MOD Lyneham

File:RAF Lyneham 03.JPG

{{Main|RAF Lyneham}}

RAF Lyneham was built in 1939, initially as a grass landing area although the RAF always planned to lay hard runways. Hangars and other buildings were dispersed around the site to avoid creating one large target for an aerial enemy.{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/aboutus/historyorigins.cfm |title=History - Origins |year=2011 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=29 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119071934/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/aboutus/historyorigins.cfm |archive-date=19 November 2010 }}

The station was opened on 18 May 1940 as No. 33 Maintenance Unit (33MU). During the war, the station's squadrons operated regular transport schedules to Gibraltar.

In 1971 five Hercules squadrons were based at Lyneham, as well as a VIP transport Comet squadron, and in 1976, the station became the largest operational airfield in the RAF with the arrival from Cyprus of Hercules-equipped No. 70 Squadron RAF (LXX Sqn), bringing to seven the station's total of aircraft squadrons.{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/aboutus/history60sand70s.cfm |title=History - The 60's and 70's |year=2011 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=29 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012232230/http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/aboutus/history60sand70s.cfm |archive-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}

File:Hercules C5.jpg

The decision to close RAF Lyneham was made in 2009, with all functions and aircraft relocated to RAF Brize Norton.{{cite news |title=RAF Lyneham to close by 2012 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/5290892/RAF-Lyneham-to-close-by-2012.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911190717/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/5290892/RAF-Lyneham-to-close-by-2012.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=7 May 2009 |access-date=26 May 2011 |location=London}} With the transfer of military units and personnel to Brize Norton complete, around 1,000 members of military and civilian staff remained on site, gradually reducing in numbers until RAF Lyneham closed entirely,{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/9118007.Mixed_emotions_as_Hercules_leave_RAF_Lyneham/|title=Mixed emotions as Hercules leave RAF Lyneham|last=Mooney|first=Tom|date=1 July 2011|newspaper=Gazette & Herald|access-date=15 April 2012}} on 31 December 2012.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8955000/8955988.stm|title=RAF Lyneham Closure Plan|last=Heath|first=Ashley|date=31 August 2010|access-date=5 March 2011|publisher=BBC}} Military flying operations from RAF Lyneham ceased on 30 September 2011, at which point the station's air traffic control unit closed.{{cite web|url=http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice201169.pdf|title=Disestablishment of RAF Lyneham Control Zone|date=13 July 2011|publisher=Civil Aviation Authority|access-date=16 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604232503/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice201169.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}

A stone memorial commemorating the RAF's use of the station for over 70 years was unveiled on 1 June 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-18292839|title=Memorial to be unveiled to mark RAF leaving Lyneham|date=1 June 2012|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=26 June 2012}} All remaining RAF Lyneham personnel left the station by December 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-18639707|title=Lyneham pre-school to close over Ministry of Defence move|date=30 June 2012|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=30 June 2012}}

As part of the Defence Technical Training Change Programme, part of the wider Defence Training Review, the MOD announced on 18 July 2011 that the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) would relocate to Lyneham.{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2011-07-18/debates/1107182000025/DefenceTransformation|title=Defence Transformation|last=Fox|first=Dr Liam|date=18 July 2011|website=UK Parliament – Hansard|access-date=3 November 2018}} Plans called for the relocation of various British Army, Royal Navy and RAF training facilities to Lyneham, with the aim of modernising technical training and achieving efficiencies. Initially it was planned that the following training functions would relocate to Lyneham.{{Cite web|url=https://unidoc.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/File/Ti8xMy8wMTUyMi9GVUwsNjAwNjky|title=Defence College of Technical Training Lyneham – Planning Statement|date=May 2013|website=Wiltshire Council|publisher=Defence Infrastructure Organisation|page=7}}

• Electronic and Mechanical Engineering – training for vehicle mechanics and marine engineers, recovery mechanics, armourers, metalsmiths, control equipment technicians and technical support specialists. As a result of the move to Lyneham, the army's Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) technical training establishments at Arborfield Garrison in Berkshire and Bordon Camp in Hampshire, would both close. No. 4 School of Technical Training based at RAF St. Athan in Vale of Glamorgan and the Defence School of Marine Engineering at {{HMS|Sultan|shore establishment|6}} in Gosport, Hampshire, would also relocate.
• Aeronautical Engineering – training for avionics and aircraft technicians. Delivery of training would relocate from Arborfield Garrison, No. 1 School of Technical Training and the Aeronautical Engineering & Management Training School at RAF Cosford in Shropshire and the Royal Naval Air Engineering & Survival Equipment School at HMS Sultan.
• Communications and Information Systems – field based tactical training and classroom/workshop based technical training, relocating from the Royal School of Signals at Blandford Camp in Dorset and No. 1 Radio School at RAF Cosford.

A planning application for the redevelopment of MOD Lyneham was submitted by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to Wiltshire Council in May 2013 Planning permission was granted in October 2013 for the re-development of the station including the demolition of several existing structures and the construction of new and refurbished buildings to accommodate single living accommodation, dining, mess and welfare facilities, workshops, teaching accommodation and classrooms, offices, stores, medical and dental centre, church, museum, physical and recreational training centre, the creation of outdoor training areas including ground works and ground level alterations, the erection of masts, towers and radars, a forward operating base training facility, obstacle course, assault course, firing range, sports pitches, new roads, footpaths, parking, hard and soft landscaping, lighting, balancing ponds, and access alterations including a new roundabout and ancillary works.

The demolition of some unsafe and redundant buildings commenced in early 2013. The re-development was planned to be undertaken in a series of phases, construction beginning in 2014 and completing in December 2015, with the first units arriving and the start of training taking place in 2016. Further units would arrive in subsequent years with the programme being complete in 2019. The contract for the first phase was valued at between £180m and £230m. File:Hangar at RAF Lyneham - geograph.org.uk - 301279.jpg

In December 2013, a £121m contract for the first phase of work was awarded to Hercules, a 50:50 joint-venture between Kier Group and Balfour Beatty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/balfour-kier-jv-wins-121m-raf-lyneham-development|title=Balfour Kier JV wins £121m RAF Lyneham development|date=9 December 2013|website=The Construction Index|language=en|access-date=3 November 2018}} Construction work commenced in February 2014.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-26171806|title=Work starts on £121m MoD college|date=13 February 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=3 November 2018|language=en-GB}} Babcock's Defence and Security Division were awarded a contract in August 2014 to supply and support REME training at Lyneham, with a full operating capability programmed for February 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.babcockinternational.com/News/Babcock-announces-contract-award-for-Defence-College-of-Technical-Training|title=Babcock announces contract award for Defence College of Technical Training|date=4 August 2014|website=Babcock International|language=en|access-date=3 November 2018}}

Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence, announced in September 2015 that the relocation of the RAF and Royal Navy training elements to Lyneham would no longer take place. A re-evaluation of the programme determined that the consolidation onto a single site was no longer the best option. The first phase, the relocation of the REME schools from Arborfield and Bordon would still proceed.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2015-09-09/HLWS175/|title=Defence Technical Training Change Programme:Written statement - HLWS175|last=Fallon|first=Michael|date=9 September 2015|website=Parliament UK – Hansard|access-date=3 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/13717222.Navy_and_RAF_withdraw_from_Defence_College_for_Technical_Training_at_Lyneham/|title=Navy and RAF withdraw from Defence College for Technical Training at Lyneham|last=Mackley|first=Elizabeth|date=13 September 2015|website=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald|language=en|access-date=3 November 2018}}

REME training at Arborfield and Bordon transferred to Lyneham in September 2015, and was due to begin at Lyneham by November of that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-33125921|title=Parade marks regiment's departure|date=15 June 2015|work=BBC News|access-date=3 November 2018|language=en-GB}} The School of Army Aeronautical Engineering (SAAE), which moved from Arborfield, started training in October 2015.{{Cite journal|date=April 2016|title=School of Army Aeronautical Engineering Official Opening at Lyneham|url=http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Craftsman-APRIL-2016-Complete-for-web.pdf|journal=The Craftsman – Magazine of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|pages=158}}

The new regimental headquarters of the REME was officially opened on 11 March 2016 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and given the name The Prince Philip Barracks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-philip/12191354/Prince-Philip-jokes-hes-the-worlds-most-experienced-plaque-unveiler-at-opening-of-Wiltshire-barracks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312012125/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-philip/12191354/Prince-Philip-jokes-hes-the-worlds-most-experienced-plaque-unveiler-at-opening-of-Wiltshire-barracks.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 March 2016|title=Prince Philip jokes he's the 'world's most experienced plaque unveiler' at opening of Wiltshire barracks|date=11 March 2011|website=The Telegraph|language=en|access-date=4 November 2018}}

Lyneham is home to the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME), part of the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) within No. 22 Group RAF. The school trains current and future Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) technicians.{{cite web |title=Training in the Army|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/training_education/24480.aspx/ |publisher=MoD |access-date=23 January 2016 |date=23 January 2016}}

The REME Museum, previously based in Arborfield, Berkshire, moved into the former Officers' Mess in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203536/dctt_lyneham_non_technical_summary.pdf|title=MOD Planning Document|access-date=11 March 2015}} The move provided an opportunity to refresh the displays and layout as well as provide new facilities such as a café, archives and a reading/conference room. There are dedicated education facilities to cater for groups of all ages and interests. The new museum opened to the public in June 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/news|title=Details about the Museum's Move|website=|access-date=11 March 2015}}

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers also have their corps headquarters on the camp.{{cite news|url=https://modmedia.blog.gov.uk/2016/03/11/the-duke-of-edinburgh-opens-the-prince-philip-barracks-at-mod-lyneham/|title=The Duke of Edinburgh opens The Prince Philip Barracks at MOD Lyneham|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=11 March 2016|access-date=2 February 2021}}

The following notable units are based at MOD Lyneham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/our-schools-and-colleges/electro-mechanical-engineering/|title=Electro-mechanical Engineering|website=British Army|access-date=3 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-electrical-and-mechanical-engineers-reme/|title=Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers|website=British Army|access-date=3 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theiet.org/armed-forces/lyneham-article.cfm?|title='Move' and 'Re-org' of Defence school of engineering excellence|website=Institution of Engineering and Technology|language=en-US|access-date=3 November 2018}}

• Headquarters Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) – under No. 22 Group{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/groups/no-22-group/|title=No 22 Group|website=Royal Air Force|access-date=14 December 2018}}

• Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME)
• 8 Training Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• REME Arms School
• School of Army Aeronautical Engineering (SAAE)

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME)

• Regimental Headquarters Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
• 5 Force Support Battalion
• REME Museum{{Cite web|url=https://www.rememuseum.org.uk/|title=Welcome|website=REME Museum|access-date=20 July 2021}}

• Babcock Defence Support Group

• Units of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Clarke|2008}}|reference=Clarke, Bob. The Archaeology of Airfields. Stroud, Gloucestershire, Tempus Publishing, 2008. {{ISBN|978-075244401-7}}.}}

{{Commons category-inline}}

• [https://www.rememuseum.org.uk/ REME Museum]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyneham}}

Category:Installations of the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

Category:2012 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Buildings and structures in Wiltshire