FSCTE Manston
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FSCTE Manston is the Ministry of Defence Fire Service Central Training Establishment, based near the village of Manston, in the north east corner of Kent, England. It is located on part of the site of the former Royal Air Force base, RAF Manston.
The remainder of the former RAF site (including the runway) is now part of Kent International Airport, a civilian, commercial airfield.
[edit] History
RAF Manston played host to firefighter training since 1959, and in 1989 the RAF consolidated the RAF Fire Fighting and Rescue Squadron from RAF Catterick to Manston, forming the RAF Fire Services Central Training Establishment (CTE).[1]
In 1995, the station was chosen to be the central training facility for all MOD firefighter training operations, and became MOD FSCTE.
On 31st March 1999, the remainder of RAF Manston closed, leaving FSCTE as the sole occupant of the previous domestic side of the base. The airside part of the base was signed over to the existing commercial operator to form Kent International Airport.[2]
[edit] Museum
Inside the base, the old RAF CTE building is now a museum of firefighting, especially as it relates to the RAF, called the 'Manston Fire Museum'. It has a number of historic fire appliances, including some previously used on the base.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Ministry of Defence FSCTE. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
- ^ History of RAF Manston. RAF Manston History Museum. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
- ^ Manston Fire Museum. Retrieved on 2007-06-29.
