RAF Halton
Encyclopedia
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom
, located near the village of Halton
near Wendover
, Buckinghamshire
.
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore
of RAF Halton.
at Halton took place in 1913 when the then owner of the Halton estate, Alfred de Rothschild
invited 3 Squadron
of the Royal Flying Corps
to conduct manoeuvres on his land. Following a gentleman's agreement between Rothschild and Lord Kitchener, the estate was used by the British Army
throughout the First World War
. In 1916, the Royal Flying Corps
moved its air mechanics school from Farnborough
, Hampshire to Halton, and in 1917, the school was permanently accommodated in workshops built by German PoWs
. The whole estate was purchased by the British Government for the nascent Royal Air Force
at the end of the First World War
for £112,000.
In 1919, Lord Trenchard
established the No. 1 School of Technical Training
at RAF Halton for RAF aircraft apprentice
s, which remained at the Station until it moved to RAF Cosford
in the early 1990s. Also in 1919, Halton House
— a French
-style mansion built for Lionel de Rothschild
— was re-opened as the Station's Officers' Mess
. Halton House
continues to be used as the Station's Officers' Mess.
Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton was opened in 1927 as a large military hospital
. In 1995, the Hospital closed. The buildings remained until 2007/8 when they were demolished for new housing in a development called Princess Mary Gate.
During World War II
, RAF Halton continued its training role. Additionally, 112 Squadron and 402 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force
were based at Halton for part of the War.
In July 1952, the uncrowned Queen Elizabeth II
performed one of her first duties as Sovereign by presenting a colour
to Number 1 School of Technical Training; the first to be awarded to an apprentice school, and the first ever to be presented to an 'other rank
' when Sergeant Apprentice Hines, of the 63rd Entry, received the colour from Her Majesty.
When Number 1 School of Technical Training relocated to RAF Cosford
in 1993, they took over guardianship of the Queen's Colour, and on 31 October 1997, Her Majesty presented RAF Halton with its second colour. RAF Halton was the only station to be granted the dignity of two Queen's colours.
From 1917-1963, a spur
railway line
ran from Wendover
to Halton to supply coal and goods to the base.
The history of the RAF station and specifically apprenticeship training over the years is preserved by the Trenchard Museum
located at RAF Halton, and managed by the RAF Halton Apprentices Association . In 2010 a major project by members of the Station re-excavated the training trenches used during the First World War and made them available as an educational exhibit.
The camp also includes a grass airfield, used mainly by gliders
, light aircraft
, microlights
and the RAF hot air balloon
. The airfield is also the home of the Royal Air Force Gliding and Soaring Association Chilterns Gliding Centre, the Halton Aeroplane Club and the RAF Halton Microlight Club.
Logistics services to RAF Halton are provided by a multi-activity contract currently awarded to Serco
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, located near the village of Halton
Halton, Buckinghamshire
Halton is a small village and is also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England about 2 miles from Wendover and 5 miles from Aylesbury. It lies just outside the Metropolitan Green Belt so it has not been protected from postwar housing development...
near Wendover
Wendover
Wendover is a market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
of RAF Halton.
History
The first recorded military aviationMilitary aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
at Halton took place in 1913 when the then owner of the Halton estate, Alfred de Rothschild
Alfred de Rothschild
Alfred Charles de Rothschild was the second son of Lionel de Rothschild and Baroness Charlotte von Rothschild of the prominent Rothschild family....
invited 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
of the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
to conduct manoeuvres on his land. Following a gentleman's agreement between Rothschild and Lord Kitchener, the estate was used by the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
throughout the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1916, the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
moved its air mechanics school from Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
, Hampshire to Halton, and in 1917, the school was permanently accommodated in workshops built by German PoWs
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. The whole estate was purchased by the British Government for the nascent Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at the end of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for £112,000.
In 1919, Lord Trenchard
Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard GCB OM GCVO DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...
established the No. 1 School of Technical Training
No. 1 School of Technical Training
No.1 School of Technical Training is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school, based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme...
at RAF Halton for RAF aircraft apprentice
Aircraft Apprentice
The Aircraft Apprentice Scheme was a training programme for Royal Air Force ground crew personnel.-Formation:World War I saw the beginning of aerial combat. By 1 April 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service had amalgamated into the Royal Air Force...
s, which remained at the Station until it moved to RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton.-History:...
in the early 1990s. Also in 1919, Halton House
Halton House
thumb|right|300px|Halton House, BuckinghamshireHalton House is a country house situated in the Chiltern Hills above the village of Halton in Buckinghamshire, England. It was built for Alfred de Rothschild between 1880 and 1883...
— a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-style mansion built for Lionel de Rothschild
Lionel de Rothschild
Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild was a British banker and politician.-Biography:The son of Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Hanna Barent Cohen, he was a member of the prominent Rothschild family....
— was re-opened as the Station's Officers' Mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
. Halton House
Halton House
thumb|right|300px|Halton House, BuckinghamshireHalton House is a country house situated in the Chiltern Hills above the village of Halton in Buckinghamshire, England. It was built for Alfred de Rothschild between 1880 and 1883...
continues to be used as the Station's Officers' Mess.
Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton was opened in 1927 as a large military hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. In 1995, the Hospital closed. The buildings remained until 2007/8 when they were demolished for new housing in a development called Princess Mary Gate.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, RAF Halton continued its training role. Additionally, 112 Squadron and 402 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
were based at Halton for part of the War.
In July 1952, the uncrowned Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
performed one of her first duties as Sovereign by presenting a colour
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
to Number 1 School of Technical Training; the first to be awarded to an apprentice school, and the first ever to be presented to an 'other rank
Other Ranks
Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called ratings...
' when Sergeant Apprentice Hines, of the 63rd Entry, received the colour from Her Majesty.
When Number 1 School of Technical Training relocated to RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford
RAF Cosford is a Royal Air Force station in Cosford, Shropshire, just to the northwest of Wolverhampton and next to Albrighton.-History:...
in 1993, they took over guardianship of the Queen's Colour, and on 31 October 1997, Her Majesty presented RAF Halton with its second colour. RAF Halton was the only station to be granted the dignity of two Queen's colours.
From 1917-1963, a spur
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
railway line
Halton Railway
Halton Railway was a spur line from Wendover to RAF Halton used to transport coal and other goods to RAF Halton. It closed in 1963.Opened in 1917, this branch line ran for and was constructed by German prisoners of war during World War I....
ran from Wendover
Wendover
Wendover is a market town that sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district...
to Halton to supply coal and goods to the base.
The history of the RAF station and specifically apprenticeship training over the years is preserved by the Trenchard Museum
Trenchard Museum
The Trenchard Museum is based at RAF Halton, Halton, Buckinghamshire, England. The overall aim of the museum is to preserve and display items that relate to the early history of Royal Air Force and in particular the training of apprentices which took place at RAF Halton...
located at RAF Halton, and managed by the RAF Halton Apprentices Association . In 2010 a major project by members of the Station re-excavated the training trenches used during the First World War and made them available as an educational exhibit.
Current role
RAF Halton is the RAF's centre for recruit training and airmen's development training, and also hosts a number of other independent units. Units based at Halton currently include:- Recruit Training Squadron - initial training for all non-commissioned entrants to the RAF (except RAF RegimentRAF RegimentThe Royal Air Force Regiment is a specialist airfield defence corps founded by Royal Warrant in 1942. After a 32 week trainee gunner course, its members are trained and equipped to prevent a successful enemy attack in the first instance; minimise the damage caused by a successful attack; and...
Gunners). - Airmen's Command Squadron - leadership and management training for non-commissioned officerNon-commissioned officerA non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s. - Specialist Training School - Health and Safety, Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
, Quality ManagementQuality managementThe term Quality management has a specific meaning within many business sectors. This specific definition, which does not aim to assure 'good quality' by the more general definition , can be considered to have four main components: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality...
and Management and Procedural Skills Training. - Defence Media Operations Centre- media and communications training and a deployable joint media operations team.
- Catering Training Squadron (part of the Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration) - specialist training for RAF chefs, stewards, and Catering Officers.
- Supply & Movements Training Wing (part of the Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration) - trains RAF personnel in all aspects of supply, movements and logistic management. It also trains Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
personnel in movements disciplines. - Training Analysis Centre (part of No 22 (Training) GroupNo. 22 Group RAFNumber 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force, falling under the responsibility of Deputy Commander-in-Chief in Air Command. Its current full title is Number 22 Group and it is responsible for RAF training policy and controlling the Royal Air Force College...
) - carries out training needs analysisTraining analysisTraining Analysis is the formal process of identifying the training gap and its related training need.- Introduction:...
, and proposes appropriate training strategies for RAF ground trades and branches (with the exception of medical, musician and fire-fighter). - Defence Centre of Training SupportDefence Centre of Training SupportThe Defence Centre of Training Support is a United Kingdom MOD unit headquartered at Kermode Hall at RAF Halton near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England.-History:...
- training military instructors and training managers, e-learning support services to the MoD, computer-based training production. - 7644 (VR) Squadron, RAuxAF - a specialist media operations squadron.
- Joint Service Gliding Centre - adventurous training in the form of gliding for members of the Armed Forces.
- 613 Volunteer Gliding SquadronVolunteer Gliding SquadronVolunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force Flying Training Units , operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
- gliding activities for the Air CadetAir CadetsAir Cadets may refer to:* Members of the British Air Training Corps or Combined Cadet Force* Members of the Australian Air Force Cadets* Members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets* Members of the New Zealand Air Training Corps, New Zealand Cadet Forces...
Organisation. - Headquarters Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire Wing Air Training CorpsAir Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
.
The camp also includes a grass airfield, used mainly by gliders
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
, light aircraft
Light aircraft
A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
, microlights
Ultralight aviation
The term "ultralight aviation" refers to light-weight, 1- or 2-person airplanes., also called microlight aircraft in the UK, India and New Zealand...
and the RAF hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
. The airfield is also the home of the Royal Air Force Gliding and Soaring Association Chilterns Gliding Centre, the Halton Aeroplane Club and the RAF Halton Microlight Club.
Logistics services to RAF Halton are provided by a multi-activity contract currently awarded to Serco
See also
- Royal Air Force station
- List of RAF stations
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of aircraft of the RAF