Taken from the work compiled by David Fell with photos from his archive
https://www.northlincsweb.net/103Sqn/html/raf_honington.html
https://www.northlincsweb.net/103Sqn/html/raf_honington.html
RAF Honington Suffolk
A fine prewar airfield the building of which commenced in 1935 in the early stages of the RAF expansion programme. The airfield was opened at part of 3 Group on the 3rd May 1937. The first occupants were 77 Squadron with Hawker Audaxes and Vickers Wellesleys which arrived July 1937. 102 Squadron also arrived in July with their Handley Page Heyfords and stayed for a year.
75 Squadron moved in during July 1938 with Handley Page Harrows which were replaced by the Vickers Wellington I in March 1939 and then moved to Stradishall in July. 215 Squadron also arrived in July 1938 with Harrows, re-equipped with Wellingtons in July 1939 and moved to Bassingbourn in September. 75 Squadron swapped with 9 Squadron from Stradishall and stayed for 3 years leaving in September 1942. |
Handley Page Harrow
9 Squadron were active in the very early stages of WW2 and took part in the costly operation of the 18th December 1939 against enemy shipping when 4 crews were lost. This was the only time Wellington Is with the fixed turrets operated from Honington.
9 Squadron were active in the very early stages of WW2 and took part in the costly operation of the 18th December 1939 against enemy shipping when 4 crews were lost. This was the only time Wellington Is with the fixed turrets operated from Honington.
Early 9 Squadron Wellington with fixed turrets
In April 1940 they joined 115 Squadron to form a detachment at Lossiemouth operating over Norway for two weeks. Then from Honington they supported maritime operations off Norway until 10th May 1940. 9 Squadron received its first Wellington Ic in March. During the summer of 1940 the Squadron attacked a variety of targets in Germany always by night. |
Vickers Wellington Ic
103 Squadron and 105 Squadron flew in from France in June/July 1940. 103 Squadron left in a few days to Newton, Notts, and 105 Squadron a week or so later to RAF Watton, Norfolk. Czech airman who arrived from France were formed into 311 Squadron at Honington and after working up moved to the satellite of RAF East Wretham. Both 9 and 311 Squadrons used the same airfields. The Luftwaffe made several attacks on the airfield around this time one of which killed about twenty airmen who were crossing the old parade ground on their way to the mess. Another bomb demolished part of Barrack Block 76 which was rebuilt between 1993 and 1996. |
In 1941 a Junkers Ju 88 was shot down by ground fire from Honington. The aircraft crashed at the east end of east hangar.
In December/January 1940/41 9 Squadron made long range sorties to Italian targets. 9 Squadron received two Wellingtons able to carry 4000 lb bombs in March 1941 but they were never popular with 3 Group. 9 Squadron dropped its first 4000 lb “Cookie” on Cologne on the 3rd May 1941. Attacks on German targets were mixed with attacks on the German capital ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sheltering in the safety of the French west coast ports.
In August 1941 9 Squadron acquired the much improved Hercules powered Wellington III. Operations continued till the end of 1941 but tailed off when the Wellingtons were fitted with Gee and further navigational training was needed.
Operations resumed in March 1942 with successful attacks on the Nazi industrial cities/ports of Essen, Rostock and Lubeck and, in May 1942, the hugely important major attack on Cologne. Operations continued till the September 1942 when the base was handed over to the Americans. In all 2458 Wellington sorties were flown from Honington. The only other squadron at the airfield in 1942 was 214 for a short period in January. 1504 and 1505 Beam Approach Training Flights also used the airfield at this time.
The Americans had planned to use Honington as a fighter repair/service depot. However, it was Boeing B17s of the 3rd Air Division that were dealt with in 1943.
A return to operational status came in February 1944 when the 364th Fighter Group arrived with their Lockheed P38Js with the task of long range escort and ground support. They were re-equipped with North American P51Ds in July 1944. The group returned to the USA in November 1945 and Honington was the last USAAF airfield returned to the RAF in February 1946.
RAF Transport Command took over the airfield and the station became a maintenance base 1 Transport Air Maintenance Unit mainly for Douglas Dakotas used during the Berlin airlift.
The station was transferred to Bomber Command in 1949 then to Maintenance Command as home to 94 Maintenance Unit from 1950 to 1956. During this time the long runway as laid down to replace that constructed in 1943.
The new expansion period of Bomber Command then saw the arrival of English Electric Canberra 2s of XV, 44 and 57 Squadrons in February 1955 and 10 Squadron from Scampton in May 1955. The Canberra Squadrons were detached to the Middle East in 1956 for Operation Musketeer. 57 Squadron left Honington in November 1956, 19 Squadron were disbanded in January 1956 XV left in April 1957 and 44 Squadron in July.
The Suez campaign saw the arrival of 7 Squadron with their Vickers Valiants in November 1956 and Honington soon became an important airfield for the V Force.
90 Squadron reformed at Honington in January 1957 also with Valiants. 199 Squadron arrived with their Valiants and Canberras in the electronic warfare role. Finally Handley Page Victors arrived when 57 Squadron reformed in January 1959 and 55 Squadron in September 1966.
In December/January 1940/41 9 Squadron made long range sorties to Italian targets. 9 Squadron received two Wellingtons able to carry 4000 lb bombs in March 1941 but they were never popular with 3 Group. 9 Squadron dropped its first 4000 lb “Cookie” on Cologne on the 3rd May 1941. Attacks on German targets were mixed with attacks on the German capital ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sheltering in the safety of the French west coast ports.
In August 1941 9 Squadron acquired the much improved Hercules powered Wellington III. Operations continued till the end of 1941 but tailed off when the Wellingtons were fitted with Gee and further navigational training was needed.
Operations resumed in March 1942 with successful attacks on the Nazi industrial cities/ports of Essen, Rostock and Lubeck and, in May 1942, the hugely important major attack on Cologne. Operations continued till the September 1942 when the base was handed over to the Americans. In all 2458 Wellington sorties were flown from Honington. The only other squadron at the airfield in 1942 was 214 for a short period in January. 1504 and 1505 Beam Approach Training Flights also used the airfield at this time.
The Americans had planned to use Honington as a fighter repair/service depot. However, it was Boeing B17s of the 3rd Air Division that were dealt with in 1943.
A return to operational status came in February 1944 when the 364th Fighter Group arrived with their Lockheed P38Js with the task of long range escort and ground support. They were re-equipped with North American P51Ds in July 1944. The group returned to the USA in November 1945 and Honington was the last USAAF airfield returned to the RAF in February 1946.
RAF Transport Command took over the airfield and the station became a maintenance base 1 Transport Air Maintenance Unit mainly for Douglas Dakotas used during the Berlin airlift.
The station was transferred to Bomber Command in 1949 then to Maintenance Command as home to 94 Maintenance Unit from 1950 to 1956. During this time the long runway as laid down to replace that constructed in 1943.
The new expansion period of Bomber Command then saw the arrival of English Electric Canberra 2s of XV, 44 and 57 Squadrons in February 1955 and 10 Squadron from Scampton in May 1955. The Canberra Squadrons were detached to the Middle East in 1956 for Operation Musketeer. 57 Squadron left Honington in November 1956, 19 Squadron were disbanded in January 1956 XV left in April 1957 and 44 Squadron in July.
The Suez campaign saw the arrival of 7 Squadron with their Vickers Valiants in November 1956 and Honington soon became an important airfield for the V Force.
90 Squadron reformed at Honington in January 1957 also with Valiants. 199 Squadron arrived with their Valiants and Canberras in the electronic warfare role. Finally Handley Page Victors arrived when 57 Squadron reformed in January 1959 and 55 Squadron in September 1966.
9 Squadron Vickers Valiant
The Valiant Squadrons left when their aircraft were grounded and 57 Squadron and 57 Squadrons moved to Marham in 1965/66. The Royal Navy took over the British Nuclear deterrent roll and Honington was put on Care and Maintenance between 1965 and 1969 during which period it was improved and became the base for the Blackburn Buccaneer maritime attack squadrons of Strike Command. 12 Squadron arrived in October 1969 and 237 Operational Conversion Unit to train crews for the new RAF type. Honington also became the new shore base for the 809 Buccaneer Squadron Fleet Air Arm. Other Buccaneer Squadrons trained here and in October 1974 208 Squadron reformed to become the second operational Buccaneer squadron at the airfield. |
Fleet Air Arm Buccaneer
204 Squadron reformed at the airfield on the 1st April 1971 equipped with Avro Shackletons before moving to Lossiemouth to become 8 Squadron in 1972. Honington was selected to be a base for the new RAF Panavia Tornado aircraft and the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit (TWCU) was established there in 1981. The UK based Buccaneer fleet were relocated to RAF Lossiemouth at this time. In August 1982 IX (B) Squadron was reformed at Honington and became the first operational squadron with this new type. IX Squadron moved the Bruggen in Germany in 1986 leaving the TWCU which which was joined by XIII Squadron in 1 January 1990 equipped with reconnaissance Tornado GR.1A aircraft and this Squadron was very active and successful during the Gulf War operation that followed. After the war XIII Squadron continued its peacetime training role at RAF Honington |
20 Squadron RAF Regiment was based at Honington and was sent to the Gulf at the outset of the Gulf War.
The Tornados departed from Honington in 1992 and the TWCU left for RAF Lossiemouth in November 1993. Honington then ceased to be a flying station on 1st February 1994
Honington became the RAF Regiment Depot in June 1994 when RAF Catterick in N Yorks, home of the existing depot, transferred to the control of the British Army.
The airfield became the home to 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron following the closure of RAF Watton in April 2012 until 2016
The Station now plays an active and important roll in UK defence hosting initial and further training for the RAF Regiment and specialist training for the RAF's entire Force Protection capability.
The station is home to three front-line RAF Regiment field squadrons and several operational and specialist units, including a specialist RAF Police Wing, and an RAF Regiment unit with responsibility for countering threats from chemical, biological and radiological hazards. Its future looks secure for many years to come.
The Tornados departed from Honington in 1992 and the TWCU left for RAF Lossiemouth in November 1993. Honington then ceased to be a flying station on 1st February 1994
Honington became the RAF Regiment Depot in June 1994 when RAF Catterick in N Yorks, home of the existing depot, transferred to the control of the British Army.
The airfield became the home to 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron following the closure of RAF Watton in April 2012 until 2016
The Station now plays an active and important roll in UK defence hosting initial and further training for the RAF Regiment and specialist training for the RAF's entire Force Protection capability.
The station is home to three front-line RAF Regiment field squadrons and several operational and specialist units, including a specialist RAF Police Wing, and an RAF Regiment unit with responsibility for countering threats from chemical, biological and radiological hazards. Its future looks secure for many years to come.
Taken from the work compiled by David Fell with photos from his archive
https://www.northlincsweb.net/103Sqn/html/raf_honington.html
https://www.northlincsweb.net/103Sqn/html/raf_honington.html