RAF Hythe
Encyclopedia
RAF Hythe was an RAF
base situated in Hythe
, Hampshire
, 10 miles south of Southampton
on the western side of Southampton Water
.
Hangars were first erected here by May-Harden-May Ltd, acquired by Supermarine in 1925. The site was used for final assembly of marine aircraft. The site again changed hands in 1937 to be acquired by Imperial Airways (later BOAC) who until November 1950 used the site for flying boat maintenance. Later, from 1967, the facilities were used by the US Field Army Support Brigade/Combat Equipment Battalion-Hythe mainly for small boat repairs. At this time, the base became known as RAF Hythe.
The station, the last U.S. Army installation in the United Kingdom , closed on 30 September 2006 after the American Army left following a cost cutting exercise.
, The site has been acquired by the South East England Development Agency
which plans to open it as a marine business park.
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...
base situated in Hythe
Hythe, Hampshire
Hythe is a village near Southampton, Hampshire, England. It is located by the shore of Southampton Water, and has a ferry service connecting it to Southampton...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, 10 miles south of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
on the western side of Southampton Water
Southampton Water
Southampton Water is a tidal estuary north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight in England. The city of Southampton lies at its most northerly point. Along its salt marsh-fringed western shores lie the New Forest villages of Hythe and "the waterside", Dibden Bay, and the Esso oil refinery at Fawley...
.
Hangars were first erected here by May-Harden-May Ltd, acquired by Supermarine in 1925. The site was used for final assembly of marine aircraft. The site again changed hands in 1937 to be acquired by Imperial Airways (later BOAC) who until November 1950 used the site for flying boat maintenance. Later, from 1967, the facilities were used by the US Field Army Support Brigade/Combat Equipment Battalion-Hythe mainly for small boat repairs. At this time, the base became known as RAF Hythe.
The station, the last U.S. Army installation in the United Kingdom , closed on 30 September 2006 after the American Army left following a cost cutting exercise.
, The site has been acquired by the South East England Development Agency
South East England Development Agency
SEEDA, more officially the South East England Development Agency, is one of a number of regional development agencies in England. It was set up as a non-departmental public body in 1999 to promote the region and to enable a number of more difficult regeneration projects which otherwise might not...
which plans to open it as a marine business park.