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Flying Squadrons returned to Royal Air Force Wittering on Wednesday 4th February 2015
and the famous Cambridgeshire Station has returned to full time flying operations.
A very chilly afternoon saw the landing of six Grob Tutor aircraft,
the first aeroplanes to be permanently based at RAF Wittering since the retirement of the Harrier in December 2010.
The aircraft belong to Cambridge University Air Squadron, the University of London Air Squadron and No. 5 Air Experience Flight,
and are used for Elementary Flying Training.
Flying training is the hallmark of RAF Wittering’s near 100-year history.
The Station hosted training units in 1917, again in 1927 when it was home to the Central Flying School, and once more in 1935 with No. 11 Flying Training School.
Of course, it is at RAF Wittering where fledgling Harrier pilots were taught to fly the world famous jump-jet when they joined 233 Operational Conversion Unit,
which later became 20 (R) Squadron.
Now it is the turn of units from No. 3 Flying Training School, an RAF organisation headquartered at RAF Cranwell,
responsible for the Elementary Flying Training of novice pilots from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
After landing, the Tutors were towed into the historic Gaydon hangar,
which housed the mighty V-Bombers during the fifties and sixties.
The hangar has been extensively refitted for the new aircraft, which will eventually number around 25.
The Station’s preparations have been extensive and thorough,
starting with the reactivation of the airfield and air traffic control,
through to the installation of radar and the construction of two new buildings for the incoming Squadrons.
RAF Wittering’s primary role is the headquarters of the A4 Expeditionary Logistics and Engineering Force,
which is the Station’s dominant unit and supports deployed air operations across the globe.
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