RAF Flowerdown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RAF Flowerdown
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| Located near Winchester in Hampshire | |
 RAF Flowerdown
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| Coordinates | 51°03′36″N 1°20′42″W / 51.060°N 1.345°W |
| Type | Listening station |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Controlled by | Royal Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1918 |
| In use | 1918-1979, 1986-Present |
Royal Air Force Flowerdown, or RAF Flowerdown, was a special place in Hampshire, England. It started as a training school for wireless operators. Later, it became a very important listening station. This means it helped the UK listen to secret messages. It was never an airfield for planes.
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What Was RAF Flowerdown?
RAF Flowerdown was a former base for the Royal Air Force. It was located near the city of Winchester. This base played a key role in listening to radio signals. It helped the country gather important information.
Early Days of Flowerdown
The story of RAF Flowerdown began in 1918. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) had a school there. This school taught people to be wireless operators. They learned how to use radio equipment. In 1926, it became the Electrical and Wireless School. Young apprentices were trained here. In 1929, the apprentice training moved away. The base then became a wireless station. It stayed a wireless station until 1956.
Flowerdown During World War II
During the Second World War, Flowerdown was very important. It was one of many listening stations in the UK. These stations collected secret information. Staff worked long 12-hour shifts. They listened carefully to messages in Morse code. This code was then sent to Bletchley Park. Experts at Bletchley Park used this information. They worked to break secret German codes. This helped the Allies win the war. The base was even bombed twice in one week during the war.
After the War
In 1956, a new group took over Flowerdown. This was Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). They used it as a large listening station. It was part of their Composite Signals Organisation. GCHQ continued to listen to radio signals. The station helped gather intelligence for many years. It finally closed down in the late 1970s.
Flowerdown's New Life
In 1986, the site got a new purpose. It became a depot for the Light Division of the army. They moved there from another base in Winchester. The site was renamed Sir John Moore Barracks. Today, it is home to the Army Training Regiment, Winchester. This means it is still used for training.
