RAF Innsworth

Imjin Barracks
Innsworth
Olympic marathon runners at Imjin Barracks
Imjin Barracks Location within Gloucestershire
Coordinates	51°53′35″N 2°11′50″W / 51.89306°N 2.19722°W / 51.89306; -2.19722Coordinates: 51°53′35″N 2°11′50″W / 51.89306°N 2.19722°W / 51.89306; -2.19722
Type	Barracks
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	British Army
Site history
Built	1940
In use	1940-Present
Garrison information
Occupants	Allied Rapid Reaction Corps 1st Signal Brigade

Imjin Barracks near Innsworth in Gloucestershire became the home of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) in 2010.

The Barracks were named after the Battle of the Imjin River because of the connection with the Gloucestershire Regiment which formed part of the United Nations contingent in the Korean War, and was thought to be an appropriate name, for ARRC which is the HQ of a multinational force.

RAF Innsworth was a non flying Royal Air Force station, on the north side of the city of Gloucester, located within the parish of Innsworth. For the last 13 years of its life it was the headquarters of Personnel and Training Command but following the collocation of the two remaining RAF Headquarters, at RAF High Wycombe in 2006, RAF Innsworth closed in March 2008.

The station opened in 1940, the first unit based there being No 7 School of Technical Training who trained engine and airframe fitters and mechanics. Over 2000 officers and men were based at Innsworth by the time training began in earnest in 1941, this being delayed due to the arrival of 1500 RAF evacuees from Dunkirk.

In December 1941, No 2 WAAF Depot was opened at Innsworth and from then on the Station became increasingly associated with the Women's branch of the service. By the end of 1941 the strength of the Station had risen to well over 4000 including trainees. Eventually it was decided to reserve the Station almost exclusively for WAAF training, including barrage balloon training amongst other vital roles.

By the end of the war nearly 5000 people were living on the Station, three quarters of them WAAF. It retained its training role, with the opening of No. 2 RAF School of Cookery in 1948. It was also the home to 33 RAF Regt Wing which deployed squadrons to emergencies in Cyprus and Northern Ireland. The station housed the Education Book Depot, which would have come in handy with both Nos. 7 & 13 Schools of Recruit Training. Innsworth was also the headquarters of No.4 Police District, and maintained a police presence up until very recently, when it was the HQ of PSS (WR).