RAF Cottesmore

RAF Cottesmore was a major Royal Air Force station located in Rutland, England. Opened in 1938, it served as a crucial base for bomber, strike, and transport aircraft throughout its history, most notably for the Panavia Tornado and later the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The station was decommissioned in 2011 as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, with its facilities subsequently forming part of Kendrew Barracks.

History

The station was constructed in the late 1930s as part of the Royal Air Force expansion scheme and opened just prior to the Second World War. Initially home to Fairey Battle light bombers of No. 185 Squadron RAF, it later hosted Vickers Wellingtons and played a role in training crews for the Avro Lancaster. Post-war, Cottesmore transitioned to jet aircraft, seeing service with the English Electric Canberra and later becoming the first base for the Blackburn Buccaneer. Its strategic importance grew during the Cold War as a primary base for NATO's nuclear strike capability in Europe, operating the Panavia Tornado GR1 under the command of RAF Strike Command.

Operations

For decades, the station's primary operational focus was on deep-penetration strike missions. The Dambusters of No. 617 Squadron were based here with the Tornado, alongside No. 12, No. 14, and No. 15 Squadrons. These units were integral to operations during the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the Iraq War, often deploying to forward bases like RAF Akrotiri and Ali Al Salem Air Base. In 2001, the station's role expanded to include air transport, becoming the main operating base for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules fleet of No. 47 Squadron RAF and No. 70 Squadron RAF, supporting global operations from Afghanistan to West Africa.

Based units

At its peak, the station housed multiple front-line squadrons and support units under the umbrella of the RAF Air Command. The principal flying formations were the Tornado GR4 squadrons of No. 13 and No. 31, which merged to form the RAF Marham-based No. 9 Squadron prior to closure. The Hercules force was represented by No. 24 Squadron and the operational conversion unit, No. 57 Squadron. Key ground units included the RAF Regiment's No. 3 Squadron, the Station Flight, and elements of the United States Air Forces in Europe during various NATO exercises.

Role and capabilities

As a Main Operating Base, Cottesmore provided full support for complex expeditionary warfare. Its infrastructure included hardened aircraft shelters, extensive ordnance storage areas for weapons like the Storm Shadow missile, and a long runway capable of handling heavy transport aircraft. The station was a hub for Joint Force Harrier operations before that force's dissolution and was critical to the UK's Air Mobility Force, enabling strategic airlift, Aeromedical evacuation, and Special forces support missions worldwide. Its training facilities, including simulators for the Tornado and Hercules, were considered among the best in the Royal Air Force.

Closure and future use

The base's closure was announced in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review as part of wider cuts to the Panavia Tornado fleet and the retirement of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The last Hercules departed in 2011, and the station was formally handed over to the British Army in 2012. Renamed Kendrew Barracks, it became the home of the Royal Anglian Regiment and other army units. Much of the technical and airfield infrastructure remains, with the site occasionally used for exercises by the United States Air Force and as a filming location for productions like the BBC series Top Gear.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Rutland Category:Military installations closed in 2011