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RAF Hullavington

Hullavington Airfield
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
2012 - Hangar at the former RAF Hullavington (geograph 3125250).jpg
Hangar at the former RAF Hullavington in 2012
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Air Force
Location Hullavington, Wiltshire
Built 1937
In use 1937-present
Elevation AMSL 201 ft / 104 m
Coordinates 51°31′30″N 002°08′00″W / 51.52500°N 2.13333°W / 51.52500; -2.13333Coordinates: 51°31′30″N 002°08′00″W / 51.52500°N 2.13333°W / 51.52500; -2.13333
Map
EGDV is located in Wiltshire
EGDV
EGDV
Location in Wiltshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/14 3,460 1,070 Asphalt
06/15 3,490 1,250 Asphalt

Hullavington Airfield (IATA: ICAO: EGDV) is an airfield in Hullavington, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, England. The site is the former RAF Hullavington a Royal Air Force station.

The airfield is due to formally close in the coming years. As of 1 September 2016, the airfield was closed to flying.

The site was opened on 14 June 1937 with No 9 Flying Training School arriving from RAF Thornaby on 10 July in the same year.Leonard Cheshire V.C. trained here in 1939. With the beginning of the Second World War top officers from allied nations came to Hullavington to share ideas and ways of using aircraft. 10 Blenheims from No 114 Squadron arrived at the base on the 1 September 1939, later they were joined by seven more Blenheims from No 139 Squadron. This was a safety move as a sustained attack was expected at the East Anglian bomber bases on the announcement of war being declared. As this didn't happen, all the Blenheims had departed Hullavington by 16 September 1939. An effective Met. Office was also stationed at Hullavington. An aircraft which left every day at dawn flew at various heights in order to send data back for the Met. Office to assess the weather.

In 1970 RAF Hullavington hosted the World Aerobatic Championships.

In 1993, one Senior Aircraftman was convicted of arson and sent to jail for 5 years. His accomplice received a fine of £1000.00. The hangar was the location of all the parachutes for the armed services and the damage and loss of stock affected morale at the base.

The station has performed many different roles; these are summarised with dates below:

The Defence Codification Data Centre (DCDC) lodged in a purpose-built computer suite at RAF Hullavington from its establishment in 1966 until its dispersal to Glasgow in 1986, where it merged with its parent body, the Defence Codification Authority.

Today the barracks of the site (east of the airfield) is the home of 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps and was renamed in 2003 to Buckley Barracks after the VC winner John Buckley.


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Wikipedia

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