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Coordinates: 52°21′26″N 000°06′28″W / 52.35722°N 0.10778°W / 52.35722; -0.10778
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{{Short description|UK military intelligence analysis facility in Cambridgeshire, England}}
{{redirect|QUY||Quy (disambiguation){{!}}Quy}}
{{redirect|QUY||Quy (disambiguation){{!}}Quy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox military installation
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF Wyton
| name = RAF Wyton
| ensign=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign = Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign_size=90px
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
| native_name =
| partof =
| partof =
| location =
| location =
| nearest_town = [[St. Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]], [[Cambridgeshire]]
| nearest_town = [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]], [[Cambridgeshire]]
| country = England
| country = England
| image = Entrance to RAF Wyton - geograph.org.uk - 262207.jpg
| image = Entrance to RAF Wyton - geograph.org.uk - 262207.jpg
| caption = [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra PR9]] 'XH170' which is RAF Wyton's [[gate guardian]]
| caption = [[English Electric Canberra|Canberra PR9]] 'XH170' which is RAF Wyton's [[gate guardian]]
| image2 = RAF Wyton Badge.jpg
| image2 = RAF Wyton badge.png
| image2_size = 100px
| image2_size = 90px
| caption2 = {{Lang|la|Verum Exquiro}}<br />({{Language with name/for|2=Latin|3=''Seek the Truth''}})<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| caption2 = {{Language with name/for|la|Verum Exquiro|Seek the Truth|break=yes}}<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| pushpin_map = Cambridgeshire
| pushpin_map = Cambridgeshire
| pushpin_label = RAF Wyton
| pushpin_label = RAF Wyton
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cambridgeshire
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Cambridgeshire
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_label_position = top
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|21|26|N|000|06|28|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|21|26|N|000|06|28|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Royal Air Force station]]
| type = [[List of Royal Air Force stations|Royal Air Force station]]
| code =
| code =
| site_area =
| site_area =
| height =
| height =
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|Strategic Command]]
| controlledby = [[Strategic Command (United Kingdom)|Strategic Command]]
| open_to_public =
| open_to_public =
| condition = Operational
| condition = Operational
| built = {{Start date|1915}}
| built = {{Start date|1915}}
| builder =
| builder =
| used = 1916 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| used = 1916 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| materials =
| materials =
| fate =
| fate =
| battles =
| battles =
| events =
| events =
| current_commander = [[Wing commander|Wing Commander]] Keith Slack
| current_commander = [[Wing commander|Wing Commander]] Jim Doyle
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison =
| garrison =
| occupants =
| occupants = * [[National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence]]
* [[Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre]]
* [[42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)]]
* [[42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)]]
* [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]]
* [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]]
Line 48: Line 47:
* Defence Intelligence Estates Rationalisation Team
* Defence Intelligence Estates Rationalisation Team
* [[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
* [[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
| elevation = {{Convert|40.2|m|0}}
| elevation = {{Convert|40.2|m|0}}
| IATA =QUY
| IATA = QUY
| ICAO =EGUY
| ICAO = EGUY
| FAA =
| FAA =
| TC =
| TC =
| LID =
| LID =
| GPS =
| GPS =
| WMO = 03566
| WMO = 03566
| r1-number = 08/26
| r1-number = 08/26
| r1-length = {{Convert|799|m|0}}
| r1-length = {{Convert|799|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Grass]]
| r1-surface = [[Grass]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwyton}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafwyton}}
| footnotes ='''Source''': RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual<ref>{{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}}</ref>
| footnotes = '''Source''': RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual<ref>{{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}}</ref>
}}
}}


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


RAF Wyton is home to the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI), which provides [[Open-source intelligence|Open Source Intelligence]] (OSINT) and [[Geospatial intelligence|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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=24 May 2024 |title=RAF Wyton {{!}} Royal Air Force |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/}}</ref>
In terms of organisation RAF Wyton was part of the combined station [[RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow]], a merger of Wyton with two previously separate bases, [[RAF Brampton]] and [[RAF Henlow]]. Wyton is the largest of the three. It is home to ''Equipment Support (Air)'' and ''Corporate Technical Services''. The airfield is now decommissioned but was used for flight training by 57(R) Squadron EFT, the [[University Air Squadron]]s of London and Cambridge and No. 5 [[Air Experience Flight]].

Located within the station, the Pathfinder Building is described as the "operations centre of [[Defence Intelligence]]" and the “largest Top Secret, [[Five Eyes|Five-Eyes]] by design, military intelligence fusion and assessment facility in the world."<ref name=":2">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{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}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
===Flying station===
[[File:Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. CH776.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Percival Q.6 Petrel|Percival Petrel]] 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|thumb|upright|left|"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing "Wyton" as a "military and civil station", and as a stop on the route between [[Hounslow Aerodrome|Hounslow]], near London, and the north. ]]
[[File:Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. CH776.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Percival Q.6 Petrel|Percival Petrel]] 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|thumb|upright|left|"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing "Wyton" as a "military and civil station", and as a stop on the route between [[Hounslow Aerodrome|Hounslow]], near London, and the north.]]
[[File:Wyton hangars 2013.JPG|thumb|left|Hangars in 2013]]
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).<ref name=rafsite>{{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}}</ref>
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).<ref name=rafsite>{{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}}</ref>


The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1916 and 1935:
During the [[Second World War]] it was used primarily as a bomber base, flying [[Bristol Blenheim]], [[de Havilland Mosquito]] and [[Avro Lancaster]] aircraft.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1942 it became the home of the [[Pathfinder Force]] under the command of [[Group Captain]] [[Don Bennett]].<ref name=rafsite/>

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

In 1974, three [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod#R1|Nimrod R1s]] belonging to [[No. 51 Squadron RAF|No. 51 Squadron]] arrived for use in the [[ELINT#ELINT|Elint]] and [[Signals intelligence#SIGINT versus MASINT|Sigint]] role, and in 1975, the T17 and T17A Canberras of [[No. 360 Squadron RAF|No. 360 Squadron]] arrived: this was a joint RAF and [[Royal Navy|RN]] Squadron specialising in [[Electronic countermeasures]] training.<ref name=vulcan/>

In the early 1990s one of its pilots was the rugby union player, Flight Lieutenant [[Rory Underwood]].<ref>{{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.|publisher=Getty Images| access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref>

During a four-month period in autumn 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. During the late 1980s and until the airfield closures in 1995, RAF Wyton and the USAF run RAF Alconbury used a joint air traffic control operation.

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> However, the airfield continued to host light aircraft for the Cambridge and London [[University Air Squadron]]s, although they both moved to [[RAF Wittering]] in 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

The microlight club consisted of a small group of flex-wing microlight and 3-axis aircraft, there was a thriving flight school with two instructors, the former Chief Inspector of the BMAA David Marshall and the training instructor pilot Paul Foggoa. The school was based in the old crash building - the original purpose of which was to house the crash-rescue fire engines. The success of the club, and the inclusion of non-RAF members, led to the club expanding to the corner of one of the large hangars.

The RAF Wyton Flying Club operated the [[Slingsby T67 Firefly]] and a [[Robin DR400]]. It offered flying tuition to all ranks with an emphasis on junior ranks and those whose day jobs did not include flying.

===2011–present===
{{more citations|section|date=March 2020}}
The [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review]] announced the formation of [[Joint Forces Command]] (JFC), and on 2 April 2012, the RAF Brampton Wyton Henlow tri site was disbanded. JFC assumed responsibility for RAF Brampton/ Wyton, with RAF Henlow remaining under the control of [[RAF Air Command|Headquarters Air Command]]. The decision to close RAF Brampton by December 2013 led to the command and control of the Station transferring to RAF Wyton. RAF Brampton was renamed Brampton Camp and became a satellite unit of RAF Wyton.

RAF Wyton is undergoing transformation through the Programme to Rationalise and Integrate the [[Defence Intelligence]] Estate (PRIDE). Under JFC, RAF Wyton will become home to the Headquarters of the [[Joint Forces Intelligence Group]] (JFIG). Through JFIG, a number of key components of the [[Defence Intelligence]] community have been brought together. JFIG Headquarters will be alongside the imagery intelligence capability of the [[Defence Geospatial Intelligence Fusion Centre]] (DGIFC). Formerly the [[JARIC|Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre]] (JARIC), DGIFC provides imagery intelligence to the armed forces and other customers. They do this through the use of satellite imaging, as well as airborne and ground-based systems. DGIFC use these sources to provide regional intelligence assessments.

Joining HQ JFIG and DGIFC at RAF Wyton from 2013 will be [[Royal Engineers#Regiments|42 Engineer Regiment]]. They will be accompanied by elements of Defence Human Intelligence and specialist staff from Defence Intelligence. These elements will come together to support worldwide operations from purpose-built facilities within the Pathfinder Building. In future years, other elements of JFIG and the wider Defence Intelligence community are expected to work together at Wyton.

No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron of the RAF moved to Wyton from [[RAF Marham]] in April 2017.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>


{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
By 2014, RAF Wyton's population grew 5-fold to approximately 1,800 personnel, with a further 1,500-2,000 personnel expected to join before the end of the decade.{{cn|date=March 2020}}{{update needed|date=March 2020}} Alongside the build-up of the Defence Intelligence footprint at RAF Wyton, the Station also plays host to several Lodger Units. The active airfield hosts the 57 (Reserve) Sqn Elementary Flying Training School, No. 5 Air Experience Flt, 2 University Air Squadrons (UAS) as well as the Pathfinder Flying Club. 57(R) Squadron is responsible for conducting Elementary Flying Training (EFT) for around 50 percent of the RAF's entry of new student pilots. Students arrive following completion of Initial Officer Training (IOT) at RAF Cranwell and remain for around 6 months of flying training on the [[Grob Tutor]] 115E. The course is broadly split into 2 phases. During the 1st phase, students are taught the basics of flying an aircraft, fly solo and learn general handling, including aerobatics. The 2nd phase of the course sees the students progress onto more advanced flying, including instrument flying, low level navigation and formation flying. The course culminates in a demanding final test, where all elements taught on the course can be assessed. Following the successful completion of this test, students are moved to either fast jet, rotary or multi engine to continue their flying training.

The 2 UAS's teach undergraduate students to fly to the standard of a [[Private pilot licence]] (PPL), with additional opportunities to fly Aerobatics, Formation Flying and Low Level Navigation.

The [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]] (DIO) also has a large presence at Wyton with both its Operations Accommodation and International elements. DIO Ops Accommodation is responsible for the management of 49,000 Service Family Accommodation in the UK and infrastructure support for the United States Visiting Forces. DIO International looks after the International Estate used by Defence, including the maintenance and provision of facilities on the Permanent Joint Operating Bases.

Other units include the Chief Information Officer's Defence Security Assurance Service, the [[Air Training Corps]] Headquarters for the Central and Eastern Region, 2331 (St. Ives) Squadron ATC, and the US [[Defense Contract Management Agency]] (DCMA).

DCMA International maintains a significant presence at Wyton. DCMA International established the headquarters for DCMA Northern Europe at Wyton in 2013. Shortly thereafter, in 2014, DCMA disestablished DCMA Northern Europe and established DCMA United Kingdom (UK). Since 2014, from its headquarters at Wyton, DCMA UK has been providing itinerant contract administration services throughout the UK, Northern Europe, and Scandinavia. In addition, DCMA UK manages its footprints in contractor plants from its headquarters at Wyton.

RAF Wyton hosts the annual [[Pathfinder March]], a {{convert|46|mi|adj=on}} walk which starts and finishes at RAF Wyton.

==Former units==
{{div-col}}
The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1916 and 1935:
* [[No. 46 Squadron RAF|No. 46 Squadron RFC]] between 1916 and 1916.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=40}}
* [[No. 46 Squadron RAF|No. 46 Squadron RFC]] between 1916 and 1916.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=40}}
* [[No. 65 Squadron RAF|No. 65 Squadron RFC]] between 1916 and 1917.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}}
* [[No. 65 Squadron RAF|No. 65 Squadron RFC]] between 1916 and 1917.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}}
Line 125: Line 88:
* [[No. 156 Squadron RAF]] between 1918 and 1918.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=63}}
* [[No. 156 Squadron RAF]] between 1918 and 1918.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=63}}
* [[No. 211 Squadron RAF]] between 1919 and 1919.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=70}}
* [[No. 211 Squadron RAF]] between 1919 and 1919.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=70}}
}}
;Second World War

During the [[World War II|Second World War]] it was used primarily as a bomber base, flying [[Bristol Blenheim]], [[de Havilland Mosquito]] and [[Avro Lancaster]] aircraft.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1942 it became the home of the [[Pathfinder Force]] under the command of [[Group Captain]] [[Don Bennett]].<ref name=rafsite/>


The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1935 and 1939:
The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1935 and 1939:
Line 132: Line 99:


The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1939 and 1945:
The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1939 and 1945:
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 Squadron]] between 1939 and 1940.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
* [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|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. 15 Squadron for a second time between 1940 and 1942.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
Line 138: Line 106:
* No. 57 Squadron for a second time 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 RAF|No. 83 Squadron]] for a second time between 1942 and 1944.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
* [[No. 83 Squadron RAF|No. 83 Squadron]] for a second time between 1942 and 1944.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
* [[NO. 105 Squadron RAF|No. 105 Squadron]] between 1942 and 1945
* [[No. 105 Squadron RAF|No. 105 Squadron]] between 1942 and 1945
* [[No. 109 Squadron RAF|No. 109 Squadron]] between 1942 and 1942.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
* [[No. 109 Squadron RAF|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. 109 Squadron for a second time between 1942 and 1943.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=55}}
Line 145: Line 113:
* [[No. 156 Squadron RAF|No. 156 Squadron]] for a second time between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=63}}
* [[No. 156 Squadron RAF|No. 156 Squadron]] for a second time between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=63}}
* [[No. 163 Squadron RAF|No. 163 Squadron]] between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=64}}
* [[No. 163 Squadron RAF|No. 163 Squadron]] between 1945 and 1945.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=64}}
}}
;Cold War

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

In 1974, three [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod#R1|Nimrod R1s]] belonging to [[No. 51 Squadron RAF|No. 51 Squadron]] arrived for use in the [[ELINT#ELINT|Elint]] and [[Signals intelligence#SIGINT versus MASINT|Sigint]] role, and in 1975, the T17 and T17A Canberras of [[No. 360 Squadron RAF|No. 360 Squadron]] arrived: this was a joint RAF and [[Royal Navy|RN]] Squadron specialising in [[Electronic countermeasures]] training.<ref name=vulcan/>


The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1946 and 2011:
The following squadrons were posted to Wyton between 1946 and 2011:
{{columns-list|colwidth=40em|
* [[No. 13 Squadron RAF|No. 13 Squadron]] between 1978 and 1982.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=28}}
* [[No. 13 Squadron RAF|No. 13 Squadron]] between 1978 and 1982.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=28}}
* [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 Squadron]] for a third time between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
* [[No. 15 Squadron RAF|No. 15 Squadron]] for a third time between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=29}}
Line 156: Line 131:
* [[No. 58 Squadron RAF|No. 58 Squadron]] between 1953 and 1970.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}}
* [[No. 58 Squadron RAF|No. 58 Squadron]] between 1953 and 1970.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}}
* [[No. 82 Squadron RAF|No. 82 Squadron]] between 1953 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
* [[No. 82 Squadron RAF|No. 82 Squadron]] between 1953 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=50}}
*[[No. 85 Squadron RAF|No. 85 Squadron]] between 1989 and 1991 <ref>{{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}}</ref>
*[[No. 85 Squadron RAF|No. 85 Squadron]] between 1989 and 1991<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[No. 90 Squadron RAF|No. 90 Squadron]] between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}}
* [[No. 90 Squadron RAF|No. 90 Squadron]] between 1946 and 1950.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}}
* [[No. 100 Squadron RAF|No. 100 Squadron]] between 1956 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=54}}
* [[No. 100 Squadron RAF|No. 100 Squadron]] between 1956 and 1956.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=54}}
Line 167: Line 142:
* No. 542 Squadron for a second time between 1955 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 RAF|No. 543 Squadron]] between 1955 and 1974.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=97}}
* [[No. 543 Squadron RAF|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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The airfield continued to host light aircraft for the Cambridge and London [[University Air Squadron]]s until they both moved to [[RAF Wittering]] in 2015.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

On 25 March 2013 it was decided to relocate all flying units from Wyton due to the high maintenance costs of the airfield.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Following the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|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.<ref>{{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=}}</ref>

=== Intelligence station ===
The [[Joint Forces Intelligence Group]] (JFIG), a unit which was responsible for the collection of [[Signals intelligence|signals]], [[Geospatial intelligence|geospatial]], [[Imagery intelligence|imagery]] and [[measurement and signature intelligence]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> moved from Feltham in Middlesex to RAF Wyton in 2013.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> [[42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)|42 Engineer Regiment]] relocated from [[Denison Barracks]] in [[Hermitage, Berkshire|Hermitage]] to RAF Wyton to co-locate with the Joint Forces Intelligence Group in July 2014<ref>{{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}}</ref> and No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron moved from [[RAF Marham]] to Wyton in April 2017.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref>

In 2016, JFIG disbanded, and the bulk of its former units and capabilities were re-rolled to establish the [[National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence]].<ref name=":1" /> The NCGI is a [[1-star general|1-star]] commanded organisation<ref>{{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}}</ref> which in recent years has monitored military and terrorist activities taking place in real time, such as:

* [[HMS Diamond (D34)|HMS Diamond]] in operations against the [[Red Sea crisis|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 [[Shahed 131|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 [[Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal|Salisbury poisoning]] investigation by tracing the [[Novichok]] trail.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />[[File:Wyton hangars 2013.JPG|thumb|Hangars in 2013]]

==Former units==

{{div-col}}
'''Other units moved (now disbanded)'''
'''Other units moved (now disbanded)'''


The following other units were posted to Wyton at some point:<ref name="ABCT">{{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}}</ref>
The following other units were posted to Wyton at some point:<ref name="ABCT">{{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}}</ref>


* [[No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF]]
* [[No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF]] (June 1982 - July 1992){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=211}}
* [[No. 2 Group Communications Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 2 Group Communication Flight RAF]] (January 1940 - May 1943){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=155}}
* [[No. 4 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 4 Blind Approach Training Flight RAF]] became [[No. 1504 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF]] (December 1940 - August 1942){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=125}}
* [[No. 7 Group Communications Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 7 Group Communication Flight RAF]] (July 1940 - September 1941){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=155}}
* [[8th Aero Squadron]]
* [[8th Aero Squadron]]
* [[No. 8 Group Communications Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 8 Group Communication Flight RAF]] (August 1942 - October 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=155}}
* [[No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group RAF]]
* [[No. 8 Group RAF|No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group RAF]] (August 1942 - May 1943){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=149}}
* No. 13 Aircraft Modification Unit RAF
* No. 13 Aircraft Modification Unit RAF (March - August 1946){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=42}}
* [[No. 70 (Bomber) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 70 Wing RAF|No. 70 (Bomber) Wing RAF]]
* [[No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF]]
* [[No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF]] (July 1982 - December 1990, May 1991 - April 1993){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=197}}
* [[No. 1323 (Canberra) Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 1323 (Canberra) Flight RAF]] (October 1953 - November 1955){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=119}}
* [[No. 1409 (Meteorological) Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 1409 (Meteorological) Flight RAF]] (January - July 1945){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=120}}
* [[No. 1499 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 1499 (Bombing) Gunnery Flight RAF]] (March - June 1943){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=125}}
* [[No. 1504 (Beam Approach Training) Flight RAF]]
* [[No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit RAF]]
* [[No. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit RAF]]
* [[No. 2730 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2730 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
Line 191: Line 193:
* [[No. 2781 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2781 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2844 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[No. 2844 Squadron RAF Regiment]]
* [[Canberra Air Race Flight RAF]]
* Canberra Air Race Flight RAF (June - October 1953){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=82}}
* [[Canberra Standardisation and Training Flight RAF]]
* [[Canberra Standardisation and Training Flight RAF]] (December 1990 - May 1991){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=82}}
* Electronic Warfare Detachment RAF
* Electronic Warfare Division RAF became Electronic Warfare Detachment RAF (Unknown - December 1994){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=102}}
* Electronic Warfare Engineering and Training Unit RAF (-1976) became Electronic Warfare and Avionics Unit RAF (1976-1993){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=102}}
* Electronic Warfare Division RAF
* Electronic Warfare Engineering and Training Unit RAF (-1976) became Electronic Warfare and Avionics Unit RAF (1976-1993) became Electronic Warfare Operational Support Establishment RAF (1993-){{sfn|Lake|1999|p=58}}
* Electronic Warfare Operational Support Establishment RAF (1983-1995) becoming part of Air Warfare Centre 1993{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=102}}
* Equipment Support (Air) Group RAF
* Equipment Support (Air) Group RAF (November 1999 - unknown){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=108}}
* Ground Controlled Approach Operators School RAF
* Ground Controlled Approach Operators School RAF (March 1952){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=148}}
* Logistics Command RAF
* Logistics Command RAF (April 1995 - April 2000){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=173}}
* [[Radar Reconnaissance Flight RAF]]
* [[Radar Reconnaissance Flight RAF]] (October 1955 - September 1961){{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=213}}
* Cambridgeshire Police Air Operations Unit


'''Currently operational units moved'''
'''Currently operational units moved'''
Line 212: Line 215:


==Based units==
==Based units==
Notable units based at RAF Wyton.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RAF Wyton|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wyton/|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Royal Air Force}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{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/|url-status=live|access-date=25 April 2021|website=Defense Contract Management Agency}}</ref>
Notable units based at RAF Wyton.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{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}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{Col-break}}
=== Strategic Command ===
=== Strategic Command ===
'''[[Defence Intelligence]]'''
'''[[Defence Intelligence]]'''
* [[Joint Forces Intelligence Group|Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG)]]
* [[National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI)]]
** [[Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre|Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre (DIFC)]]
'''[[Defence Digital]]'''
'''[[Defence Digital]]'''
* Defence Assurance and Information Security
* Defence Assurance and Information Security
=== Royal Air Force ===
=== Royal Air Force ===
'''[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF]]'''
'''[[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF]]'''
* No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Wing
** No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron
* [[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
* [[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
'''[[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 Group (Training) RAF]]'''
'''[[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 Group (Training) RAF]]'''
*Headquarters, Central & Eastern Region, Air Training Corps
*Headquarters, Central & Eastern Region, [[Air Training Corps]]
*Headquarters, Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire Wing, Air Training Corps
*Headquarters, Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire Wing, Air Training Corps
*No. 2331 (St Ives) Squadron (Air Training Corps)
{{Col-break}}
{{Col-break}}
=== British Army ===
=== British Army ===
Line 242: Line 241:
* [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]]
* [[Defence Infrastructure Organisation]]
* Defence Intelligence Estates Rationalisation Team (PRIDE)
* Defence Intelligence Estates Rationalisation Team (PRIDE)
* [[Ministry of Defence Police]]


=== United States Department of Defense ===
=== United States Department of Defense ===
* [[Defense Contract Management Agency|Defense Contract Management Agency – United Kingdom]]
* [[Defense Contract Management Agency|Defense Contract Management Agency – United Kingdom]]
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-end}}

==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation|War}}
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}
* [[List of Royal Air Force stations]]
* [[List of Royal Air Force stations]]
*[[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
*[[RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band]]
Line 258: Line 259:
* {{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=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=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
* RAF Annual Review 2012


Latest revision as of 10:17, 7 January 2025

"QUY" redirects here. For other uses, see Quy.

RAF Wyton
Near St Ives, Cambridgeshire in England
Canberra PR9 'XH170' which is RAF Wyton's gate guardian
Verum Exquiro
(Latin for 'Seek the Truth')[1]
RAF Wyton is located in Cambridgeshire
RAF Wyton
RAF Wyton
Shown within Cambridgeshire
Coordinates52°21′26″N 000°06′28″W / 52.35722°N 0.10778°W / 52.35722; -0.10778
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byStrategic Command
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/rafwyton
Site history
Built1915 (1915)
In use1916 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Wing Commander Jim Doyle
Occupants
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: QUY, ICAO: EGUY, WMO: 03566
Elevation40.2 metres (132 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
08/26 799 metres (2,621 ft) Grass
Source: RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual[2]

Royal Air Force Wyton or more simply RAF Wyton (IATA: QUY, ICAO: 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.[3]

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."[4][5][6]

History

[edit]

Flying station

[edit]
A Percival Petrel and Bristol Blenheim Mark IVs of No. 2 Group at Wyton between 1939 and 1941
"Map of Air Routes and Landing Places in Great Britain, as temporarily arranged by the Air Ministry for civilian flying", published in 1919, showing "Wyton" as a "military and civil station", and as a stop on the route between Hounslow, 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).[7]

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

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.[17] In 1942 it became the home of the Pathfinder Force under the command of Group Captain Don Bennett.[7]

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

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

Cold War

After the war Wyton became home to the English Electric Canberras of the Strategic Reconnaissance Force.[25] Vickers Valiants arrived for No. 543 Squadron in 1955 and a Handley Page Victor arrived for the Radar Reconnaissance Flight in 1959.[25]

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.[25]

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

Post-Cold War

In the early 1990s one of its pilots was rugby union player Flight Lieutenant Rory Underwood.[35]

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.[36]

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.[37] The airfield continued to host light aircraft for the Cambridge and London University Air Squadrons until they both moved to RAF Wittering in 2015.[38]

On 25 March 2013 it was decided to relocate all flying units from Wyton due to the high maintenance costs of the airfield.[39]

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.[40]

Intelligence station

[edit]

The Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG), a unit which was responsible for the collection of signals, geospatial, imagery and measurement and signature intelligence,[41] moved from Feltham in Middlesex to RAF Wyton in 2013.[42][43] 42 Engineer Regiment relocated from Denison Barracks in Hermitage to RAF Wyton to co-locate with the Joint Forces Intelligence Group in July 2014[44] and No. 1 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Squadron moved from RAF Marham to Wyton in April 2017.[45]

In 2016, JFIG disbanded, and the bulk of its former units and capabilities were re-rolled to establish the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence.[3] The NCGI is a 1-star commanded organisation[46] 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.[4][6]

Hangars in 2013

Former units

[edit]

Other units moved (now disbanded)

The following other units were posted to Wyton at some point:[47]

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.[62]

Based units

[edit]

Notable units based at RAF Wyton.[63][45][64]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes (1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 249. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  2. ^ "RAF Wyton Defence Aerodrome Manual (DAM)" (PDF). RAF Wyton. Military Aviation Authority. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "RAF Wyton | Royal Air Force". 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Nicholls, Dominic (8 February 2024). "RAF Wyton: Inside the 'jewel in the crown of British Defence Intelligence'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Inside the UK's top-secret spy base preparing for war". Sky News. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Sengupta, Kim (8 February 2024). "Drones, missiles and white Russian horses: The UK intelligence agency you haven't heard of". The Independent. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "RAF Wyton". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 40.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  10. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 50.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 53.
  12. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 54.
  13. ^ a b c d Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  14. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  15. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 63.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 70.
  17. ^ "Avro Lancaster B.Mk.1 R5868/7325M Museum Accession Number 74/A/12" (PDF). RAF Museum. p. 3. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  18. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 39.
  19. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 60.
  20. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 29.
  21. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  22. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 43.
  23. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  25. ^ a b c "RAF Wyton". Vulcan to the Sky Trust. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  26. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 28.
  27. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 33.
  28. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  29. ^ Raynham News (1991). "RAF West Raynham Missile Squadron to be Disbanded" (PDF). Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  30. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 52.
  31. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 69.
  32. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  33. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 96.
  34. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 97.
  35. ^ "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". Getty Images. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  36. ^ "A-10A Thunderbolt of 511th Tactical Fighter Squadron/10th Tactical Fighter Wing on detachment to RAF Wyton in May 1989". Airport Data. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Air Officer Scotland: Air Vice Marshal Ross Paterson". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  38. ^ "University of London Air Squadron". Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  39. ^ "RAF Wyton airfield to close as training flights are moved - but base still open for intelligence hub". The Hunts Post. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  40. ^ "Dramatic Footage Shows Demolition Of RAF Base". 13 January 2017.
  41. ^ "Joint Forces Intelligence Group Achieves Full Operating Capability". Ministry of Defence. 22 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  42. ^ "New Defence Intelligence buildings handed over to MOD". Ministry of Defence. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  43. ^ "UK JARIC Transitions to Defence Geospatial and Intelligence Fusion Centre" (PDF). November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2013.
  44. ^ "42 Engr Regt (Geo) arrive at RAF Wyton". Eagleeyeonline.vo.uk. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  45. ^ a b Ellwood, Tobias (21 December 2017). "Air Force: Military Intelligence:Written question - 120057". UK Parliament. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  46. ^ Drew, Rob (26 March 2021). "The National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence. InstRE". The Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Wyton". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  48. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 211.
  49. ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 155.
  50. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 125.
  51. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 149.
  52. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 42.
  53. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 197.
  54. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 119.
  55. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 120.
  56. ^ a b Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 82.
  57. ^ a b c Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 102.
  58. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 108.
  59. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 148.
  60. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 173.
  61. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 213.
  62. ^ a b c d e "Defence Estate Rationalisation Update" (PDF). Ministry of Defence (MoD). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  63. ^ "RAF Wyton". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  64. ^ "DCMA United Kingdom | Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire". Defense Contract Management Agency. Retrieved 25 April 2021.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.
  • RAF Annual Review 2012
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