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Historic England Research Records

Raf Wittering

Hob Uid: 1392414
Location :
Northamptonshire
East Northamptonshire
City of Peterborough
Easton on the Hill, Wittering, Collyweston
Grid Ref : TF0280002500
Summary : A military airfield opened in 1916, as a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, then known as "Stamford". In the interwar years until 1935 it was the home of the Central Flying School. In World War Two it was a fighter base, including functioning as a Sector Airfield as part of 12 Group during the Battle of Britain. It eventually incorporated the former Collyweston Airfield at its western end ( Monument HOB UID 1392398). By 1944 it was a large airfield with a 4500 yard long runway and permanent accomodation, with a variety of hangar types. The personnel strength at the base in December 1944 was 2895 men and 518 women. It is still used by the RAF for Harrier Jet aircraft training. V-bomber base 1955-1969. Blue Danube deployed to Wittering 1953. Nuclear weapons testing 1957-8. The Blue Steel missile servicing facility is listed Grade II.
More information : RAF Wittering: A military airfield opened in 1916, as a Royal Flying Corps training airfield, then known as "Stamford". In the interwar years until 1935 it was the home of the Central Flying School. In World War Two it was a fighter base. It is still used for Harrier jet training by RAF Operational Harrier Conversion Unit No. 20 (Reserve) Squadron. (1)

Wittering airfield TF 028 025. By 1944 it was a large airfield with a 4500 yard long runway and permanent accomodation, with a variety of hangar types. The personnel strength at the base in December 1944 was 2895 men and 518 women. See also p52 for the Collyweston airfield element. (2)

Wittering Airfield, centered at TF 032 027as depicted on the 1981 edition of OS sheet TF 00 SW. (3)

During the Battle of Britain, RAF Wittering functioned as a Sector Airfield for 12 Group RAF Fighter Command. As such it was provided with a Sector Operations Room and Staff. The following Squadrons were based here during the Battle: No. 266 Squadron from 14th May 1940, No. 74 Squadron from 14th August 1940, No. 266 Squadron from 21st August 1940, No. 1 Squadron from 9th September 1940. (4)

Joint Force Harrier taken out of service December 2010. (5)

RAF Wittering was closely connected with Britain's first nuclear deterrent programme. A number of buildings and structures associated with this period have been listed including; nuclear fissile core stores, the electical testing building, a nuclear bomb loading crane, nuclear bomb stores and a Gaydon hangar. (6)

Electrical Testing Building A08, TF 01497 01700, See List Entry for details (1402772) (7)

Blue steel Servicing Facility, Grade II, TF 0443102610, see List entry for details (1404936) (8)
Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : Mod Crown Copyright 2003; "Royal Air Force Flying Stations"; http://www.raf.mod.uk/stations; last updated 05-DEC-2003; accessed 04-FEB-2004.
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Source Number : 2
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Page(s) : 217
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : 1:10000, 1981
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : Royal Air Force, Crown Copyright 2005. 'Battle of Britain: 12 Group' <> [Accessed 03-AUG-2010]
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : www.raf.mod.uk/rafwittering/aboutus/history.cfm Accessed 8th August 2011
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/ (viewed 09 Sep 2014)
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : [11-JUL-2011] East Northamptonshire
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : [09-JAN-2012) City of Peterborough
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : 1952-1969
Monument End Date : 1969
Monument Start Date : 1952
Monument Type : Weapons Testing Site, Nuclear Test Site, Bomber Command Station
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : First World War
Display Date : Opened 1916
Monument End Date : 1916
Monument Start Date : 1916
Monument Type : Military Airfield
Evidence : Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : Second World War
Display Date : Used WWII
Monument End Date : 1945
Monument Start Date : 1939
Monument Type : Military Airfield, Aircraft Hangar
Evidence : Structure, Documentary Evidence
Monument Period Name : 21st Century
Display Date : 2003 Contined use by RAF
Monument End Date : 2003
Monument Start Date : 1945
Monument Type : Military Airfield
Evidence : Structure
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Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 109426
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1404936
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External Cross Reference Source : Unified Designation System UID
External Cross Reference Number : 1402772
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TF 00 SW 124
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