RAF Little Rissington
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| RAF Little Rissington | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| IATA: - ICAO: EGVL | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||
| Serves | Bourton-on-the-Water | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 730 ft (223 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 04/22 | 4,902 | 1,494 | Asphalt |
| 09/27 | 3,560 | 1,085 | Asphalt |
| 14/32 | 3,232 | 985 | Asphalt |
RAF Little Rissington (EGVL) is a RAF Aerodrome and former RAF station in Gloucestershire, England. It was once home to the Central Flying School, the Red Pelicans and the Red Arrows.
Built during the 1930s, the station was opened in 1938 and closed in 1994. The married-quarters and main technical site were sold in 1996 (the former becoming the village of Upper Rissington), but the aerodrome has been retained by the Ministry of Defence and remains active along with the southern technical sites, under the operational control of HQAC at RAFC Cranwell.
It is now home to; 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron who provide elementary flying training for Combined Cadet Force and Air Training Corps cadets; the Home Office Experimental Still-Air Fire Test Facility; and the aviation maintenance company, Devonair. The airfield is also used by the forces as a relief landing ground, training area and parachute dropping area. In previous years, the Royal Air Force base has been used as a film set: including The Avengers (film),and part of the ice chase in Die Another Day.
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[edit] History
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[edit] The beginning - 1930's into War
During the build-up to the Second World War, the Air Ministry began constructing major airfields across the United Kingdom under what was known as the Expansion Period. RAF Little Rissington was one of these airfields.
Royal Air Force Station Little Rissington officially opened in 1938, comprising the domestic site and a grass airfield. During 1942, three asphalt runways were laid. Extra land was added to accommodate Sites A to E. Later in the war, the main runway 05/23 was extended northerly (later to become the main runway for instrument landings), 09/27 and 14/32 were extended easterly and south-easterly respectively.
Up to 1945 the station accommodated No.6 Service Flying Training School and No.8 Maintenance Unit. Hundreds of aircraft were parked in its dispersal areas.
[edit] Central Flying School - 1946 to 1976
1946 the Royal Air Force Central Flying School moved to Little Rissington. The airfield also became the home to the RAF's aerobatics teams which included the Red Pelicans and later the Red Arrows. The airfield was expanded during this period, and a new fire station and control tower were built.
[edit] Imjim Barracks - 1977 to 1979
After CFS's departure, the airfieldwas used by the Army, and with the arrival of the Royal Irish Rangers Little Rissington became "Imjim Barracks".
[edit] USAF(E) RAF Little Rissington - 1981 to 1993
With the arrival of the United States Air Force in Europe, Little Rissington became the largest military contingency hospital in Europe. The aerodrome was cleared for C-130 Hercules and C5 Galaxies. During the Gulf War, Little Rissington was held on its highest readiness state for several decades as it prepared for casualties. The USAF left Little Rissington in 1993 and it was handed back to the Royal Air Force.
[edit] The draw down - 1994 to 2005
Little Rissington was identified as surplus to requirements in the Government's "Options for Change" package and the entire site was put up for sale. The domestic and main technical sites of the station were sold to a property developer and became a business park.
[edit] Revival - 2006 to present
Following a Defence Review, the planned disposal of RAF Little Rissington was stopped, and so the immediate future of the aerodrome was secured. Several buildings received some minor upgrades. At the end of 2006, an civilian aircraft maintenance firm called 'Devonair' moved in under an agreement with the Ministry of Defence. Today, RAF Little Rissington remains active for elementary flying training, and aircraft maintenance. With the increasing reduction in military aerodromes, RAF Little Rissington is steadily becoming more active. Much of the original station is still almost untouched, though the control tower and several hangars have been demolished.
[edit] Rumours of an underground hospital
It is a local belief that a nuclear-proof underground hospital built by the United States Air Force lies underneath RAF Little Rissington. This rumour has, however, never been verified. However, it is widely accepted that tunnels were dug during the Second World War for the Royal Observer Corps. Whether this tunnel network was developed during the 1980s is unknown.
A bunker is attached to the Sick Ward/Medical Centre at the main technical site. It is commonly mistaken for the rumoured underground USAF(E) hospital. The ward/bunker is covered in earth for protection and to remove the need to move patients during air raids. It dates back to the station's construction in the 1930s. Consequently it is above the surface and it is not nuclear-proof. Photos can be found here (Flickr)[1].
[edit] Historic monuments
RAF Little Rissington is one of several MoD estates with an ancient monument. On the eastern side of the aerodrome there is a Long barrow, dated to between 4000BC and 2400BC. During the Second World War, the Air Ministry built a large air-raid shelter into it to protect the service personnel working in the maintenance units. Under the MoD's obligation to preserve and protect the UK's ancient monuments on their estates, this particular monument has in recent years been subject to several inspections by Defence Estates.
[edit] Units
[edit] Maintenance units
- No.8 Maintenance Unit (1938-?)
[edit] Flying training units
- No.6 Service Flying Training School (1938-1942), renamed No.6 Pilot-Advanced Flying Unit (1942-?)
- No.23 Blind Approach Training Flight (1941-1942), renamed No.1523 Blind Approach Training Flight (1942-1945)
- Royal Air Force Central Flying School (1946-1976)
- No.637 Gliding School (1976-2005), renamed No.637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (2005-Present)
[edit] Aerobatics display units
- The Sparrows (1958)
- The Redskins (1959)
- The Red Pelicans (1960-1973)
- The Red Arrows (1964-1976)
[edit] Army units
- Royal Irish Rangers (1977-1978)
[edit] Overseas units
- United States Air Force - European Force (1981-1993)
- 20th Tactical Fighter Wing - (Lodging)
