadronNo. 303 Polish Fighter SquadronNo. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron was one of 16 Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was the highest scoring RAF squadron of the Battle of Britain....
; Spitfire IX, Mustang IV (1944, 1945) - No. 306 (Polish) Squadron RAF; Mustang III
- No. 307 (Polish) Squadron RAF; Mosquito XXX
- No. 309 (Polish) SquadronNo. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance SquadronNo. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron was a Polish squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish government-in-exile and the United Kingdom in 1940...
; Mustang III,IV - No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF; Spitfire XI
- No. 315 (Polish) SquadronNo. 315 Polish Fighter SquadronNo 315 Polish Fighter Squadron was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1941. It was one of several Polish fighter squadrons fighting alongside the Royal Air Force during the World War II...
; Mustang III - No. 316 (Polish) SquadronNo. 316 Polish Fighter SquadronNo. 316 "City of Warsaw" Polish Fighter Squadron was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1941...
; Mustang III - No. 318 (Polish) Squadron RAF; Spitfire IX
- No. 409 Squadron RCAFNo. 409 Squadron RCAF409 Tactical Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CF-18 Hornet from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada.-History:...
; Beaufighter VI - No. 453 Squadron RAAFNo. 453 Squadron RAAFNo. 453 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was first was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941 during World War II and was disbanded in March 1942 after suffering heavy losses in combat during the Battle of Malaya...
; Spitfire IX - No. 488 Squadron RNZAFNo. 488 Squadron RNZAF488 Squadron was the name given to two distinct Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons during the Second World War. Both were formed under Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme and served under the operational command of the Royal Air Force....
; Beaufighter II - No. 601 Squadron Royal Air Force; ??
- No. 602 Squadron RAFNo. 602 Squadron RAFNo 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
; Spitfire IX,XVI - No. 603 Squadron RAFNo. 603 Squadron RAFNo. 603 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The primary role of 603 Squadron, since reforming on 1 October 1999, has been as a Survive to Operate squadron, as well as providing Force Protection.-Formation and early years:No...
; Spitfire XVI (1945) - No. 604 Squadron RAFNo. 604 Squadron RAFNo. 604 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force notable for its pioneering role the development of radar-controlled night-fighter operations. The squadron was established in March 1930 at RAF Hendon as a day-bombing squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In July 1934, the squadron...
; Beaufighter I - No. 610 Squadron RAFNo. 610 Squadron RAFNo. 610 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was as a Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force, its pilots were initially part timers who would spend their weekends and spare time flying and practicing combat maneuvers. The squadron was named the "County of Chester" and adopted the motto "Alifero tollitur...
; Spitfire Vb,Vc - No. 611 Squadron RAFNo. 611 Squadron RAFNo. 611 Squadron was a British Auxiliary Air Force later Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron first formed in 1936 and lastly disbanded in 1957.-Early years:...
; Spitfire IX - No. 616 Squadron RAFNo. 616 Squadron RAFNo. 616 Squadron was a unit of the British Auxiliary Air Force and later the Royal Auxiliary Air Force between 1938 and 1957.-Formation:...
; Spitfire I - No. 659 Squadron RAFNo. 659 Squadron RAFNo. 659 Squadron was a Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron associated with the 21st Army Group during World War II. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. A further three of these...
; - No. 809 Squadron FAA; Sea Hornet F20,NF21
- No. 841 Squadron FAA; Albacore I, Swordfish I,II
- No. 849 Squadron FAA; Gannett AEW3,COD4,T5
- No. 1489 Flight RAF; Lysander II,III, Henley III
- Battle of Britain Memorial FlightBattle of Britain Memorial FlightThe Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...
; Hurricane IIc, Spitfire IIa,Va,PRXIX, Lancaster B1 - Air Fighter Development Squadron; Javelin (various), Hunter (various), Lightning (various)
- US 346th Fighter Group; Spitfire Vb, Bell Airacobra
- Mandrel Screen Unit; Defiant II
- Fighter Interception UnitFighter Interception UnitThe Fighter Interception Unit was a special interceptor aircraft unit of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was part of Air Defence of Great Britain....
; Mosquito (various) - Night Fighter Development Unit; Mosquito (various), Firefly I
Redevelopment
The former married quarters were transferred to the MoDs preferred property agents - Annington HomesAnnington Homes
Annington Homes is the largest private owner of homes in the United Kingdom, specialising in converting former Ministry of Defence housing for the general public since 1996. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Terra Firma.-External links:* *...
, who started the lengthy process of upgrading the former military housing into civilian houses for sale on the open market.
During January 2007, the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
expressed an interest in the site, and in early February earmarked it for potential use as an immigration detention facility, but this was subsequently ruled out.
In July 2007, a petition was set up on the 10 Downing St website by Jeremy Godwin to campaign for Coltishall to be reopened as a Civil Airfield.
In December 2007, fresh reports in the media suggested the site would be used as a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, but this angered local residents who had not been informed of the disposal progress.
In January 2009, a plan to build a Category C prison at the site was approved by North Norfolk District Council. The entire site is now under the temporary control of the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Justice is a ministerial department of the UK Government headed by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, who is responsible for improvements to the justice system so that it better serves the public...
(MoJ), and as of October 2009, building works on converting all of the former H-block
H-block
H-block or h-block can refer to:* H engine, with cylinders in an H pattern* Maze , Belfast, where the prison blocks were built to a uniform H-shaped plan** Anti H-Block, 1981 Irish Republican election label...
s is near completion, along with the completion of the dual perimeter fences, and a new access road. The new establishment will be known as HMP Bure
Bure (HM Prison)
HM Prison Bure is a Category C men's prison, located in the parish of Badersfield in Norfolk, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service, and became operational in November 2009.-History:...
, named after a nearby river, and will house 500 male sex offenders.
On 19 July 2010, North Norfolk District Council proposed that the entire site should be designated as a Conservation Area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
because of its historical and architectural interest http://www.northnorfolk.org/planning/7083.asp
See also
- Battle of Britain airfieldsBattle of Britain airfieldsDuring the Battle of Britain, the defence of the UK's airspace was divided up within RAF Fighter Command into four Groups, each comprising several airfields and squadrons....
- List of RAF stations
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- Royal Air Force station
External links
- Gallery of Coltishall images from ServicePals.com
- pictures of Coltishall Javelins
- Spirit of Coltishall - perpetuating the memory of the station
- A New Vision for RAF Coltishall - promoting the Eco-town proposal