Edit filter log

'{{Redirect|BEX|the airline that operated under that code|Business Express Airlines|other uses|Bex (disambiguation)}} {{use British English|date=August 2017}} {{use DMY dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox military installation | name = RAF Benson | ensign = [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]] | native_name = | partof = | location = | nearest_town = [[Benson, Oxfordshire|Benson]], [[Oxfordshire]] | country = England | image = EI-DWI BEX BENSON AB (6967958752) (2).jpg | caption = Benson village (left) and RAF Benson (centre and right) from the air | image2 = RAF Benson.png | caption2 = ''Spectemur agendo''<br>({{lang-la|Let us be judged by our acts}})<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=218|edition=1}}</ref> | pushpin_map = Oxfordshire | pushpin_label = EGUB | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Oxfordshire | coordinates = {{Coord|51|36|59|N|001|05|45|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}} | type = [[Royal Air Force station]] | code = | site_area = | height = | ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] | operator = [[Royal Air Force]] | controlledby = [[Joint Helicopter Command]] | open_to_public = | condition = | built = {{Start date|1939}} | builder = | used = 1939-Present<!--{{End date|1946}} --> | materials = | fate = | battles = | events = | current_commander = [[Group Captain]] Hamish Cormack [[Master of Arts|MA]] RAF | past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) --> | garrison = | occupants = | elevation = {{Convert|69|m|0}} | IATA = BEX | ICAO = EGUB | FAA = | TC = | LID = | GPS = | WMO = 3658 | r1-number = 01/19 | r1-length = {{Convert|1823|m|0}} | r1-surface = [[Asphalt]] | website = {{URL|http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbenson/}} }} '''Royal Air Force Benson''' or '''RAF Benson''' {{Airport codes|BEX|EGUB}} is a [[Royal Air Force station]] near [[Benson, Oxfordshire|Benson]] in [[South Oxfordshire]], [[England]]. It is home to the [[Royal Air Force]]'s fleet of [[Aérospatiale Puma|Westland Puma HC2]] support helicopters, comprising [[No. 33 Squadron RAF|No. 33 Squadron]] and [[No. 230 Squadron RAF|No. 230 Squadron]]. Other flying units comprise [[No. 28 Squadron RAF|No. 28 Squadron]] which is the combined Puma and [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Boeing Chinook HC4]] operational conversion unit, [[Oxford University Air Squadron]] and [[No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 6 Air Experience Flight]]. RAF Benson opened in 1939 and during the war operated as a training station and later in the [[Imagery intelligence|photographic reconnaissance]] role. Post-war, Benson operated under [[RAF Transport Command]] throughout the 1950's and 1960's. During the 1970's various signals units arrived and in the early 1990's the station began its current support helicopter role. The RAF [[AgustaWestland AW101|Agusta Westland AW101 Merlin]] fleet was based at Benson between 2001 and 2016, after which it transferred to the [[Royal Navy]] to become part of the [[Commando Helicopter Force]] at [[RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)|RNAS Yeovilton]]. Other notable units which have been located at Benson include the [[Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom|Queen's Flight]] (originally the King's Flight when established in 1946). The [[National Police Air Service]] and the [[Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance]] are present on the station, both operating the [[Eurocopter EC135]]. ==History== === Early years and World War II === [[File:Fairey Battle - Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. CH769.jpg|thumb|[[Fairey Battle]]s of [[No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF]] in flight|left]]Building work for RAF Benson, which was undertaken by [[John Laing Group|John Laing & Son]], began in 1937.{{sfn|Ritchie|1997|p=91}} RAF Benson was officially opened on Saturday 1 April 1939 and its first aircraft were two squadrons of [[Fairey Battle]] [[light bomber]]s which began to arrive a few days later.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFbenson/aboutus/prewar.cfm RAF Benson history]</ref> [[No. 103 Squadron RAF]] started flying in on 3 April 1939, to be joined in the next few months by [[No. 150 Squadron RAF]]. The Battles were replaced in December 1940 with [[Vickers Wellington]] [[medium bomber]]s. At the same time the [[Supermarine Spitfire]]s of [[No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF]] and [[RAF Coastal Command]] unit arrived. It gained considerable fame as the home of photographic reconnaissance for the remainder of the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{harvnb|Leaf|1997|p=}}{{page needed|date=November 2015}}</ref> In June 1943, No. 1 PRU was formed into No. 106 Wing, with five squadrons (No’s 540 to 544 inclusive) and [[No. 12 OTU|No. 12 Operational Training Unit RAF]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Grp01.htm |title=Groups 1-9 |work=rafweb.org |accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref> The Wing was elevated to the status of No. 106 (PU) Group in April 1944, with two [[de Havilland Mosquito]] and two [[Supermarine Spitfire]] squadrons (No. 543 Squadron having been disbanded when the aircraft strength per Squadron was increased). The No. 106 Group was assigned to the Coastal Command's Photo Reconnaissance assets with the whole of Northern Europe as its operational area.<ref>[http://www.rafweb.org/Maps/Coastal1945.htm Coastal Command Group Dispositions - July 1945]</ref> Its Spitfire and Mosquito aircraft flew missions over occupied Europe, for example bringing back battle damage assessment pictures after [[Operation Chastise]]. This period of the station's history is reflected in the use of a full-scale replica of a wartime Spitfire PR.Mk XI on the main gate - this having replaced a genuine Spitfire PR.MK XIX that has been restored to flying status. [[Vera Lynn]], 'the forces Sweetheart', visited RAF Benson to entertain the troops, reportedly singing ''"[[(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover|The White Cliffs of Dover]]"'' at the station. === Post-war === The station retained a [[reconnaissance]] role for some years after the war, with [[Avro Lancaster]], Spitfire, Mosquito, [[Gloster Meteor]] PR.Mk 10 and [[English Electric Canberra]] PR.Mk 3 aircraft. [[Ferry Squadron RAF]] was here between 1956 and 1958. On 1 June 1962 [[No. 105 Squadron RAF]] reformed at the station, flying [[Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy]]s as part of the [[RAF Transport Command]] fleet. In January 1968, [[No. 114 Squadron RAF|114]]<ref>RAF, [http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/114squadron.cfm No 114 Squadron], accessed November 2008</ref> and [[No. 267 Squadron RAF|267]] Squadrons were flying Argosys as a Wing on the station. The King's Flight moved from [[Hendon Aerodrome|RAF Hendon]] and would stay (renamed as the Queen's Flight after the death of King [[George VI of the United Kingdom|George VI]]) until after the war, moving to [[RAF Northolt]] in 1995. The future of RAF Benson was in doubt for some time, while Project Belvedere was looking into closing at least one of Joint Helicopter Command's airfields. These included Benson, Odiham, Aldergrove, Yeovilton, Middle Wallop, Wattisham and Dishforth; with the Support Helicopters based at RAF Benson being considered for a move to RAF Lyneham. Belvedere has been abandoned on cost grounds, and Benson's future is now believed to be safe. === 21st century === [[File:RAF Merlin HC3A Helicopter of No28 Sqn MOD 45154033.jpg|alt=A RAF AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A.|left|thumb|A RAF AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A.]] The [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010]] recommended that in order to replace Navy's ageing [[Westland Sea King#Commando and further developments|Westland Sea King HC4's]], the RAF's [[AgustaWestland AW101|AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin]] fleet should be transferred to the [[Royal Navy|Royal Navy's]] [[Commando Helicopter Force]]. To gain experience of operating and maintaining the Merlin, Royal Navy aircrew and engineers were integrated into the Merlin Force at Benson during 2012. The fleet was officially handed over to the navy during a ceremony at Benson on 30 September 2014. It was attended by Their Royal Highnesses [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York|The Duke of York]], the [[Commodore-in-Chief|Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm]], and [[Prince Michael of Kent]], Honorary Air Marshal of RAF Benson. [[Andrew Pulford|Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford]] and [[George Zambellas|1st Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir George Zambellas]] were also present.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.forces.net/news/navy/raf-hand-over-merlins-royal-navy|title=RAF Hand Over Merlins to the Royal Navy|last=|first=|date=30 September 2014|work=Forces Network|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|language=en}}</ref> The ceremony marked the disbandment of [[No. 78 Squadron RAF|No. 78 Squadron]] and it's replacement by [[846 Naval Air Squadron|846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS)]].<ref name=":0" /> During July 2015 [[845 Naval Air Squadron]] reformed and replaced [[No. 28 Squadron RAF|No. 28 Squadron]] which disbanded. The last phases of the transition began when 846 NAS moved to [[RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)|RNAS Yeovilton]] on 26 March 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2015/march/27/150327-846-home|title=846 NAS comes home to Somerset|last=|first=|date=27 March 2015|website=Royal Navy|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref> The final Merlin ([[United Kingdom military aircraft serials|serial number]] ZJ131) along with 845 NAS departed on 16 June 2016, bringing nearly 15 years of Merlin operations at Benson to a close.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/15025|title=CHF family reunited as Merlins complete their move from Oxfordshire to Yeovilton|last=|first=|date=17 June 2016|website=Navy News|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref> In 2015, it was announced that The Chinook Operational Conversion Flight will transfer from RAF Odiham, in Hampshire, to Benson in "late autumn".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/12967809.Six_Chinooks_and_160_staff_transfer_to_RAF_Benson/|title=Six Chinooks and 160 staff transfer to RAF Benson|work=Oxford Mail|accessdate=12 September 2015}}</ref> ==Operations== [[File:RAF Benson - geograph.org.uk - 1058622.jpg|thumb|RAF Benson control tower and associated buildings in 2008]] RAF Benson's mission statement is to ''<nowiki/>'Deliver support helicopter operational capability.''<nowiki/>' The station is home to two squadrons of [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Westland Puma HC2]] support helicopters under the control of the tri-service [[Joint Helicopter Command]]. The Puma is a medium-lift helicopter used for tactical troop and load movements across the battlefield. The aircraft can carry up to 16 passengers or 12 fully-equipped troops, or up to two tonnes of freight carried either internally or as an under-slung load.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/puma.cfm|title=Puma HC1|last=|first=|date=|website=Royal Air Force|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=14 August 2017}}</ref> [[No. 28 Squadron RAF|No. 28 Squadron]] is the combined Puma and [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Boeing Chinook HC4]] operational conversion unit which trains crews for both aircraft types. Flying operations are supported by units such as the Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit and Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility which operates a variety of simulators.<ref name=":1" /> RAF Benson is also home to the [[Grob Tutor]] light aircraft of the [[Oxford University Air Squadron]]. The station has its own flying club, which consists of service and civilian personnel. The [[National Police Air Service]] have a unit based at Benson alongside the [[Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance|Thames Valley Air Ambulance]] which moved from White Waltham in January 2007. Both services operat the [[Eurocopter EC135]]. The airfield is a well-known [[frost hollow]], often recording the coldest temperatures in the UK. In early 2009 the Met Office at RAF Benson recorded a temperature of −11.8, and on 7 January 2010, −17.1&nbsp;°C.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} ==Units== [[File:RAF Benson runway.jpg|thumb|Main runway at RAF Benson]]Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Benson.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFbenson/aboutus/who.cfm|title=Who is based here?|last=|first=|date=|website=RAF Benson|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=17 July 2017}}</ref> === Royal Air Force === '''[[Joint Helicopter Command]]''' *[[No. 28 Squadron RAF|No. 28 (Reserve) Squadron]] - [[Boeing Chinook (UK variants)|Chinook HC4]] and [[Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma|Puma HC2]] *[[No. 33 Squadron RAF|No. 33 Squadron]] - Puma HC2 *[[No. 230 Squadron RAF|No. 230 Squadron]] - Puma HC2 *Joint Helicopter Support Squadron *Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility *Puma Depth Support Hub *Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit *Support Helicopter Standards and Evaluation Flight '''[[No. 2 Group RAF|No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support) RAF]]''' *[[No. 606 Squadron RAF|No. 606 (Chiltern) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force)]] '''[[No. 22 Group RAF|No. 22 Group (Training) RAF]]''' * [[Oxford University Air Squadron]] * [[No. 6 Air Experience Flight RAF|No. 6 Air Experience Flight]] === Civilian === * [[National Police Air Service]] - [[Eurocopter EC135|Airbus H135]] * RAF Benson Flying Club - [[Cessna 152]], [[Slingsby T67 Firefly]] and [[Piper PA-28 Cherokee|Piper PA-28]] * [[Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance|Thames Valley Air Ambulance]] - Airbus H135 ==Accidents and incidents== * In the early hours of 2 August 1940 a [[Fairey Battle]] took off from Benson for a cross-country training exercise but crashed into a nearby hill. The crew included [[Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth]], founder of the [[Shuttleworth Collection]] in Bedfordshire, who was killed.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.shuttleworth.org/richardshuttleworth/ |title=Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth |work=[[Shuttleworth Collection]] |publisher=The Shuttleworth Trust |accessdate=10 July 2016}}</ref> * On the evening of 29 November 1940 Fairey Battle I L5071 took off from Benson for a training flight. It reached an altitude of about {{convert|1000|ft}} but then dived and crashed about {{convert|1|mi}} northwest of the airfield.<ref name=AR>{{cite web |url= http://aircrewremembered.com/makarewicz-wladyslaw.html |title=29.11.1940. No. 12 O.T.U. Fairey Battle I L5071 P/O. Makarewicz |work=Archive Report: Allied Forces |publisher=Aircrew Remembered |accessdate=14 November 2015}}</ref> : The Battle was crewed by three members of the [[Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain|Polish Air Force]], all of whom were killed. They are buried in [[Benson, Oxfordshire#Parish church|St Helen's parish churchyard, Benson]].<ref name=AR/> * Early in the 1950s an RAF Mosquito missed Benson airfield in fog and crashed into a hill in the Chiltern hills above Lower Farm, [[Swyncombe]].{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} ==See also== * [[List of Royal Air Force stations]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Sources== *{{cite book |last=Berry |first=Ritchie |year=1997 |title=The Good Builder: The John Laing Story |place=London |publisher=James & James |isbn=1852605286 |ref=harv}} *{{cite book |last=Leaf |first=Edward |year=1997 |title=Above All Unseen: The Royal Air Force's Photographic Reconnaissance Units 1939–1945 |place= |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn= |ref=harv}} ==External links== {{Commons category|RAF Benson}} *{{WAD|EGUB}} *[http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFbenson/ Official RAF Benson website] {{DEFAULTSORT:Benson}} [[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Oxfordshire]]'