RAF Wittering
Royal Air Force Wittering or more simply RAF Wittering (ICAO: EGXT) is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority area of North Northamptonshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
RAF Wittering
Air combat support station
449 hectares
Operational
5 May 1916
1916 – present
Wing Commander Nicola Duncan
- Headquarters and elements of No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing
- Headquarters and elements of No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing
- Headquarters 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group
- Headquarters and elements of 20 Works Group Royal Engineers
- No. 16 Squadron
- No. 115 Squadron
- South & East Midlands Wing, RAF Air Cadets
- University of London Air Squadron
- Cambridge University Air Squadron
- No. 5 Air Experience Flight
83.3 metres (273 ft) AMSL
History[edit]
First World War[edit]
Wittering's use as a military airfield dates back to 5 May 1916 when it began as RFC Stamford. The aerodrome was initially created for A Flight of No. 38 (Home Defence) Squadron.[3] In common with other Home Defence squadrons at the time it was used for training during the day and for air defence at night. From the flight's operational declaration in December 1916 until it deployed to France in November 1917, its BE2cs, RE7s, and FE2bs were involved in anti-Zeppelin patrols.[4]
The station's training role expanded when it became the Royal Flying Corps's No.1 Training Depot Station in 1917.[5] The neighbouring airfield, RFC Easton on the Hill, also dates back to 1916 and it became No. 5 Training Depot Station in 1917.[5] Following the formation of the Royal Air Force, Easton on the Hill became RAF Collyweston on 1 April 1918.[5] Stamford was retitled RAF Wittering on 10 April 1918.[5]
The station commanders have been:
RAF Wittering has received the Freedom of several locations throughout its history; these include: