Royal Air Force Valleyor more simplyRAF Valley(Welsh:Llu Awyr Brenhinol Y Fali) (IATA:VLY,ICAO:EGOV) is aRoyal Air Forcestationon the island ofAnglesey,Wales, and which is also used asAnglesey Airport.It provides both basic and advanced fast-jet training using theBeechcraft Texan T.1andBAE Systems HawkT.2 and provides mountain and maritime training for aircrew using theAirbus Jupiter HT.1helicopter.
RAF Valley | |||||||||
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Llu Awyr Brenhinol Y Fali | |||||||||
| NearHolyhead,Angleseyin Wales | |||||||||
 A RAF Hawk T.1 flying over RAF Valley. | |||||||||
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  RAF Valley Shown within Anglesey  RAF Valley RAF Valley (the United Kingdom) | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 53°14′53″N004°32′07″W/ 53.24806°N 4.53528°W | ||||||||
| Type | Training station | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Controlled by | No. 2 Group No. 22 Group (Training) | ||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1941 | ||||||||
| In use | 1941 – present | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Current commander | No. 2 Group RAF -Group CaptainGez Currie No. 22 Group - Group Captain Matt Hoare[2] | ||||||||
| Occupants |
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| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA:VLY,ICAO:EGOV,WMO:03302 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 11 metres (36 ft)AMSL | ||||||||
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| DAFIF[3][4] | |||||||||
History
editSecond World War
editThe airfield was constructed to the south of the village ofValley (Y Fali) or Y Dyffrynin the latter part of 1940 and opened for operations on 1 February 1941 as a Fighter Sector Station underNo. 9 Group RAFwith the task of providing defence cover for England's industrial north-west and shipping in theIrish Sea.Initial detachments were made byHawker Hurricanesof312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAFand615 (County of Surrey) Squadron RAuxAF.A detachment ofBristol Beaufightersof219 (Mysore) Squadronprovided night fighter cover.[5]
No. 456 SquadronRoyal Australian Air Force(RAAF) formed at Valley on 30 June 1941 and became operational on 5 September flyingBoulton Paul Defiants.By November the squadron had been completely re-equipped with Beaufighter IIs, and these provided defensive night patrols over the Irish Sea until March 1943, when the unit moved toRAF Middle Wallop.[6]
As a result of many accidents in the Irish Sea, due to the number of training aircraft active in the area,275 Squadronformed at Valley in October 1941, equipped withWestland LysandersandSupermarine Walrusamphibians and these performedAir-sea rescue(ASR) missions until the unit moved toRAF Warmwellin April 1944.[7]
The runways and taxiways were extended in early 1943, and on 19 June 1943 theUnited States Army Air Forces(USAAF) Ferry Terminal became operational. This handled American aircraft arriving from transatlantic flights and on European sorties. ElevenConsolidated B-24 Liberatorsof theUnited States Navyarrived fromIcelandon 17 August. During the winter of 1943/1944, the ferry route was switched to a southerly route via theAzoresandMarrakeshand on 18 February, 62Douglas C-47 Skytrainsarrived from North Africa. One of Valley's busiest days was on 17 September 1944 when 99 USAAFBoeing B-17 Flying Fortressesand Liberators were ferried in from Iceland. In the middle of 1944 there was a daily transatlanticDouglas C-54 Skymasterservice fromStephenvillebringing airmen of all ranks, who continued their journeys toLondonon theLMSRIrish Mailtrain fromHolyhead.[8]
Because of the large scale USAAF activities at Valley, RAF operations were scaled down, but on 1 November 1944, No. 1528 BAT Flight re-formed here operatingAirspeed Oxfordtwin-engined aircraft which were used in theBeam Approachtraining role until moving out on 17 December 1945.[9]
RAF Valley's USAAF ferry role was reversed as soon as theEuropean Warended, and over 2,600 bombers passed through on their way back to the US for redeployment, each carrying 20 passengers and crew. The USAAF Movement Section closed in September 1945, and in June 1947 the airfield was put on a care and maintenance basis.[10]
Postwar operations
editDuring 1950 many improvements were made to the hangars and buildings at Valley, and on 1 April 1951 No. 202 Advanced Flying School was reformed here withinNo. 25 Groupto train fighter pilots onde Havilland VampireandGloster Meteorjet aircraft. Vampire FB.5 and T.11 and Meteor T.7 marks were used until the unit was redesignatedNo. 7 Flying Training School(FTS) on 1 June 1954.[11]On 15 August 1960 the unit was renumbered No. 4 FTS RAF which is still based at the airfield.[12]
The firstFolland Gnatjet trainers were received on 7 November 1962 and many examples of the type were successfully operated for many years. These were supplemented byHawker Huntersfor advanced training, marks F.6 and T.7 being used. The firstHawker Siddeley HawkT.1s arrived on 11 November 1976[12]and a modified version of this type is still in use by 4 FTS called the BAE Systems Hawk T.2.[13]
RAF Valley previously hosted the Headquarters and 'C Flight' ofNo. 22 Squadron,part of the RAF'sSearch and Rescue Force.By October 2015, the RAF SAR Force had been relieved of their responsibility by a newcontractor-led operation,run byBristow Helicopters,and the nearest SAR unit is now based atCaernarfon Airport.The RAFOperational Conversion Unit,203(R) Squadron,was also based at Valley to train new aircrew onto theWestland Sea KingHAR.3/3A, and prepare them for their SAR operations.The then Duke of Cambridge, Prince William,now heir apparent to theBritish Throne,was assigned to C Flight, 22 Squadron at RAF Valley, as a pilot flying theSea Kingsearch and rescue helicopter. He finished his last shift as a pilot on Tuesday 10 September 2013.[14]
No.208(R) Squadron,which provided legacy Hawk T.1 advanced flying training and tactical weapons training, disbanded in June 2016.[15]
In September 2017, a project to upgrade the airfield was completed. The project involved resurfacing of the runway and link taxiways and the creation of a new section of airside perimeter road. New visual aids, aeronautical lighting and signage were installed. A hangar was refurbished to accommodate threeJupiter HT.1helicopters which will be used to train pilots from all threeBritish armed services,as part of theUK Military Flying Training System(UKMFTS).[16]On 20 March 2018 aBAE Systems Hawkof theRed Arrowsaerobatic team crashed, killing Corporal Jonathan Bayliss, an engineer.[17]The pilot, Flight Lieutenant David Stark, survived and was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.[17]
Due to increased demand for RAF and Royal Navy pilots,No. 25 Squadronreformed at Valley on 8 September 2018. The squadron operates the Hawk T.2 alongside No. 4 Squadron as part of No. 4 Flying Training School.[18][19]
On 28 November 2019,No. 72 Squadronwas officially "stood up" at RAF Valley, flying the Beechcraft Texan T.1 aircraft in the basic flying training role. The squadron transitioned fromShort Tucano(RAF Linton-on-Ouse) to Texan (RAF Valley) in a major investment by the UK Military Flying Training System. The squadron operates a fleet of 10 Texan T.1s, so that RAF Valley is now home to two-thirds of fast jet training, delivering both basic and advanced courses.[20]
In May 2020,Virginia Crosbie,MP forYnys Mônand members of theSeneddwrote to theMinistry of Defence(MoD) seeking assurance that travel to and from the base was limited to critical journeys during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[21]The MoD told theLocal Democracy Reporting Servicethat training remained under "constant review".[21]
On 25 May 2020 aPilatus PC-12landed at RAF Valley while the base was closed for maintenance work.[22]Initially staff thought it was an emergency landing, but the pilot said he landed there "to go to the beach".[22]When told about the lockdown and coronavirus restrictions he was reported to have replied "it was okay, because he had [the virus] two months ago".[22]He had flown fromFairoaks Airportand had noticed RAF Valley onGoogle Earthand decided to land there asWikipediasaid it served civilian traffic.[22]He left shortly after landing.[22]The Ministry of Defence said that while civilian traffic were allowed at its sites, 24 hours notice is required to make sure it does not impact military activity.[22]The incident was reported to theCivil Aviation Authority.[22]
Role and operations
edit
No. 4 Flying Training School(No. 4 FTS) trainsRAFandRoyal Navypilots to fly fast jets, prior to training on anOperational Conversion Unit.No. 4 FTS consist of three units,No. 72 Squadron,No. 4 SquadronandNo. 25 Squadron,flying the Texan T.1 and BAE Systems Hawk T.2.[23]
The base is also home to No. 202 Squadron, part ofNo.1 Flying Training School,flying threeAirbus Jupiter HT.1.The squadron trains RAF and Royal Navy students on maritime and mountain flying training and those who are destined for the Royal Navy's anti-submarine warfareMerlinorWildcat.[24]
Based units
editFlying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Valley.[25]
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No. 38 Group (Air Combat Service Support) RAF
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Civilian airport
editTheNational Assembly for Walesannounced on 21 February 2007 thatpublic service obligation(PSO) flights would be launched from RAF Valley in April 2007, connecting north Wales withCardiff International Airport.[26]Flights from RAF Valley to Cardiff stopped after the first set of government Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in March 2020. On 8 June 2022, the Welsh Government axed the service, leaving the purpose-built civilian airport terminal disused.[27]
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^Pine, L.G. (1983).A dictionary of mottoes(1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p.106.ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
- ^"Royal Air Force".Royal Air Force.
- ^"Airport information for EGOV".World Aero Data.Archived from the original on 5 March 2019.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)Data current as of October 2006. Source:DAFIF. - ^Airport information for EGOVat Great Circle Mapper. Source:DAFIF(effective October 2006).
- ^Smith, 1981, p. 196
- ^Halley, 1988, p. 478
- ^Halley, 1988, p. 342
- ^Smith, 1981, p. 199
- ^Sturtivant, 1997, p. 139
- ^Smith, 1981, p. 200
- ^Sturtivant, 1997, p. 39
- ^abSturtivant, 1997, p. 153
- ^"Hawk T. 2".Retrieved6 April2024.
- ^"BBC News - 12th September 2013".BBC.Retrieved24 December2013.
- ^"RAF Valley Hawks jet to make last ever flight today".Daily Post.13 April 2016.Retrieved14 April2016.
- ^"RAF Valley's future secure for next 25 years as restoration work is completed".Royal Air Force.26 September 2017.Retrieved1 January2018.
- ^ab"Red Arrows crash: Cpl Jonathan Bayliss named as victim".BBC News.21 March 2018.Retrieved24 March2018.
- ^"No. 25 Squadron returning to fly the Hawk T.2".Royal Air Force.1 August 2018.Retrieved28 October2018.
- ^"RAF Valley".8 September 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2022.Retrieved28 October2018– via Facebook.
- ^AirForces Monthly.Stamford,Lincolnshire,England:Key Publishing Ltd.January 2020. p. 8.
- ^ab"Coronavirus: RAF Valley accused of flouting Covid-19 restrictions".BBC News.12 May 2020.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^"No. 25 Squadron returning to fly the Hawk T2".RAF.1 August 2018.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^"RAF Valley based Search & Rescue Training Unit becomes 202 (Reserve) Sqn".Royal Air Force. 6 May 2016.Retrieved6 May2016.
- ^"RAF Valley – Who's Based Here".Royal Air Force.Retrieved28 July2018.
- ^"North-south airline is revealed".BBC News. 21 February 2007.
- ^Osborne, Rob (8 June 2022)."Cardiff to Anglesey flights permanently axed by Welsh Government".ITV News.Retrieved7 January2023.
Bibliography
edit- Halley, J.J. (1988).The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988.Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.ISBN0-85130-164-9.
- Smith, D.J. (1981).Action Stations: 3 - Military Airfields of Wales and the North-West.Patrick Stephens Limited.ISBN0-85059-485-5.
- Sturtivant, R.C. (1997).Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units.Air-Britain (Historians) Limited.ISBN0-85130-252-1.
External links
edit