RAF Brize Norton

RAF Brize Norton
Name	RAF Brize Norton
Caption	An aerial view of the station, showing its extensive runway system and transport aircraft.
Type	Royal Air Force station
Role	Air transport and air-to-air refuelling
Location	Oxfordshire, England
Coordinates	51, 45, 00, N...
Ownership	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Built	1935
Used	1937 – present
Commander	Group Captain
Garrison	No. 2 Group
Aircraft transport	Airbus A400M Atlas, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Airbus Voyager
Website	https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-brize-norton/

RAF Brize Norton. It is the largest station operated by the Royal Air Force and serves as its primary hub for strategic and tactical air transport, as well as air-to-air refuelling operations. Located in Oxfordshire, the station plays a critical role in supporting United Kingdom military operations worldwide, including rapid reaction deployments, humanitarian aid missions, and the routine movement of personnel and equipment. Its central function within the RAF Air Command structure makes it a cornerstone of the nation's defence and global reach.

History

The station opened in 1937, initially serving as a training base for Volunteer Reserve squadrons flying aircraft like the Hawker Hart and Avro Anson. During the Second World War, it expanded significantly, hosting operational units such as No. 15 Squadron with Vickers Wellington bombers and later becoming a vital base for USAAF C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft during the D-Day preparations. In the post-war era, it became a key base for USAF Strategic Air Command B-47 Stratojet bombers during the Cold War, before reverting to RAF control in 1965. Major historical transitions include becoming the home of the RAF's Vickers VC10 and Lockheed TriStar fleets, and its designation as the sole RAF air transport hub in 2011 with the closure of RAF Lyneham.

Role and operations

As the RAF's principal air mobility platform, its core missions encompass strategic airlift using the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Airbus A400M Atlas, tactical transport via the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, and global air-to-air refuelling provided by the Airbus Voyager fleet. The station is pivotal to the UK's Rapid Reaction Forces, enabling the swift deployment of the British Army and Royal Marines to global trouble spots. It also conducts continuous operations such as humanitarian disaster relief, aero-medical evacuations, and routine logistical support for ongoing missions like Operation Shader against ISIL. Furthermore, it manages the UK's Air Mobility Force and supports RAF pilot training through its Air Experience Flight.

Based units

The station is headquarters to No. 2 Group, which commands the RAF's air mobility, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance forces. Key flying squadrons include No. 10 Squadron and No. 101 Squadron operating the Airbus Voyager; No. 30 Squadron and No. 70 Squadron flying the Airbus A400M Atlas; and No. 99 Squadron which operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. Other major units are the Air Cadet Central Gliding School and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force movements squadron. The station also hosts detachments from the United States Air Force and supports the British Overseas Territories.

Infrastructure

The airfield features a single, extensive runway complex capable of handling the world's largest military transport aircraft. Its infrastructure includes large hangars for major maintenance on the A400M and Voyager fleets, extensive apron space for aircraft parking and loading, and a dedicated passenger terminal for military personnel. Specialised facilities encompass a RAF parachute training school, a major air traffic control centre, and significant fuel storage installations. The site also contains comprehensive living accommodations, recreational facilities, and a medical centre for stationed personnel and their families.

Accidents and incidents

The station has experienced several notable accidents throughout its history. In 1944, a USAAF C-47 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all on board. A significant tragedy occurred in 1993 when a RAF Lockheed TriStar experienced a double-engine failure during a training flight, though it landed safely. In 2006, a RAF C-130J Hercules from the station crashed in Iraq, resulting in fatalities. More recently, in 2015, an A400M Atlas aircraft on a test flight from Seville crashed near the station's approach path, leading to a temporary grounding of the fleet.

In popular culture

The station has served as a filming location for several major productions, most notably the James Bond film Die Another Day, where it doubled as a North Korean airbase. It has also featured in television documentaries such as the BBC series RAF: Inside the Air Force and The Airport, which detailed the daily operations of the transport hub. The station's aircraft, particularly the Vickers VC10 and Lockheed TriStar, have appeared in various British military-themed media and news coverage of royal tours and humanitarian aid missions.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Oxfordshire Category:Airports established in 1937 Category:1937 establishments in the United Kingdom