RAF Linton-on-Ouse

Infobox Airport
name = RAF Linton-on-Ouse


image-width = 118
caption = Station crest of RAF Linton-on-Ouse
IATA = HRT
ICAO = EGXU
type = Military
operator = Royal Air Force
location = Linton-on-Ouse
elevation-f = 53
elevation-m = 16
coordinates = coord|54|02|56|N|001|15|10|W|type:airport
website = [http://raf.mod.uk/raflintononouse/ raf.mod.uk/raflintononouse/]
r1-number = 04/22
r1-length-f = 6,020
r1-length-m = 1,835
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 10/28
r2-length-f = 4,394
r2-length-m = 1,339
r2-surface = Asphalt

RAF Linton-on-Ouse Airport codes|HRT|EGXU is a Royal Air Force station at Linton-on-Ouse near York in Yorkshire, England. It is currently a major flying training centre, one of the RAF's busiest airfields. It has satellite stations at RAF Topcliffe, RAF Church Fenton and RAF Dishforth.

Motto and mission statement

Motto

The station motto "A Flumine Impugnamus" translates from the Latin as "From the mighty river we strike".

Mission statement

The station's mission statement is:

History

RAF Linton-on-Ouse opened on 13 May 1937 as a bomber airfield and was the home of No 4 Group until 1940. The base's first commander was Wing Commander A D Pryor (1938 Air Force Lists).

When the Second World War began, bombers were launched from Linton to drop propaganda leaflets over Germany and the base was eventually used to launch bombing raids on Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. Linton was one of 11 stations allocated to No. 6 Group, Royal Canadian Air Force during the war.

At the end of the war the station was involved with transporting passengers and freight back to the UK. After which it became a fighter command station until it was closed for maintenance in 1957.

On 9 September 1957, the base was reopened as the home of No 1 Flying Training School (FTS) and was responsible for training pilots for both the RAF and the Navy.

In 1985, engineering and supply services were contracted out to private firms. The contract for this is currently held by VT Aerospace.

Today, Linton-on-Ouse is used to provide fast jet pilot training before they move onto the BAE Hawk T.1 aircraft at No 4 FTS, RAF Valley in Wales. Weapon Systems Operators receive part of their training here also. In addition, the base is used by 642 VGS (Volunteer Gliding Squadron) to teach Air Cadets how to fly the Grob Vigilant aircraft. The station houses a memorial room which recounts the history of the base and the units which have been associated with it.cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm?storyid=8E639203-1143-EC82-2E65DF0379F6DEB0
title=Relatives of hero pilot visit building named in his honour
work=www.raf.mod.uk
accessdate=2008-01-23]

Satellite stations

Linton is responsible for three satellite stations; RAF Church Fenton, RAF Topcliffe and RAF Dishforth.

RAF Church Fenton

RAF Church Fenton was opened in 1937 and served as a fighter base during the Second World War. Since 1973 the main role of Church Fenton has been pilot training and from 1998–2003 the station was the RAF's primary Elementary Flying Training centre.

The base is currently home to the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron. Although parts of the airfield are now derelict and fenced off, the airside parts of the base are still active. The base has an active runway, used primarily for light aircraft, and a manned Air Traffic Control tower.

RAF Topcliffe

RAF Topcliffe was opened in 1940 as a bomber station under the control of RAF Bomber Command. In recent years the base has been primarily used for pilot training. It has been used by parachute display teams. The base is currently used by 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron to training members of the Air Training Corps to fly self-launching gliders.

RAF Dishforth

RAF Dishforth opened in 1936 as a bomber airfield. After the war it began work as a training airfield and was used to convert pilots to the Douglas Dakota transport aircraft. The base is currently used as an Army Air Corps helicopter base and as a relief landing ground for Linton on Ouse.

Resident squadrons

The basic fast-jet training squadrons based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse are 207 Squadron and 72 Squadron. 76 Squadron was re-formed on 1 April 2007 subsuming the Tucano Air Navigation School. All squadrons are Reserve squadrons and are designated as 72(R), 76(R) and 207(R) accordingly. All squadrons operate the Tucano and are comprised of both RAF and RN Fleet Air Arm personnel.Also flying at Linton is No 642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, part of the Air Training Corps.

References

External links

* [http://www.raf.mod.uk/raflintononouse/ RAF Linton-on-Ouse]
* [http://www.642vgs.co.uk/ 642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron]
*WAD|EGXU