List of Royal Air Force stations

This list of RAF Stations is a list of all current Royal Air Force stations (military air bases), airfields, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. Also included are airfields operated by the Ministry of Defence but no longer considered as RAF stations, MOD air weapons ranges and stations operated by the US Visiting Forces.

RAF Cranwell College Hall

RAF stations and MOD airfields in the UK

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Airbus A330 Voyager at RAF Brize Norton.

Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 at RAF Shawbury.

RAF front-line operations are focussed on seven main operating bases (MOBs) -

• RAF Coningsby, RAF Marham and RAF Lossiemouth (Air Combat)
• RAF Waddington (Combat Intelligence, Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance)
• RAF Brize Norton (Air Transport)
• RAF Benson and RAF Odiham (Support Helicopter operating under Joint Helicopter Command)

Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity focussed at RAF Honington which coordinates Force Protection and RAF Leeming and RAF Wittering which have a support enabler role.

Stations such as RAF College Cranwell, RAF Valley and RAF Shawbury form part of the UK Military Flying Training System which is dedicated to training aircrew for all three UK armed services. Specialist ground crew training is focused at RAF Cosford and MOD St Athan.

The Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at RAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling a Recognised Air Picture of UK airspace and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force. In order to achieve this Boulmer is supported by a network of eight Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) spread the length of the UK.

Ministry of Defence (MOD)

Several former RAF stations are still owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and are operated by QinetiQ in the test and evaluation role. The main facility providing this role is MOD Boscombe Down which still has a significant RAF presence.

A small number of former RAF stations, still owned by the MOD but no longer considered as stations, are regularly used by the RAF as relief landing grounds (RLGs) or training areas.

British Army barracks such as at Kinloss and Leuchars are listed as they perform a RLG role for the RAF.

Name	Constituent country	County	Units and purpose
MOD Aberporth	Wales	Ceredigion	Former RAE Aberporth, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test & evaluation range.[1]
RAF Barkston Heath	England	Lincolnshire	Home to the Defence Elementary Flying Training School, comprising 703 Naval Air Squadron (703 NAS) and No. 674 Squadron Army Air Corps, forming part of the UK Military Flying Training System. Both units operate the Grob Prefect T1 in the elementary flying training role.[2] Also operates as a Relief landing ground predominately used by Prefect T1's of No. 3 Flying Training School (3 FTS) operating from RAF Cranwell.[2]
RAF Barnham	England	Suffolk	Non-flying station which is a satellite site of RAF Honington and provides domestic accommodation and training facilities for the RAF Regiment.[3] The MOD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Barnham by 2020.[3]
RRH Benbecula	Scotland	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Benbecula.[4]
RAF Benson	England	Oxfordshire	Home of the RAF's Puma Support Helicopter Force fleet operating under Joint Helicopter Command, comprising No. 33 Squadron and No. 230 Squadrons operating the Westland Puma HC2 and No. 28 (AC) Squadron operating the Puma and Boeing Chinook HC4.[5]
MOD Boscombe Down	England	Wiltshire	Test & evaluation airfield operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD. Home to the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre, Empire Test Pilots School, Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron and the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron.[6][7]
RAF Boulmer	England	Northumberland	Non-flying station, home to the UK Air Surveillance and Control Systems (UKASCS) Force Command, RAF School of Aerospace Battle Management and a NATO Control and Reporting Centre responsible for monitoring UK airspace.[8]
RAF Brize Norton	England	Oxfordshire	The RAF's largest station, home to the strategic and tactical air-transport and air-to-air refuelling fleets (Boeing C-17A Globemaster, Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules C4/5, Airbus Voyager KC2/KC3 and the Airbus A400M Atlas).[9]
RRH Brizlee Wood	England	Northumberland	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Brizlee Wood.[4]
RRH Buchan	Scotland	Aberdeenshire	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer The station was formerly known as RAF Buchan.[4]
Chetwynd Airfield	England	Shropshire	Former RAF station, now an unmanned grass airfield used for training purposes by helicopters of the No. 1 Flying Training School from RAF Shawbury.[10]
RAF Coningsby	England	Lincolnshire	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base with No. 3 Squadron and No. 11 Squadron both contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) South capability, whereas No. 29 Squadron is the Typhoon operational conversion unit. No. 41 Squadron operate Typhoon for test and evaluation purposes.[11] The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operate a fleet of historic aircraft in the flying display role.[11]
RAF Cosford	England	Shropshire	Training establishment, home to the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE) Headquarters, No. 1 School of Technical Training, the RAF Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School, No. 1 Radio School, Defence School of Photography and the RAF School of Physical Training. Flying units include the University of Birmingham Air Squadron, No. 8 Air Experience Flight. Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.[12]
RAF Cranwell	England	Lincolnshire	Training establishment, home to RAF College Cranwell, the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and Air Cadets Headquarters. Flying units comprise the Central Flying School responsible for training flying instructors, the headquarters and flying squadrons of No. 3 Flying Training School (Embraer Phenom T1 and Grob Prefect T1) and No. 6 Flying Training School flying the Grob Tutor T1.[13]
RAF Digby	England	Lincolnshire	Non-flying station providing specialist communications support under command of Defence Intelligence. Station personnel are drawn from all three UK armed forces and the US military. Home to the Joint Services Signals Organisation Headquarters, Joint Signals Service Unit (Digby), No. 591 Signals Unit and the Aerial Erector School.[14]
RAF Fylingdales	England	North Yorkshire	Non-flying station providing an uninterrupted ballistic missile early warning and space surveillance capability to the UK and US Governments.[15]
RAF Halton	England	Buckinghamshire	Training establishment comprising the Recruit Training Squadron, Airmens Command Squadron, International Defence Training, Supply and Management Training Wing, Specialist Training Squadron and several other RAF and joint support units.[16] A grass airfield provides a base for several RAF flying clubs.[17] The MOD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Halton by 2022.[18]
MOD Hebrides	Scotland	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	Former RAF Benbecula, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range.[19]
RAF Henlow	England	Bedfordshire	Support station, home to several RAF and Joint Forces Command units including the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG), elements of Engineering Operations under Information Systems & Services (ISS), Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, the Band of the Queen's Division and specialist units of the RAF Police.[20] A grass airfield provides a base for two flying clubs. The MoD is expected to close and dispose of RAF Henlow by 2022.[18]
RAF High Wycombe	England	Buckinghamshire	Non-flying administrative support station, home to Headquarters RAF Air Command, No. 1 Group, No. 2 Group, No. 11 Group, No. 22 Group and No. 38 Group.[21]
RAF Honington	England	Suffolk	Support station, home to the vast majority of the RAF Regiment including the RAF Force Protection Headquarters and Force Protection Centre, and numerous RAF Regiment squadrons including No. 20 Wing in the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear role. The station also hosts RAF Police Headquarters and No. 3 RAF Police Wing.[22]
Kenley Airfield	England	Surrey	Former RAF station, now home to No. 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.[23]
Keevil Airfield	England	Wiltshire	Former RAF station, now an unmanned airfield used for training purposes predominately by aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.[24] Has also been used by the British Army for ground exercises and by Joint Helicopter Command.[25]
Kinloss Barracks	Scotland	Moray	Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel. Formerly RAF Kinloss, the station is now a British Army barracks.[26]
Kirknewton Airfield	Scotland	Midlothian	Former RAF station, now home to No. 661 Volunteer Gliding Squadron flying the Grob Viking T1.
RAF Leeming	England	North Yorkshire	Home to No. 100 Squadron operating the BAE Systems Hawk T1 in the mixed target facilities role and the Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron and No. 11 Air Experience Flight which are both equipped with the Grob Tutor T1. Non flying units include No. 90 Signals Unit, No. 2 Force Protection Wing, No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, No. 609 (West Riding) Auxiliary Squadron and the Joint Forward Air Controllers Training and Standards Unit (JFACTSU).[27]
Leuchars Station	Scotland	Fife	Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for RAF Lossiemouth, maintained by a small number of RAF personnel operating the airfield and air traffic control radar. The former RAF station is now a British Army barracks but continues to accommodate the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron and No. 12 Air Experience Flight (both flying the Grob Tutor T1) and No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron (Royal Auxiliary Air Force) in the medical support role.[26][28]
RAF Linton-on-Ouse	England	North Yorkshire	Training station home to Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron and No. 9 Air Experience Flight operate the Grob Tutor T1.[29] With the transfer of the fast jet flying programme to RAF Valley now complete it is expected that this station will close in 2020.[30]
Little Rissington Airfield	England	Gloucestershire	Former RAF station, home to No. 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and used for military exercises.[31]
RAF Lossiemouth	Scotland	Moray	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 main operating base with No. 1 Squadron, No. 2 (AC) Squadron, No. 6 Squadron and No. 9 Squadron, all contributing to the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability. No. 5 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment and No. 2622 (Highland) Squadron (RAuxAF) operate in the airfield defence role.[32] The RAF's new P-8A Poseidon aircraft is expected to be based at Lossiemouth from 2020.[33]
RAF Marham	England	Norfolk	Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II main operating base, home to No. 617 Squadron. Non-flying units include the Tactical Imagery-Intelligence Wing, No. 3 Force Protection Wing HQ, No. 93 Expeditionary Armament Squadron and No. 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron (RAuxAF).[34][35]
RAF Mona	Wales	Isle of Anglesey	Relief Landing Ground (RLG) for Hawk T2s operating from RAF Valley.[36]
RRH Neatishead	England	Norfolk	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Neatishead.[4] Part of the site is now the RAF Air Defence Radar Museum.
RAF Northolt	England	Greater London	Home of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron operated the BAe 146 and Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew in the Command Support Air Transport role. The station is also home to No. 63 Squadron (Queen's Colour Squadron) RAF Regiment, No. 600 (City of London) Squadron (RAuxAF), No. 1 AIDU (Aeronautical Information Documents Unit) and the Headquarters Music Services and the Central Band of the RAF. A number of other military units are based at Northolt, including the British Forces Post Office and No. 621 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Squadron of Royal Logistics Corps.[37]
RAF Odiham	England	Hampshire	Home of the RAF's Chinook fleet operating under Joint Helicopter Command, comprising No. 18 Squadron, and No. 27 Squadrons. No. 7 Squadron operates its Chinooks.[38]
RRH Portreath	England	Cornwall	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Portreath.[4]
RRH Saxa Vord	Scotland	Shetland Islands	Remote Radio Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The site was brought back to full operational capability in 2018, although with no permanent personnel.[39]
RAF Scampton	England	Lincolnshire	Home of the RAF Aerobatic Team (The Red Arrows) flying the BAE Systems Hawk T1A. Non-flying units include No. 1 Air Control Centre and the RAF Mobile Meteorological Unit.[40] In July 2018, the MOD announced that Scampton would close by 2022; all units would be relocated to other RAF Bases.[30]
RAF Shawbury	England	Shropshire	Home of the tri-service No. 1 Flying Training School, comprising No. 60 Squadron, No. 660 Squadron Army Air Corps and 705 Naval Air Squadron, flying the Airbus Juno HT1. Elements of the Central Flying School (Helicopter) Squadron train helicopter flying instructors and the School of Air Operations Control (SAOC) trains air traffic controllers for the RAF and Royal Navy.[41]
MOD St. Athan	Wales	Vale of Glamorgan	Training station, home to No. 4 School of Technical Training and the University of Wales Air Squadron flying the Grob Tutor T1.[42]
RAF St Mawgan	England	Cornwall	Non-flying station with the airfield part now operating as Newquay Airport. The station is home to the tri-service Defence Survival Training Organisation and No. 505 (Wessex) Squadron RAuxAF.[43] It is also used by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to accommodate personnel utilising the Defence Training Estate within the south west of England.[44]
RRH Staxton Wold	England	North Yorkshire	Remote Radar Head forming part of the UK Air Surveillance and Control System which is managed from RAF Boulmer. The station was formerly known as RAF Staxton Wold.[4]
RAF (U) Swanwick	England	Hampshire	RAF (Unit) Swanwick is the military element of London Area Control Centre. The unit also operates the UK's Distress and Diversion Cell and provides air traffic control services for RAF Northolt.[45]
RAF Syerston	England	Nottinghamshire	Home of No. 2 Flying Training School headquarters, the Central Gliding School and No. 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron.[46]
Ternhill Airfield	England	Shropshire	Former RAF station, now an unmanned airfield used for training purposes by helicopters of the No. 1 Flying Training School.[47]
RAF Topcliffe	England	North Yorkshire	Closed as a flying station in 2019. Was formerly a Relief Landing Ground for Shorts Tucano T1s operating from RAF Linton-on-Ouse.[48] Also former home to No. 645 Volunteer Gliding Squadrons flying the Grob Vigilant T1.[49]
RRH Trimingham	England	Norfolk	Remote Radar Head, satellite station of RRH Neatishead.[50]
RAF Valley	Wales	Isle of Anglesey	Flying training station home to No. 4 Flying Training School comprising No. 4 Squadron and No. 25 Squadron operating the BAE Systems Hawk T2 & No. 72 Squadron operating the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. Also No. 202 Squadron, part of No. 1 Flying Training School, operates the Airbus Jupiter HT1 in the maritime and mountain flying training role. The station is also home to the RAF Mountain Rescue Service headquarters.[51] The airfield incorporates Anglesey Airport.
RAF Waddington	England	Lincolnshire	Main operating base, home to the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. No. 5(AC) Squadron operate the Sentinel R1, No. 8 Squadron the Boeing Sentry AEW1, No. 13 Squadron the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, No. 14 Squadron the Beechcraft Shadow R1, No. 51 Squadron the Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint. No. 54 Squadron is the ISTAR training unit and 56 Squadron is the ISTAR test and evaluation unit.[52] Non-flying squadrons include No. 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment the RAF Air Battlespace Training Centre, RAF Air Warfare Centre, the headquarters of the intelligence reserves and No. 7006 (VR) Intelligence Squadron.[53]
MOD West Freugh	Scotland	Dumfries and Galloway	Former RAF station, operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MOD as a test and evaluation range. The airfield is disused and unlicensed but available for military exercises.[54]
RAF Weston-on-the-Green	England	Oxfordshire	Force Development Training Centre, used by No. 1 Parachute Training School (based at nearby RAF Brize Norton) as a parachute drop-zone.[55]
Defence CBRN Centre, Winterbourne Gunner	England	Wiltshire	The Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centre is managed by RAF Air Command. It is responsible for all training issues related to CBRN warfare for the UK armed forces.[56]
RAF Wittering	England	Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire	Support station accommodating elements of the RAF A4 Force which supports deployed and expeditionary air operations. The A4 force comprises a variety of units under No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing and No. 85 (Expeditionary Logistics) Wing.[57] Flying units consist of No. 16 Squadron of No. 3 Flying Training School and No. 115 Squadron, University of London Air Squadron, Cambridge University Air Squadron and No. 5 Air Experience Flight of No. 6 Flying Training School, all flying the Grob Tutor T1.[58]
RAF Woodvale	England	Merseyside	Training station home to Liverpool University Air Squadron, Manchester and Salford Universities Air Squadron, No. 10 Air Experience Flight all flying the Grob Tutor T1 and No. 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. The Station is also home to No. 611 (West Lancashire) Squadron RAuxAF.[59]
RAF Wyton	England	Cambridgeshire	Non-flying station operated under Joint Forces Command. Home to the Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG), the Defence Intelligence Fusion Centre (DIFC), No. 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) of the British Army.[60][61]

RAF stations operated by the United States Visiting Forces

A United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey at RAF Mildenhall.

At the invitation of the UK Government, the United States has had military forces (US Visiting Forces) permanently stationed in the UK since the Second World War. The 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement and the Visiting Forces Act 1952, along with other bilateral acts, establishes the legal status of the USVF in the UK. Several military sites within England are made available for the USVF's purposes. An RAF commander is present at the main USVF sites and is normally of the rank of squadron leader, whereas a US colonel will normally command US personnel at each station. The role of the RAF commander is to liaise with the US base commander and act as head of establishment for Ministry of Defence employees. The use of UK bases for combat operations by the United States is a joint decision by both governments.[62]

The United States Air Force (USAF) 501st Combat Support Wing manages and supports operations at RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Menwith Hill, RAF Molesworth and RAF Welford.

In January 2017 the US Department of Defence announced through their European Infrastructure Consolidation programme that they would be withdrawing from RAF Mildenhall, and activities at RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth would be moved to RAF Croughton.[63] In April 2017 it was reported by the US European Command was reviewing the decision to close these stations.[64]

Name	Constituent country	County	Units and purpose
RAF Alconbury	England	Cambridgeshire	Non-flying station home to the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing) which provides services and accommodation to support operations at RAF Molesworth and the Joint Warfare Centre, Stavanger in Norway.[65] In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station.[63]
RAF Barford St John	England	Oxfordshire	Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence relay station by the USAF. The facility is a satellite station of RAF Croughton and controlled remotely.[66]
RAF Croughton	England	Northamptonshire	Non-flying station operated as a signals intelligence facility by the USAF and US intelligence agencies. The station is operated by the USAF 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[67][68]
RAF Fairford	England	Gloucestershire	Forward operating airfield predominately used by USAF heavy bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, B-2A Spirit and B-52H Stratofortress. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Air Base Squadron, 422nd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[69] The Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show, is held at Fairford annually in July.[70]
RAF Feltwell	England	Norfolk	Non-flying station, operated as a space intelligence facility by the USAF 18th Intelligence Squadron (Detachment 4), part of the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. Feltwell is parented by the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath.[71]
RAF Lakenheath	England	Suffolk	Home to the USAF 48th Fighter Wing operating the F-15C/D and F-15E. The wing comprises the 492d Fighter Squadron (FS), 493d FS and the 494th FS. .[72] The F-35A Lightning II is expected to be based at the station from 2020.[63]
RAF Menwith Hill	England	North Yorkshire	Joint UK/US signals intelligence gathering station which functions primarily as a field station of the US National Security Agency.[73] Operations are supported by the USAF 421st Air Base Squadron which is part of the 501st Combat Support Wing.[74]
RAF Mildenhall	England	Suffolk	Home to the USAF 100th Air Refuelling Wing operating the KC-135R Stratotanker, the 352nd Special Operations Wing operating the CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J Commando II and MC-130H Combat Talon II. The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron supports RC-135 Rivet Joint and OC-135 Open Skies, aircraft when deployed to Europe and operating from the station.[75] In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station by 2023.[63]
RAF Molesworth	England	Cambridgeshire	Non-flying station, home to the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center operated by the US Defense Intelligence Agency and the J2 Directorate which provides US Africa Command with intelligence.[76] The station is supported by the USAF 423rd Air Base Group (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[65] In 2015 the US Department of Defence announced the US withdrawal from the station by 2021 with operations transferring to RAF Croughton.[77]
RAF Welford	England	Berkshire	Non-flying station used as ammunition depot in support of bomber operating from RAF Fairford. The station is operated by the USAF 420th Munitions Squadron (part of the 501st Combat Support Wing).[78]

MOD air weapons ranges

Air weapons ranges (AWR) within the UK, previously operated by the RAF, are the responsibility of the Service Delivery (SD) part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO). QinetiQ were awarded a three-year contract by the DIO in 2010 to manage the ranges but this role was taken over by Landmarc Support Services (an Interserve company) in 2014 as part of a contract covering the wider MoD Defence Training Estate.[79][80]

Name	Constituent country	County	Units and purpose
DIO (SD) Cape Wrath	Scotland	Highland	Parented by DIO (SD) Tain.
DIO (SD) Donna Nook Air Weapons Range	England	Lincolnshire	Parented by RAF Coningsby.
DIO (SD) Holbeach Air Weapons Range	England	Lincolnshire	Parented by RAF Marham.
DIO (SD) Pembrey Sands Air Weapons Range	Wales	Carmarthenshire
DIO (SD) Tain Air Weapons Range	Scotland	Highland	Parented by RAF Lossiemouth.
RAF Spadeadam	England	Cumbria	Electronic warfare range.

RAF stations and locations overseas

A RAF Harrier GR9 over RAF Akrotiri in 2010.

Permanent Joint Operating Bases

The UK operates Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) in the four British Overseas Territories of Ascension Island; the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus; the Falkland Islands; and Gibraltar. The PJOBs contribute to the physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of the British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conduct expeditionary military operations.[81] Although the Director of Overseas Bases, Strategic Command, controls and oversees the PJOBs,[82] the airfields remain RAF stations.[83]

Semi-permanent operations

The RAF have a semi-permanent presence at several overseas locations. Active military operations in the Middle East are supported by Expeditionary Air Wings which have been established at foreign airfields in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The RAF have a presence within Eastern European countries on a rotational basis as part of the NATO's Baltic Air Policing and Southern Air Policing missions.

Two squadrons are located within the United States, to operate the MQ-9A Reaper collaboratively with the USAF at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, and to assist the RAF in bringing the F-35B Lighting II into full operational service.

Name	Country	Units and purpose
RAF Akrotiri	Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia	Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield to support British military operations in the Middle East. It is operated by the Cyprus Operations Support Unit (COSU).[84] No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in December 2014 to support combat and support aircraft on detachment to the airfield as part of Operation Shader.[85] No. 84 Squadron operate the Griffin HAR2 helicopter.[84]
Al Minhad Air Base	United Arab Emirates	No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing was established in January 2013 to provide a Middle East air transport and refuelling hub.[86][87][88]
Al Udeid Air Base	Qatar	No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group was established in April 2006 as the headquarters for all RAF assets in the Middle East and is responsible for UK air operations as part of Operation Kipon and Operation Shader.[89]
RAF Ascension Island	Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	Permanent Joint Operating Base predominately operating as an air-bridge between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.[90] Also used by the United States Space Force (USSF) and NASA as a communications and satellite tracking station.
RRH Byron Heights	Falkland Islands	Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[91]
Creech Air Force Base	United States	No. 39 Squadron operate the MQ-9A Reaper.[92]
Edwards Air Force Base	United States	No. 17 Squadron formed at Edwards in April 2013 to test and evaluate the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II.[93]
RAF Gibraltar	Gibraltar	Permanent Joint Operating Base acting as a strategic staging airfield. Also functions as Gibraltar International Airport which comprises a civilian passenger terminal operated by Government of Gibraltar.[94]
RRH Mount Alice	Falkland Islands	Remote Radar Head located on West Falkland.[91]
RRH Mount Kent	Falkland Islands	Remote Radar Head located on East Falkland.[91]
RAF Mount Pleasant	Falkland Islands	Permanent Joint Operating Base opened in 1985 after the Falklands War. No. 905 Expeditionary Air Wing operates four permanently based Typhoon FGR4s, one Voyager KC2, one Hercules C5 and two Chinook HC4s.[95]
RAF Troodos	Cyprus	Signals intelligence gathering and radar station located in the Troodos Mountains, outside the Sovereign Base Areas. Operated by golf section of the Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus).

Map of stations within the UK

Map of the United Kingdom showing active RAF stations, Ministry of Defence (MOD) airfields (non-Royal Navy or Army Air Corps), MOD air weapons ranges and RAF stations occupied by the United States Visiting Forces (USVF).

Barkston Heath

Barnham

Benson

Boulmer

Brize Norton

Chetwynd

Coningsby

Cosford

Cranwell

Digby

Fylingdales

Halton

Henlow

High Wycombe

Honington

Kirknewton

Leeming

Linton-on-Ouse

Lossiemouth

Marham

Mona

Northolt

Odiham

Scampton

Shawbury

St. Mawgan

Swanwick

Syerston

Ternhill

Topcliffe

Trimingham

Valley

Waddington

WOTG

Wittering

Woodvale

Wyton

Benbecula

Brizlee Wood

Buchan

Neatishead

Portreath

Saxa Vord

Staxton Wold

Spadeadam

Cape Wrath

Donna Nook

Holbeach

Pembrey Sands

Tain

Aberporth

Boscombe Down

Hebrides

St. Athan

West Freugh

Alconbury

Barford St John

Croughton

Fairford

Feltwell

LN

Menwith Hill

Mildenhall

Molesworth

Welford

Flying Station Training Station Support Station UK Air Surveillance And Control System Sites Air Weapons Range MOD Aeronautical Test and Evaluation Site US Air Force Installation
WOTG = Weston-on-the-Green, LN = Lakenheath

See also

• Air Ministry Experimental Station
• Chain Home
• Class A airfield
• List of air stations of the Royal Navy
• List of airfields of the Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)
• List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies
• List of Battle of Britain airfields
• List of British Army installations
• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• List of Royal Air Force schools
• List of V Bomber dispersal bases
• PGM-17 Thor

References

Citations

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2. "RAF College Cranwell". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
3. "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 7 November 2016. p. 29. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
4. "Air Surveillance and Control Systems Force Command". RAF Boulmer. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
5. "Welcome to RAF Benson". RAF Benson. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
6. "MOD Boscombe Down". LTPA. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
7. Nadin, Michael (October 2009). "Crash and Smash no more" (PDF). Royal Air Force. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
8. "Who is based here?". RAF Boulmer. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
9. "Organisation". RAF Brize Norton. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
10. "Operations". RAF Shawbury. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
11. "Squadrons". RAF Coningsby. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
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13. "About Us". RAF College Cranwell. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
14. "Welcome to RAF Digby". RAF Digby. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
15. "Why we are here". RAF Fylingdales. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
16. "Who is based here?". RAF Halton. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
17. "Flying Info". RAF Halton. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
18. "A Better Defence Estate". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence / Defence Infrastructure Organisation. 7 November 2016. p. 28. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
19. "MOD Hebrides". LPTA. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
20. "About us". RAF Henlow. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
21. "About us". RAF High Wycombe. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
22. "Why we are here". RAF Honington. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
23. "RAF Syerston - Where We Parent". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
24. "FAQ - Aircraft Activity". RAF Brize Norton. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
25. Walker, Alec (17 May 2015). "Exercise Joint Warrior 15-1: Keevil". AeroResource.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
26. "Typhoon First For Kinloss Relief Landing Ground". Royal Air Force. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
27. "Who is based here?". RAF Leeming. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
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Bibliography

• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1980. ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
• Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
• Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Rawlings, John. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1969 (second edition 1976). ISBN 0-354-01028-X.

External links

• Royal Air Force – List of RAF Stations