RAF Alconbury

Royal Air Force Alconbury or more simply RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station near Huntingdon, England. The airfield is in the civil parish of The Stukeleys, close to the villages of Great Stukeley, Little Stukeley, and Alconbury.

RAF Alconbury
Part of United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA)
Near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire in England
Front entrance of RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury Shown within Cambridgeshire
Coordinates	52°21′48″N 000°13′22″W
Type	RAF station (US Visiting Forces)
Code	AY
Area	497 hectares (1,230 acres)[1]
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	US Air Force
Controlled by	US Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa
Condition	Operational
Site history
Built	1938
In use	1939–1942 (Royal Air Force) 1942–1945 (US Army Air Forces) 1951 – present (US Air Force)
Garrison information
Garrison	501st Combat Support Wing
Occupants	423d Air Base Group
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: AYH, ICAO: EGWZ, WMO: 035620
Elevation	46 metres (151 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 12/30 2,500 metres (8,202 ft) Asphalt 06/24 (WWII) 1,750 metres (5,741 ft) Concrete 12/30 (WWII) 1,235 metres (4,052 ft) Concrete 18/36 (WWII) 1,235 metres (4,052 ft) Concrete
Notes: Flying ceased in 1995.

Opened in 1938 for use by RAF Bomber Command, the station has been used from 1942 by the United States Army Air Forces (now known as the United States Air Force, or USAF for short).

Royal Air Force units

• 15 Squadron from 15 April 1940 to 15 May 1940 operating the Bristol Blenheim IV - temporary move from RAF Wyton.[2]
• 40 Squadron from 2 February 1941 to 31 October 1941 operating the Vickers Wellington IC - moved to RAF Luqa, Malta.[2]
• 52 Squadron detachments from RAF Upwood during 1939 with the Fairey Battle and Avro Anson.[2]
• 156 Squadron formed at Alconbury on 14 February 1942 from elements of 40 Squadron with the Vickers Wellington, moved to RAF Warboys in August 1942.[2]
• No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF[3]
• No. 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF[3]
• No. XV Conversion Flight[3]
• No. 139 Squadron RAF[3]
• No. 264 Maintenance Unit RAF[3]

Based units

Units based at RAF Alconbury.[4]

United States Air Force

United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA)

• 501st Combat Support Wing
  • Headquarters 501st Combat Support Wing
  • 423rd Air Base Group
    • 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron
    • 423rd Communications Squadron
    • 423rd Force Support Squadron
    • 423rd Medical Squadron
    • 423rd Security Forces Squadron

Closure

It was announced by the Pentagon on 8 January 2015 that RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth would be closing by 2020. Most of the units at Alconbury and Molesworth will be moved to RAF Croughton, along with the personnel.[5]

However, changing security conditions in Europe and resurgent politico-military moves by Russia have caused USEUCOM to begin reconsidering these closure actions in 2017 and actual closures remain in flux.[6]

See also

• List of Royal Air Force stations
• United States Air Force in the United Kingdom

References

Citations

1. "Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 15. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
2. Jefford 1993, p. 153
3. "Alconbury". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
4. "Units". 501st Combat Support Wing. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
5. "RAF Mildenhall to close amid other Europe consolidations". Stars and Stripes.
6. Vandiver, John (17 April 2017). "EUCOM Gives 'Another Look' at Planned Base Closures". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 1 September 2020 – via military.com.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C.G. (1993). RAF Squadrons. Shrewsbury, England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1 85310 053 6.

External links

• 501st Combat Support Wing