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Coordinates: 51°09′27″N 01°44′49″W / 51.15750°N 1.74694°W / 51.15750; -1.74694
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=== Aviation trial and evaluation centre ===
=== Aviation trial and evaluation centre ===
[[File:Air Tattoo International, RAF Boscombe Down - UK, June 13 1992 - ETPS - BAC 1-11.jpg|thumb|A [[BAC One-Eleven|BAC 1-11]] of the [[Empire Test Pilots' School]] seen at the [[Royal International Air Tattoo|International Air Tattoo]] at Boscombe Down on 13 June 1992]]
[[File:Air Tattoo International, RAF Boscombe Down - UK, June 13 1992 - ETPS - BAC 1-11.jpg|thumb|A [[BAC One-Eleven|BAC 1-11]] of the [[Empire Test Pilots' School]] seen at the [[Royal International Air Tattoo|International Air Tattoo]] at Boscombe Down on 13 June 1992]]
With the end of the Cold War, the site was renamed the '''Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment''' (AAEE) in 1992. All experimental work was moved to the [[Defence Research Agency]] (DRA). Responsibility for the site passed from the [[MoD Procurement Executive]] to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmdfence/616/61607.htm#n163|title=The Future of DERA|publisher=UK Parliament|date=3 November 1999|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> which was amalgamated into the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] (DERA) in 1995.
With the end of the Cold War, the site was renamed the '''Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment''' (AAEE) in 1992. All experimental work was moved to the [[Defence Research Agency]] (DRA). Responsibility for the site passed from the [[MoD Procurement Executive]] to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmdfence/616/61607.htm#n163|title=The Future of DERA|publisher=UK Parliament|date=3 November 1999|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> which was amalgamated into the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] (DERA) in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmdfence/616/61607.htm#n163|title=The Future of DERA|publisher=UK Parliament|date=3 November 1999|access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref


During this period, the station may have been involved in assisting the United States with its [[black project]]s. On 26 September 1994, after an aircraft crashed on landing due to a nosewheel collapse, a USAF [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|C5 Galaxy]] was redirected to the station. It is speculated that the crashed plane was an [[Aurora (aircraft)|Aurora]], a hypersonic spy plane.<ref>{{cite news|title=STEALTH|date=10 June 2016|publisher=Key Publishing Air Forces Monthly}}</ref> Whatever it was, it was disassembled and returned to the US by the C5 Galaxy. Both the British and American Governments have refused to comment on the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamlandresort.com/black_projects/boscombe.htm|title=RAF Boscombe Down's Black Day|access-date=14 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/secret-us-spyplane-crash-may-be-kept-under-wraps-1272714.html|title=Secret US spyplane crash may be kept under wraps|last1=Bellamy|first1=Christopher|date=14 March 1997|work=[[The Independent]]|last2=Walker|first2=Timothy}}</ref>
During this period, the station may have been involved in assisting the United States with its [[black project]]s. On 26 September 1994, after an aircraft crashed on landing due to a nosewheel collapse, a USAF [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|C5 Galaxy]] was redirected to the station. It is speculated that the crashed plane was an [[Aurora (aircraft)|Aurora]], a hypersonic spy plane.<ref>{{cite news|title=STEALTH|date=10 June 2016|publisher=Key Publishing Air Forces Monthly}}</ref> Whatever it was, it was disassembled and returned to the US by the C5 Galaxy. Both the British and American Governments have refused to comment on the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamlandresort.com/black_projects/boscombe.htm|title=RAF Boscombe Down's Black Day|access-date=14 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/secret-us-spyplane-crash-may-be-kept-under-wraps-1272714.html|title=Secret US spyplane crash may be kept under wraps|last1=Bellamy|first1=Christopher|date=14 March 1997|work=[[The Independent]]|last2=Walker|first2=Timothy}}</ref>

Revision as of 09:03, 29 April 2021

MOD Boscombe Down
Amesbury, Wiltshire in England
A Eurofighter Typhoon at MOD Boscombe Down
MOD Boscombe Down is located in Wiltshire
MOD Boscombe Down
MOD Boscombe Down
Shown within Wiltshire
Coordinates51°09′27″N 01°44′49″W / 51.15750°N 1.74694°W / 51.15750; -1.74694
TypeMilitary test and evaluation airfield
Area572 hectares (1,410 acres)[1]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorQinetiQ and Royal Air Force
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/mod-boscombe-down/ Edit this at Wikidata
Site history
Built1917 (1917)[2]
In use1917 – present
Garrison information
Occupants
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: EGDM, WMO: 03746
Elevation124 metres (407 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 3,206 metres (10,518 ft) Asphalt/Concrete
17/35 2,107 metres (6,913 ft) Asphalt/Concrete
05N/23N 766 metres (2,513 ft) Asphalt
Source: MOD Boscombe Down Defence Aerodrome Manual[3]

MoD Boscombe Down (ICAO: EGDM) is the home of a military aircraft testing site, on the southeastern outskirts of the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire, England. The site is managed by QinetiQ,[2] the private defence company created as part of the breakup of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in 2001 by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).[2]

The base was originally conceived, constructed, and operated as Royal Air Force Boscombe Down, more commonly known as RAF Boscombe Down, and since 1939, has evaluated aircraft for use by the British Armed Forces. The airfield has two runways, one 3,212 metres (10,538 ft) in length, and the second 1,914 metres (6,280 ft). The airfield's evaluation centre is currently home to Rotary Wing Test Squadron (RWTS), Fast Jet Test Squadron (FJTS), Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron (HATS), Handling Squadron, and the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS).[4]

History

First World War

An airfield first opened at the Boscombe Down site in October 1917 and operated as a Royal Flying Corps Training Depot Station.[5] The airfield was known as Royal Flying Corps Station Red House Farm and trained aircrews for operational roles in France during the First World War.[2] Between opening and early 1919 the station accommodated No. 6 Training Depot, No. 11 Training Depot and No. 14 Training Depot.[6] When the United States of America entered the war in April 1917, the Royal Flying Corps began training groundcrew and aircrew of Aviation Section of the US Army at the airfield. During 1918 the 166th Aero Squadron and 188th Aero Squadron were present.[6] At the end of the war in November 1918, the airfield became an aircraft storage unit until 1920 when it closed and the site returned to agricultural use.[5]

Inter-war period

In 1930 the site reopened as Royal Air Force Boscombe Down as a bomber station in the Air Defence of Great Britain command, the fore-runner of RAF Fighter Command.[5] The first unit to operate from the new airfield was No. 9 Squadron which started operating the Vickers Virginia heavy bomber on 26 February 1930. A second Virginia unit, No. 10 Squadron, arrived on 1 April 1931 and also operated the Handley Page Heyford.[7]

The following RAF squadrons were based at Boscombe Down between 1930 and 1939:

Second World War

Personnel work on a Gloster Meteor F.3 at Boscombe Down during the Second World War

The Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) arrived from RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, on 9 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War.[6] The move marked the beginning of A&AEE Boscombe Down and aircraft research and testing at the station, a role which it has retained into the 21st century. About fifty aircraft and military and civilian personnel had arrived by mid-September 1939.[18] The necessary facilities required for the specialist work carried out by the A&AEE was lacking at Boscombe Down and therefore its expansion resulted in many temporary buildings being constructed at the station in an unplanned manner.[5]

Cold War

Boscombe was used to test and evaluate many aircraft flown by the British Armed Forces during the Cold War. First flights of notable aircraft include the English Electric P 1, forerunner of the English Electric Lightning, the Folland Gnat and Midge, Hawker P.1067 (the prototype Hunter), Westland Wyvern, and the BAC TSR.2.[22]

Part of the base was also used by the RAF School of Aviation Medicine.[23]

Aviation trial and evaluation centre

A BAC 1-11 of the Empire Test Pilots' School seen at the International Air Tattoo at Boscombe Down on 13 June 1992

With the end of the Cold War, the site was renamed the Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment (AAEE) in 1992. All experimental work was moved to the Defence Research Agency (DRA). Responsibility for the site passed from the MoD Procurement Executive to the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) in 1993,[24] which was amalgamated into the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) in 1995.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Whatever it was, it was disassembled and returned to the US by the C5 Galaxy. Both the British and American Governments have refused to comment on the incident.[25][26]

21st century

Following the creation of QinetiQ in 2001, a 25-year Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) was established with the MoD, covering 16 sites including Boscombe Down.[27] Under the agreement, Boscombe Down remains a government military airfield, but is operated by QinetiQ on behalf of the MoD. The Joint Test and Evaluation Group (JTEG) was established under the control of RAF Air Command, and together with QinetiQ, forms the Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC).[3]

From 1 May 2007, Boscombe Down became the home of the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron (JARTS) which was combined from the two Royal Navy and Royal Air Force elements who were responsible for aircraft moves and post-crash management.[28]

In October 2007, it was announced that RAF Boscombe Down would become a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) airfield from early 2008, offering round-the-clock fighter coverage for the South and South West of UK airspace.[29]

A small part of Boscombe's history is being preserved in the United States. The Anglo American Lightning Organisation (AALO) are returning to flight the former ETPS English Electric Lightning T.5, XS422.[30] The voluntary group, made up of RAF and former RAF engineers, as well as civilian volunteers, has been carrying out a 'floor-up' restoration, and as of spring 2008, were around 80% mechanically complete. The project is currently seeking investors and supporters.[30]

Past units

The Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron (HATS) at RAF Boscombe Down was responsible for the flight testing of heavy aircraft (multi-engine types). The department subsequently became known as Fixed Wing Test Squadron (FWTS); however, during the late 1980s, the title once more changed to that of the Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron.[31]

The following units were located at the base at some point:

Based units

An Avro RJ100 operated by QinetiQ seen at Boscombe Down during 2016

The following flying and non-flying units are based at MOD Boscombe Down.[35][36][37][38][39]

Royal Air Force

No. 1 Group (Air Combat) RAF

No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support) RAF

No. 22 Group (Training) RAF

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan 2009 – Annex A". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. 47. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay "Boscombe Down (Red House Farm)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "MOD Boscombe Down Defence Aerodrome Manual". Royal Air Force. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "Empire Test Pilot School contact information". QinetiQ.com. QinetiQ. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "MoD Boscombe Down: 1917–2007". Royal Aeronautical Society Boscombe Down Branch. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "RAF/MoD Boscombe Down". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  7. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 27.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  9. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 43.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 48.
  11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 53.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  15. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 71.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 72.
  17. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 73.
  18. ^ Mason 2010, p. 6.
  19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 37.
  20. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 55.
  21. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 78.
  22. ^ "Boscombe Down, 27 September 1964: The TSR.2's First Flight (Pilot Roland Beamont; Navigator Donald Bowen)."". Flight. 1 October 1964. pp. 637–640.
  23. ^ "Aviation medics push limits to protect RAF aircrews". Ministry of Defence. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  24. ^ "The Future of DERA". UK Parliament. 3 November 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  25. ^ "RAF Boscombe Down's Black Day". Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  26. ^ Bellamy, Christopher; Walker, Timothy (14 March 1997). "Secret US spyplane crash may be kept under wraps". The Independent.
  27. ^ "About". LTPA. QinetiQ. Retrieved 29 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Nadin, Michael (October 2009). "Crash and Smash no more" (PDF). RAF.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  29. ^ Air base in front line fully-armed – Salisbury Journal, Monday 29 October 2007
  30. ^ a b "Anglo American Lightning Organisation". Lightning422supporters.co.uk. UK: AALO. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  31. ^ "End of an era?". Royal Aeronautical Society. 6 February 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  32. ^ Lake 1999, p. 26.
  33. ^ Lake 1999, p. 37.
  34. ^ Lake 1999, p. 138.
  35. ^ "MOD Boscombe Down – Who's Based Here". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 18 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ "MOD Boscombe Down". LTPA. Retrieved 18 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS)". Qinetiq. Retrieved 18 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ "744 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ "Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine" (PDF). RAF Henlow. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.

Bibliography

  • Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Mason, Tim. (2010). The Secret Years: Flight Testing at Boscombe Down, 1939-1945. Crowborough, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-9021-0914-5.
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