RAF Halton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids RAF Halton
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| Near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in England | |||||||||
Entrance to RAF Halton
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Teach, Learn, Apply
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 RAF Halton
Shown within Buckinghamshire
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| Coordinates | 51°47′30″N 000°44′10″W / 51.79167°N 0.73611°W | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force training station | ||||||||
| Area | 297 hectares (730 acres) | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | No. 22 Group (Training) | ||||||||
| Condition | Operational | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1913 | ||||||||
| In use | 1913–present | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Current commander |
Group Captain Fergus Garwood MA RAF | ||||||||
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| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | ICAO: EGWN | ||||||||
| Elevation | 113.38 metres (372 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Royal Air Force Halton, or RAF Halton, is one of the largest Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom. It is located near the village of Halton in Buckinghamshire. This site has been used for military aviation since the First World War. However, it is planned to close by December 2027.
Contents
History of RAF Halton
The first time aircraft were used at Halton was in 1913. The owner of the Halton estate, Alfred de Rothschild, invited No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps to practice flying there. During the First World War, the British Army used the estate. In 1916, the Royal Flying Corps moved its air mechanics school to Halton. By 1917, permanent workshops were built for the school by German prisoners of war.
After the First World War, the British Government bought the estate for the new Royal Air Force. They paid £112,000 for it.
Training and Development
In 1919, Lord Trenchard started the No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton. This school trained RAF aircraft apprentices until it moved to RAF Cosford in the early 1990s. Also in 1919, Halton House, a large mansion, became the base's Officers' Mess. It is still used for this purpose today.
During the Second World War, RAF Halton continued to train people. Some squadrons, like No. 112 Squadron and No. 402 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, were also based there. A special squadron, No. 529 Squadron, which used unique autogyro aircraft, was formed at Halton in 1943.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II visited RAF Halton. She presented a special flag, called a "colour," to the No. 1 School of Technical Training. This was the first time an apprentice school received such an honour. It was also the first time an "other rank" (not an officer) received a colour directly from the Queen.
When the No. 1 School of Technical Training moved in 1993, the RAF School of Recruit Training moved to RAF Halton. This school trains all new recruits joining the RAF. In 2004–2005, RAF Halton trained 24,000 people. This included new recruits and also Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) for leadership training.
From 1917 to 1963, a railway line connected Wendover to Halton. This line was used to bring coal and other supplies to the base.
The Trenchard Museum at RAF Halton keeps the history of the base alive. It especially focuses on the apprentice training over the years. In 2010, old training trenches from the First World War were dug up. They are now an educational exhibit.
RAF Hospital Halton
Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton opened in 1927. It was a large, specially built military hospital. It replaced an older, temporary hospital made of wooden huts. This hospital was very advanced for its time. It was one of the first in the UK to have a special unit for kidney problems. It also found a cure for a disease called Sandfly fever. Most notably, in 1940, it was the first hospital in the world to use penicillin widely, soon after it was discovered.
The hospital closed in 1995 due to government spending cuts. The buildings were empty until 2008. They were then taken down to make way for new homes.
Halton Airfield Activities
The base has a grass airfield. It is mainly used by gliders, light aircraft, microlights, and the RAF hot air balloon. It is home to several flying clubs. These include the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association, Chilterns Gliding Centre, The Halton Aero Club, and the RAF Halton Microlight Club.
Units Based at RAF Halton
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Many different units are based at RAF Halton. They include flying and non-flying groups.
Royal Air Force Units
- No. 22 Group (Training) RAF
- RAF Central Training School
- Recruit Training Squadron (trains all new non-officer RAF members)
- Aviator Command Squadron (teaches leadership to non-commissioned officers)
- International Defence Training (RAF)
- Joint Service Adventurous Training (JSAT)
- Force Development Training Centre (Joint Service Gliding Centre)
- RAF Sports Board
- Training Analysis Centre (studies training needs for RAF ground jobs)
- RAF Central Training School
- Air Training Corps
- Central and East Region
- Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire Wing Headquarters
- Central and East Region
- No. 38 Group (Air Combat Service Support) RAF
- No. 7644 (VR) Public Relations Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)
- RAF Voluntary Bands Association
- RAF Halton Voluntary Concert Band
- RAF Pipe Bands Association
- RAF Halton Pipes and Drums Band
Joint Forces Command Units
- Directorate of Joint Warfare
- Joint Information Activities Group (JIAG)
- Joint Information Activities Group Headquarters
- Media Operations Centre (MOC)
- Media Information Centre (MIC)
- Joint Information Activities Group (JIAG)
Civilian Units
- Specialist Training School (STS)
- RAF Gliding & Soaring Association
- Chilterns Gliding Centre
- RAF Halton Aero Club (uses Cessna, Tecnam, and Piper planes)
- RAF Halton Microlight Club
Future of RAF Halton
In November 2016, the Defence Secretary announced that the RAF Halton airfield would no longer be part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) estate. It was planned to be sold by 2022. The plan for closing the base was set out in phases:
- Phase 1: The airfield would be sold.
- Phase 2: The School of Recruit Training and Airmen's Command School would move to RAF College Cranwell.
- Phase 3: Other units based at Halton would move or be reorganized.
In February 2019, the closure date was changed to at least 2025. This was confirmed in letters to local residents in May 2019. These letters stated that the phased withdrawal would start in 2022, with the full closure by 2025. The closure date for the airfield was later extended again to 2027.
See also
- List of Royal Air Force stations
