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RAF Wyton

{{Short description|UK military intelligence analysis facility in Cambridgeshire, England}}

{{redirect|QUY||Quy (disambiguation){{!}}Quy}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

{{Infobox military installation

| name = RAF Wyton

| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg

| ensign_size = 90px

| native_name =

| partof =

| location =

| nearest_town = St Ives, Cambridgeshire

| country = England

| image = Entrance to RAF Wyton - geograph.org.uk - 262207.jpg

| caption = Canberra PR9 'XH170' which is RAF Wyton's gate guardian

| image2 = RAF Wyton badge.png

| image2_size = 90px

| caption2 = {{Language with name/for|la|Verum Exquiro|Seek the Truth|break=yes}}{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/249 249]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/249}}

| pushpin_map = Cambridgeshire

| pushpin_label = RAF Wyton

| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cambridgeshire

| pushpin_label_position = top

| coordinates = {{Coord|52|21|26|N|000|06|28|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}

| gridref = TL285741{{sfn|Birtles|2012|p=75}}

| type = Royal Air Force station

| code =

| site_area =

| height =

| ownership = Ministry of Defence

| operator = Royal Air Force

| controlledby = Strategic Command

| open_to_public =

| condition = Operational

| built = {{Start date|1915}}

| builder =

| used = 1916 – present

| materials =

| fate =

| battles =

| events =

| current_commander = Wing Commander Jim Doyle

| past_commanders =

| garrison =

| occupants = * National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence

| elevation = {{Convert|40.2|m|0}}

| IATA = QUY

| ICAO = EGUY

| FAA =

| TC =

| LID =

| GPS =

| WMO = 03566

| r1-number = 08/26

| r1-length = {{Convert|799|m|0}}

| r1-surface = Grass

| website = {{URL|https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwyton}}

| footnotes = Source: RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbramptonwyton/rafcms/mediafiles/8DF5BB74_5056_A318_A8FE6BCD8C615076.pdf|title=RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM)|date=31 March 2016|website=RAF Wyton |publisher=Military Aviation Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828012212/https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbramptonwyton/rafcms/mediafiles/8DF5BB74_5056_A318_A8FE6BCD8C615076.pdf|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=27 August 2017}}

}}

Royal Air Force Wyton or more simply RAF Wyton {{Airport codes|QUY|EGUY}} is a Royal Air Force station near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is decommissioned and the station is now under the command of UK Strategic Command.

RAF Wyton is home to the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI), which provides Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) support to HM Armed Forces. It also contains the Ministry of Defence Police Headquarters, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Regional Headquarters, 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic), and several other UK and Allied capabilities, authorities, and departments.{{Cite web |date=24 May 2024 |title=RAF Wyton {{!}} Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/}}

Located within the station, the Pathfinder Building is described as the "operations centre of Defence Intelligence" and the “largest Top Secret, Five-Eyes by design, military intelligence fusion and assessment facility in the world."{{Cite news |last=Nicholls |first=Dominic |date=2024-02-08 |title=RAF Wyton: Inside the 'jewel in the crown of British Defence Intelligence' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/08/inside-jewel-intelligence-crown-raf-wyton-china-russia/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web |title=Inside the UK's top-secret spy base preparing for war |url=https://news.sky.com/story/inside-the-uks-top-secret-spy-base-preparing-for-war-13066038 |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Kim |date=2024-02-08 |title=Drones, missiles and white Russian horses: The UK intelligence agency you haven't heard of |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/defence-intelligence-monitor-terrorists-iran-russia-china-b2493062.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The Independent |language=en}}

History

=Flying station=

File:Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. CH776.jpg and Bristol Blenheim Mark IVs of No. 2 Group at Wyton between 1939 and 1941]]

File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 16+ (map).jpg, near London, and the north.]]

Wyton has been a military airfield since 1916, when it was used for training by the Royal Flying Corps and then its successor the Royal Air Force (RAF).{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/|title=RAF Wyton|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=26 November 2021}}

The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1916 and 1935:

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

}}

;Second World War

During the Second World War it was used primarily as a bomber base, flying Bristol Blenheim, de Havilland Mosquito and Avro Lancaster aircraft.{{cite web|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/74-A-12-Avro-Lancaster-R5868.pdf|title=Avro Lancaster B.Mk.1 R5868/7325M Museum Accession Number 74/A/12|page=3|publisher=RAF Museum| access-date=26 November 2021}}

Bristol Blenheim IV (N6215) of 139 Squadron became the first RAF aircraft to enter Germany in the Second World War on 3 September 1939, piloted by Flying Officer A. McPherson. He was awarded the DFC.[https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/research-enquiries/history-of-aviation-timeline/british-military-aviation/1939-2/ 1939 history]

In 1942 it became the home of the Pathfinder Force under the command of Group Captain Don Bennett.

The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1935 and 1939:

The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1939 and 1945:

{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|

  • No. 15 Squadron between 1939 and 1940.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
  • No. 15 Squadron for a second time between 1940 and 1942.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
  • No. 40 Squadron between 1939 and 1941.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=38}}
  • No. 57 Squadron between 1940 and 1940.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}}
  • No. 57 Squadron for a second time between 1940 and 1940.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}}
  • No. 83 Squadron for a second time between 1942 and 1944.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
  • No. 105 Squadron between 1942 and 1945
  • No. 109 Squadron between 1942 and 1942.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
  • No. 109 Squadron for a second time between 1942 and 1943.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
  • No. 128 Squadron between 1944 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=59}}
  • No. 139 Squadron for a second time between 1943 and 1944.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=60}}
  • No. 156 Squadron for a second time between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=63}}
  • No. 163 Squadron between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=64}}

}}

;Cold War

After the war Wyton became home to the English Electric Canberras of the Strategic Reconnaissance Force.{{cite web|url=https://vulcantothesky.org/airfields/raf-wyton/|title=RAF Wyton|publisher=Vulcan to the Sky Trust| access-date=26 November 2021}} Vickers Valiants arrived for No. 543 Squadron in 1955 and a Handley Page Victor arrived for the Radar Reconnaissance Flight in 1959.

In 1974, three Nimrod R1s belonging to No. 51 Squadron arrived for use in the Elint and Sigint role, and in 1975, the T17 and T17A Canberras of No. 360 Squadron arrived: this was a joint RAF and RN Squadron specialising in Electronic countermeasures training.

The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1946 and 2011:

{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|

  • No. 13 Squadron between 1978 and 1982.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=28}}
  • No. 15 Squadron for a third time between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
  • No. 25 Squadron between 1983 and 1989.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=33}}
  • No. 26 Squadron between 1969 and 1976.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=33}}
  • No. 39 Squadron between 1970 and 1982.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=38}}
  • No. 44 Squadron for a second time between 1946 and 1951.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=39}}
  • No. 51 Squadron between 1963 and 1995.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=41}}
  • No. 58 Squadron between 1953 and 1970.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}}
  • No. 82 Squadron between 1953 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
  • No. 85 Squadron between 1989 and 1991{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloodhoundmkii.org.uk/pdf/85_Disbands.pdf|title=RAF West Raynham Missile Squadron to be Disbanded|last=Raynham News|date=1991|access-date=28 August 2018}}
  • No. 90 Squadron between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}}
  • No. 100 Squadron between 1956 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=54}}
  • No. 100 Squadron for a second time between 1982 and 19??.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=54}}
  • No. 138 Squadron between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=60}}
  • No. 207 Squadron between 1969 and 1984.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=69}}
  • No. 360 Squadron between 1975 and 19??.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=89}}
  • No. 540 Squadron between 1953 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=96}}
  • No. 542 Squadron between 1954 and 1955.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=97}}
  • No. 542 Squadron for a second time between 1955 and 1955.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=97}}
  • No. 543 Squadron between 1955 and 1974.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=97}}

}}

;Post-Cold War

In the early 1990s one of its pilots was rugby union player Flight Lieutenant Rory Underwood.{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/sport-rugby-union-pic-january-1989-raf-wyton-cambridgeshire-news-photo/78977288|title=Sport. Rugby Union. pic: January 1989. RAF. Wyton, Cambridgeshire. England wing Rory Underwood, a pilot flight-lieutenant in the RAF, poses in the cockpit his Canberra jet.|date=15 January 2008 |publisher=Getty Images| access-date=26 November 2021}}

During a four-month period in 1989, two squadrons of U.S. Air Force Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II jets were operated out of RAF Wyton while the runway at their base, nearby RAF Alconbury, was resurfaced.{{cite web|url=https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000402352.html |title=A-10A Thunderbolt of 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron/10th Tactical Fighter Wing on detachment to RAF Wyton in May 1989|publisher=Airport Data| access-date=26 November 2021}}

In May 1995 both RAF Wyton and RAF Alconbury airfields were decommissioned and Wyton was formally amalgamated with RAF Brampton, and later with RAF Henlow to make all three locations a single RAF Station under a single station commander for administrative purposes.{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-commanders/air-officer-scotland/|title=Air Officer Scotland: Air Vice Marshal Ross Paterson|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=26 November 2021}} The airfield continued to host light aircraft for the Cambridge and London University Air Squadrons until they both moved to RAF Wittering in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/university-air-squadrons/squadrons/university-of-london-air-squadron/|title=University of London Air Squadron|access-date=26 November 2021}}

On 25 March 2013 it was decided to relocate all flying units from Wyton due to the high maintenance costs of the airfield.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-27 |title=RAF Wyton airfield to close as training flights are moved - but base still open for intelligence hub |url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/22986498.raf-wyton-airfield-close-training-flights-moved---base-still-open-intelligence-hub/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Hunts Post |language=en}}

Following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review the RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow formation was disbanded: RAF Henlow subsequently became a separate station again and RAF Brampton was demolished.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=13 January 2017 |title=Dramatic Footage Shows Demolition Of RAF Base |url=https://www.forces.net/services/raf/dramatic-footage-shows-demolition-raf-base |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=}}

= Intelligence station =

The Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG), a unit which was responsible for the collection of signals, geospatial, imagery and measurement and signature intelligence,{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/joint-forces-intelligence-group-achieves-full-operating-capability-22092014|title=Joint Forces Intelligence Group Achieves Full Operating Capability|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=22 September 2014|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075857/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/joint-forces-intelligence-group-achieves-full-operating-capability-22092014|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} moved from Feltham in Middlesex to RAF Wyton in 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-defence-intelligence-buildings-handed-over-to-mod--2 |title=New Defence Intelligence buildings handed over to MOD |publisher=Ministry of Defence |date=16 March 2012 |access-date=4 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www1.nga.mil/MediaRoom/Publications/Documents/Pathfinder%20Magazines/2012/2012_nov-dec.pdf |title=UK JARIC Transitions to Defence Geospatial and Intelligence Fusion Centre |date=November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216175819/https://www1.nga.mil/MediaRoom/Publications/Documents/Pathfinder%20Magazines/2012/2012_nov-dec.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2013}} 42 Engineer Regiment relocated from Denison Barracks in Hermitage to RAF Wyton to co-locate with the Joint Forces Intelligence Group in July 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.eagleeyeonline.co.uk/42-engr-regt-geo-arrive-at-raf-wyton/|title=42 Engr Regt (Geo) arrive at RAF Wyton|website=Eagleeyeonline.vo.uk|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201001431/http://www.eagleeyeonline.co.uk/42-engr-regt-geo-arrive-at-raf-wyton/|archive-date=1 February 2015|url-status=dead}} and No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron moved from RAF Marham to Wyton in April 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-12-18/120057|title=Air Force: Military Intelligence:Written question - 120057|last=Ellwood|first=Tobias|date=21 December 2017|website=UK Parliament|access-date=29 December 2017}}

In 2016, JFIG disbanded, and the bulk of its former units and capabilities were re-rolled to establish the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence. The NCGI is a 1-star commanded organisation{{Cite web |last=Drew |first=Rob |date=2021-03-26 |title=The National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence. InstRE. |url=https://www.instre.org/the-national-centre-for-geospatial-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE) |language=en-GB}} which in recent years has monitored military and terrorist activities taking place in real time, such as:

  • HMS Diamond in operations against the Houthis in the Red Sea
  • Unidentified radio signals coming from the Yemeni coast
  • Different types of drones being used by Russia in Ukraine, including the physical analysis of Russian Orlan-10 and Iranian Shaheed 131 UAVs
  • Development of Chinese DF-17 hypersonic missiles
  • Pyongyang sending artillery rounds and missiles to Russian forces in Ukraine

It is also involved in homeland security and played a vital part in the Salisbury poisoning investigation by tracing the Novichok trail.File:Wyton hangars 2013.JPG

Former units

{{div-col}}

Other units moved (now disbanded)

The following other units were posted to Wyton at some point:{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/wyton/ |title=Wyton |publisher=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=10 February 2016}}

Currently operational units moved

On 25 March 2013 it was decided to relocate the following flying units from Wyton due to the high maintenance costs of the airfield.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/167929/wms_de_rationalisation_update.pdf|title=Defence Estate Rationalisation Update|publisher=Ministry of Defence (MoD)|access-date=26 March 2013}}

{{div-col-end}}

Based units

Notable units based at RAF Wyton.{{Cite web|title=RAF Wyton|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Royal Air Force}}{{Cite web|title=DCMA United Kingdom {{!}} Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire|url=https://www.dcma.mil/CareersArchive/Careers/Locations/International-Locations/DCMA-Europe/DCMA-United-Kingdom/DCMA-United-Kingdom-Huntingdon-Cambridgeshire/|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Defense Contract Management Agency}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

= Strategic Command =

Defence Intelligence

Defence Digital

  • Defence Assurance and Information Security

= Royal Air Force =

No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF

No. 22 Group (Training) RAF

  • Headquarters, Central & Eastern Region, Air Training Corps
  • Headquarters, Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire Wing, Air Training Corps

{{Col-break}}

= British Army =

Royal Engineers

= Ministry of Defence =

= United States Department of Defense =

{{Col-end}}

See also

{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |last1=Birtles|first1=Philip|title=UK Airfields of the Cold War |year=2012 |publisher= Midland Publishing|isbn=978-1-85780-346-4}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1=C G |title=RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher=Airlife |location=Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-85310-053-6}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=A |title=Flying units of the RAF |year=1999 |publisher= Airlife |location=Shrewsbury |isbn=1-84037-086-6}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R.|last2=Hamlin|first2=J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 |year=2007 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=978-0851-3036-59}}
  • RAF Annual Review 2012

External links

{{Commons category|RAF Wyton}}

  • [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/ Official site]
  • [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/raf-wyton-voluntary-band/ RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]

{{Royal Air Force}}

{{Royal Air Force stations}}

{{USAF Bases in the UK}}

{{Strategic Air Command}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wyton}}

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Huntingdonshire

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Cambridgeshire

Category:Royal Flying Corps airfields

Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom

Category:Airports established in 1916

Category:1916 establishments in England