RAF Little Rissington
Encyclopedia
RAF Little Rissington is an RAF
aerodrome
and former RAF station
in Gloucestershire
, England
. It was once home to the Central Flying School
, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows
.
Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in 1994. The married-quarters and main technical site were sold in 1996 (the former becoming the village of Upper Rissington
), but the aerodrome has been retained by the Ministry of Defence
and remains active along with the southern technical sites, under the operational control of HQAC
at RAFC Cranwell.
It is now home to 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
as the primary military unit, who provide elementary flying training for Combined Cadet Force
and Air Training Corps
cadets. The aviation maintenance company Devonair operate from the southern hangars. The airfield is also used by the forces as a relief landing ground, training area and parachute dropping area. In previous years, the Royal Air Force
estate has been used as a film set: including The Avengers (film), part of the ice chase in Die Another Day
and the Thunderbirds (film)
.
, the Air Ministry
began constructing major airfields across the United Kingdom
under what was known as the Expansion Period. RAF Little Rissington was one of these airfields.
Royal Air Force Station Little Rissington officially opened in 1938, comprising the domestic site and a grass airfield. During 1942, three asphalt runways were laid. Extra land was added to accommodate Sites A to E. Later in the war, the main runway 05/23 was extended northerly (later to become the main runway for instrument landings), 09/27 and 14/32 were extended easterly and south-easterly respectively.
Up to 1945 the station accommodated No. 6 Service Flying Training School and No. 8 Maintenance Unit. No. 8 Maintenance Unit was originally designated No. 8 Aircraft Storage Unit (ASU), however as the Second World War increased its momentum, so did the number of aircraft being stored. During the mid-1940s dispersal areas began openly storing aircraft, that had arrived straight from the manufacture. Due to security concerns, the level of security protection stepped up during the war, including the Station's own fighter force of several Spitfires. Later in the war, various satellite airfields were used to spread out the increased number of aircraft.
Central Flying School
moved to Little Rissington. The airfield also became the home to the RAF's aerobatics teams which included the Red Pelicans
and later the Red Arrows
. The airfield was expanded during this period, and a new fire station and control tower were built.
, and with the arrival of the Royal Irish Rangers
Little Rissington became "Imjin Barracks".
in Europe, Little Rissington became the largest military contingency hospital in Europe. The aerodrome was cleared for C-130 Hercules
and C5 Galaxies. During the Gulf War
, Little Rissington was held on its highest readiness state for several decades as it prepared for casualties. The USAF left Little Rissington in 1993 and it was handed back to the Royal Air Force
.
" package and the entire site was put up for sale. The domestic and main technical sites of the station were sold to a property developer and became a business park.
In 2008, RAF Little Rissington was designated a Core Site up to 2030, under the Defence Estates
Development Plan 2008. While nothing has yet been confirmed, RAF Little Rissington has been looked at to support various changes:
The airfield, RAF Little Rissington, remains active for elementary flying training and aircraft maintenance. With the increasing reduction in military aerodromes, RAF Little Rissington is steadily becoming more active for military flying and ground training.
lies underneath RAF Little Rissington. This rumour has, however, never been verified. However, it was widely accepted at the time that tunnels were dug during the Second World War, ostensibly for the Royal Observer Corps
, a frequently adopted strategy used to disguise covert electronic warfare
establishments. Whether this tunnel network was developed during the 1980s is unknown.
A bunker is attached to the Sick Ward/Medical Centre at the main technical site. It is commonly mistaken for the rumoured underground USAF(E) hospital. The ward/bunker is covered in earth for protection and to remove the need to move patients during air raids. It dates back to the station's construction in the 1930s. Consequently it is above the surface and it is not nuclear-proof. Photos can be found here (Flickr)http://www.flickr.com/photos/hicksdesign/1407051318/.
, dated to between 4000BC and 2400BC. During the Second World War, the Air Ministry
built a large air-raid shelter into it to protect the service personnel working in the maintenance units. Under the MoD's obligation to preserve and protect the UK's ancient monuments on their estates, this particular monument has in recent years been subject to several inspections by Defence Estates
.
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...
aerodrome
Aerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
and former RAF station
RAF station
A Royal Air Force station is a permanent Royal Air Force operations location. Many RAF stations are aerodromes, or airbases, being the home to one or more flying squadrons. Other RAF stations are training units, administrative units, headquarters , or carry out ground-based operational tasks...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
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...
. It was once home to the Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
, the Vintage Pair and the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
.
Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in 1994. The married-quarters and main technical site were sold in 1996 (the former becoming the village of Upper Rissington
Upper Rissington
Upper Rissington is a village and civil parish in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England, located about two-and-a-half miles east of Bourton-on-the-Water...
), but the aerodrome has been retained by 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....
and remains active along with the southern technical sites, under the operational control of HQAC
HQAC
HQAC may refer to:*Headquarters Air Command of the following air forces:**Headquarters Air Command, **Headquarters Air Command, *Headquarters Air Cadets...
at RAFC Cranwell.
It is now home to 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadron
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
as the primary military unit, who provide elementary flying training for Combined Cadet Force
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
and Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
cadets. The aviation maintenance company Devonair operate from the southern hangars. The airfield is also used by the forces as a relief landing ground, training area and parachute dropping area. In previous years, the Royal Air Force
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...
estate has been used as a film set: including The Avengers (film), part of the ice chase in Die Another Day
Die Another Day
Die Another Day is the 20th spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth and last film to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond; it is also the last Bond film of the original timeline with the series being rebooted with Casino Royale...
and the Thunderbirds (film)
Thunderbirds (film)
Thunderbirds is a 2004 science-fiction adventure film loosely based upon the television series of the same name of the 1960s, directed by Jonathan Frakes....
.
History
The beginning: 1930s into war
During the build-up to the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
began constructing major airfields across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
under what was known as the Expansion Period. RAF Little Rissington was one of these airfields.
Royal Air Force Station Little Rissington officially opened in 1938, comprising the domestic site and a grass airfield. During 1942, three asphalt runways were laid. Extra land was added to accommodate Sites A to E. Later in the war, the main runway 05/23 was extended northerly (later to become the main runway for instrument landings), 09/27 and 14/32 were extended easterly and south-easterly respectively.
Up to 1945 the station accommodated No. 6 Service Flying Training School and No. 8 Maintenance Unit. No. 8 Maintenance Unit was originally designated No. 8 Aircraft Storage Unit (ASU), however as the Second World War increased its momentum, so did the number of aircraft being stored. During the mid-1940s dispersal areas began openly storing aircraft, that had arrived straight from the manufacture. Due to security concerns, the level of security protection stepped up during the war, including the Station's own fighter force of several Spitfires. Later in the war, various satellite airfields were used to spread out the increased number of aircraft.
Central Flying School: 1946 to 1976
1946 the Royal Air ForceRoyal 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...
Central Flying School
Central Flying School
The Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
moved to Little Rissington. The airfield also became the home to the RAF's aerobatics teams which included the Red Pelicans
Red Pelicans
The Red Pelicans, were the official aerobatics display flyers of the Royal Air Force before the Red Arrows took over the role in 1965. The Red Pelicans flew the BAC Jet Provost aircraft.-History:...
and later the Red Arrows
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
. The airfield was expanded during this period, and a new fire station and control tower were built.
Imjin Barracks: 1977 to 1979
After CFS's departure, the airfield was used by the ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, and with the arrival of the Royal Irish Rangers
Royal Irish Rangers
The Royal Irish Rangers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army.-Creation:...
Little Rissington became "Imjin Barracks".
USAF(E) RAF Little Rissington: 1981 to 1993
With the arrival of the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in Europe, Little Rissington became the largest military contingency hospital in Europe. The aerodrome was cleared for C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
and C5 Galaxies. During the 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...
, Little Rissington was held on its highest readiness state for several decades as it prepared for casualties. The USAF left Little Rissington in 1993 and it was handed back to the Royal Air Force
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...
.
The draw down: 1994 to 2005
Little Rissington was identified as surplus to requirements in the Government's "Options for ChangeOptions for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
" package and the entire site was put up for sale. The domestic and main technical sites of the station were sold to a property developer and became a business park.
Revival: 2006 to 2010
Following a Defence Review, the planned disposal of RAF Little Rissington was stopped, and so the immediate future of the aerodrome was secured. Several buildings received some minor upgrades. At the end of 2006, an civilian aircraft maintenance firm called 'Devonair' moved in under an agreement with the Ministry of Defence.In 2008, RAF Little Rissington was designated a Core Site up to 2030, under the 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...
Development Plan 2008. While nothing has yet been confirmed, RAF Little Rissington has been looked at to support various changes:
- Satellite for RAF Brize NortonRAF Brize NortonRAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, about west north-west of London, is the largest station of the Royal Air Force. It is close to the settlements of Brize Norton, Carterton and Witney....
in supporting the Future Brize Project (formerly Project CATARA) with C130 Hercules training and maintenance. - Satellite for RAF BensonRAF BensonRAF Benson is a Royal Air Force station near Benson in South Oxfordshire, England. It is home to the Royal Air Force's support helicopters, the Aérospatiale Puma and the EH-101 Merlin, known as the Puma HC.Mk 1 and the Merlin HC.Mk 3 and Mk 3a....
, to provide a relief landing ground for helicopter training, and potentially relief storage pending the future decision on the Lyneham estate.
Present
At the end of 2011, the Upper Rissington Business Park owner Reland commenced the demolition of the main technical site. This demolition forms part of their future plans are to turn the technical site and former married quarters into an eco-town.The airfield, RAF Little Rissington, remains active for elementary flying training and aircraft maintenance. With the increasing reduction in military aerodromes, RAF Little Rissington is steadily becoming more active for military flying and ground training.
Rumours of an underground hospital
It is a local belief that a nuclear-proof underground hospital built by the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
lies underneath RAF Little Rissington. This rumour has, however, never been verified. However, it was widely accepted at the time that tunnels were dug during the Second World War, ostensibly for the Royal Observer Corps
Royal Observer Corps
The Royal Observer Corps was a civil defence organisation operating in the United Kingdom between 29 October 1925 and 31 December 1995, when the Corps' civilian volunteers were stood down....
, a frequently adopted strategy used to disguise covert electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
establishments. Whether this tunnel network was developed during the 1980s is unknown.
A bunker is attached to the Sick Ward/Medical Centre at the main technical site. It is commonly mistaken for the rumoured underground USAF(E) hospital. The ward/bunker is covered in earth for protection and to remove the need to move patients during air raids. It dates back to the station's construction in the 1930s. Consequently it is above the surface and it is not nuclear-proof. Photos can be found here (Flickr)http://www.flickr.com/photos/hicksdesign/1407051318/.
Historic monuments
RAF Little Rissington is one of several MoD estates with an ancient monument. On the eastern side of the aerodrome there is a Long barrowLong barrow
A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal tumuli or earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
, dated to between 4000BC and 2400BC. During the Second World War, the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
built a large air-raid shelter into it to protect the service personnel working in the maintenance units. Under the MoD's obligation to preserve and protect the UK's ancient monuments on their estates, this particular monument has in recent years been subject to several inspections by 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...
.
Flying training units
- No.6 Service Flying Training School (1938–1942), renamed No.6 Pilot-Advanced Flying Unit (1942-?)
- No.23 Blind Approach Training Flight (1941–1942), renamed No.1523 Blind Approach Training Flight (1942–1945)
- Royal Air Force Central Flying SchoolCentral Flying SchoolThe Central Flying School is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 it is the longest existing flying training school.-History:...
(1946–1976) - No.637 Gliding School (1976–2005), renamed No.637 Volunteer Gliding SquadronVolunteer Gliding SquadronVolunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
(2005–Present)
Aerobatics display units
- The Sparrows (1958)
- The Redskins (1959)
- The Red PelicansRed PelicansThe Red Pelicans, were the official aerobatics display flyers of the Royal Air Force before the Red Arrows took over the role in 1965. The Red Pelicans flew the BAC Jet Provost aircraft.-History:...
(1960–1973) - The Red ArrowsRed ArrowsThe Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton, but due to move to RAF Waddington in 2011...
(1964–1976)
Overseas units
- United States Air Force - European Force (1981–1993)
- 20th Tactical Fighter Wing - (Lodging)