The Royal Air Force Affiliated Service

RAF Brize Norton

www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/

Although I have now had the pleasure and privilege of being in command of Royal Air Force Brize Norton for a year, the level and intensity of activity on the Station continues to amaze me. The Station is the largest and certainly the busiest RAF base, employing around 3,000 service personnel and about 600 civilians. At any one time, at least 200 of our people are deployed overseas on operations for periods of up to six months at a time to provide support to the RAF, Army and Royal Navy. In addition, many other people are detached around the world on exercises to improve their skills and broaden their exposure to alternative ways of doing business. Despite all of the pressures that my personnel face, I am pleased to say the vast majority really enjoy the variety and purpose of their work. Equally importantly, I am impressed with how well all these people work together and this is essential for RAF Brize Norton to work efficiently as a station.

In this article, I intend to explain briefly what the main areas of the Station actually do and how they work together to support our priority which is supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In doing so, I will also weave in some highlights from the last year and mention some of the key challenges we currently face. As you might expect, the pace of change at RAF Brize Norton has quickened but this is necessary to ensure we organise and plan properly for the future and in particular for the arrival of people, aircraft and assets from RAF Lyneham when it closes in 2012.

RAF Brize Norton remains the UK’s hub for military air transport (AT) and air to air refuelling (AAR) and, as you would expect, it has a critical role in supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Particularly in the land-locked Afghanistan, our nation’s involvement in overcoming the insurgents would not be possible in the current manner without rapid and flexible resupply by air of men and materials.

The Station is home to three flying Squadrons that have all recently played an important role in the Middle East: 99 Squadron, 101 Squadron and 216 Squadron operate the C-17, VC-10 and Tristar respectively. It is important to remember the men and women who fly these aircraft are just one facet of ‘Team Brize’ and they could not perform their roles without the professional support and dedication of many servicemen and civilians working in ground trades.

Number 99 Squadron reformed in 2001 to meet a growing requirement for a heavy airlift capability and the MoD initially leased four C-17 aircraft from Boeing. However, the aircraft’s impressive range, reliability and ability to carry a large payload led to the outright purchase of the existing four aircraft plus the addition of two more airframes.

The Squadron is waiting to hear whether it will be gaining a seventh or even eighth aircraft in the near future. During the past few years, the C-17 has been used to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, delivering cargo and passengers, humanitarian support and providing an essential aeromedical evacuation capability. The aircraft has been in the media all too often more recently as it has been used to repatriate fallen soldiers from operations to RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton. Sadly, 99 Squadron had a record number of short-notice call outs for aeromedical duties to Afghanistan in June and July this year; however, all of these missions were completed without losing their other operational tasks.

Number 216 Squadron operates nine Tristar aircraft and these were originally purchased to sustain the military presence in the Falklands following the 1982 conflict. The six ex-British Airways and three ex-Pan-Am aircraft have been adapted to provide a mixture of passenger, freight and AAR capabilities that have enabled the aircraft to become a key element in the support to British operations around the world. Today their importance remains undiluted as they continue to maintain the strategically vital ‘air bridge’ between the Middle East area of operations; delivering passenger and freight transport services in the most challenging of environments. Despite the age of the aircraft, the reliability of the ‘air-bridge’ is good with 90 per cent of the flights over the past three months departing within an hour of planned departure time.

Number 101 Squadron operates the VC–10 aircraft. This is the largest flying squadron in the Royal Air Force with about 540 personnel and continues to operate the venerable ‘10’ worldwide in AT and AAR roles. Having seen 42 years of service, this much-loved aircraft is still used throughout the world, transporting military personnel to the training ranges in Canada, trailing RAF Fast Jet squadrons to the Middle East, or providing short notice aeromedical evacuations.

Following the well-documented military draw-down in Iraq earlier this year, 101 Squadron withdrew from its AAR role in the Middle East in May 2009 after 19 years of distinguished service. That said, the VC10 has been redeployed to the Middle East for around two months, which underlines its continued usefulness as a tanker despite its vintage. The VC10 still makes an essential contribution to air defence in the UK and in the Falkland Islands. In June this year, we were delighted to fly a VC-10 in formation with the restored Vulcan bomber at a flypast for the Station’s Families’ Day.

With such a large station, the organisational structure to support the flying squadrons’ role must be clearly defined to allow our people to work harmoniously and efficiently together. This why the station is predominantly divided into four Wings: Operations, Forward Support, Air Port of Embarkation (APOE), Base Support and Depth Support. Although the Wings offer vastly differing services, they work closely together to contribute to the Station’s mission: ‘To deliver AT and AAR support to deployed Operations and Exercises’.

Operations Wing encompasses a wide range of activities from flight planning to mission preparation, and from Air Traffic Control to the AT/AAR Force Headquarters. It takes the leading role in co-ordinating all flying activity at Brize Norton both for the Station-based and visiting aircraft. The AT/AAR Force Headquarters was established in 2006 by moving key personnel from Headquarters 2 Group to improve the planning support to the Station, and in the near future, we hope to expand its role when additional people become available to bolster its workforce.

The formation of Forward Support Wing (FSW) in 2005 brought together those logistic organisations directly supporting the operational output of RAF Brize Norton. This ensures the direct provision of specialist support and effective co-ordination of a range of services to VC-10, Tristar and C-17 maintenance activities.

The Airport of Embarkation Wing is the newest of the Wings. An Airport of Embarkation (APOE) is a NATO term for an operational airfield capable of rapidly processing and loading personnel and equipment, deploying by air from home base to the Airport of Disembarkation (APOD) in theatre. The ‘piece’ in between APOE and APOD is known as the ‘Air- Bridge’. APOE Wing functions include passenger and cargo processing; the provision of in-flight catering, passenger transit accommodation, aviation fuel and transport; and, of course, aircraft loading.

Base Support Wing (BSW) encompasses a wide range of personnel, welfare, facilities management and security aspects on the Station and also includes medical, dental and chaplaincy services. It strives to provide integrated and essential administrative, police, security and specialist support to RAF Brize Norton and all deployed operations.

RAF Brize Norton is home to the Parachute Training School, teaching a range of parachuting techniques, from tri-service basic parachuting through to specialist courses for the more elite forces. The School’s expertise and skill is under incredible demand; while it utilises modern equipment for training within its hanger, the school is also reliant on the busy Hercules aircraft for its jumps. RAF Brize Norton is also home to a number of ‘lodger’ units such as the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) and Defence Centre for Mental Health. The majority of the trials work that JADTEU undertakes is in support of operations and much of this work has involved helicopters – not an activity you might automatically relate to RAF Brize Norton.

Together, with detailed co-ordination led by the station executives, all these Wings and elements harmonise to deliver the necessary support to operations, day after day.

As I mentioned towards the beginning of the article, the Station is in the early stages of significant change. The ageing VC-10s and Tristars are due to be replaced by the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (an A330) and A400M. While the arrival of the A400M is likely to be delayed, Air Tanker, a consortia of six private companies that will provide the RAF with an AAR capability, will deliver the first A330 to the Station during summer 2011. RAF Lyneham is also due to close in 2012 and this will see the entire Hercules fleet relocate to RAF Brize Norton under ‘Programme Future Brize’. The combination of the new aircraft alongside the relocation of the Hercules aircraft will deliver a huge increase in both our capability and capacity and establish RAF Brize Norton as the single AT and AAR hub in the UK. To support this transition, the Station has commenced a massive facilities’ development project to accommodate the increase in aircraft and personnel. We are also making provisions to prepare the infrastructure and local community for more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel that we anticipate will eventually be living and working here. Some of these changes are already evident around the Station with the building of new accommodation blocks under Project SLAM (Single Living Accommodation Modernisation), and the construction of a new hanger which will house the FSTA – this can already be seen dominating the skyline near base hanger.

Further plans include a major refurbishment of base hangar, a new passenger terminal and cargo storage and handling facilities, new roads and a welter of smaller facility builds, improvements at the front gate and passenger meeting facilities. The families’ accommodation outside the base perimeter will be demolished and is due to be replaced with around 800 new builds. These builds and upgrades will transform the Station, however through all this building work, the operational tempo will not decrease and RAF Brize Norton will continue to deliver round-the-clock uninterrupted output in support of British forces worldwide.

There is a clear set of objectives that detail where we need to go as a Station and how it will be achieved. However, our support to Operations is the driving force behind the daily running of the Station. Not only is our flying output vital, but so is the support provided by all of the disparate units at RAF Brize Norton who make this contribution possible. As mentioned above, the groundwork has already begun to prepare our estate, processes and people for the introduction of future equipment, and to become the single AT/AAR hub. This massive undertaking will present us with complex decisions during the next few years and will require the support and patience of the personnel and the local community. However, when complete, Brize will not only be a modern airfield, but also a better home to the personnel and families who serve here. We must never forget that what we achieve in supporting British interests abroad is only possible because of the engagement and goodwill we receive from key stakeholders in the local community, and further afield. Hopefully next year there will be news on the progression of the Royal Air Force ‘affiliates’. In the meantime may I wish everyone in the Company a peaceful, safe and prosperous year.

Jon Ager Group Captain

Station history

Construction of the airfield at Brize Norton site began in 1935. Although most of the site lay within the parish boundary of Carterton, it was thought there would be confusion with RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire, so the station was named after the next nearest village, Brize Norton. The official opening took place on 13th August 1937, and No 2 Flying Training School, the first unit to be stationed here, arrived before the building programme had been completed. The Station was used for flying training until July 1942, when it became the home of the Heavy Glider Conversion Unit (HGCU), later renamed No 21 HGCU, which remained at RAF Brize Norton until December 1945.

Between March and October 1944 the Station was used as a base for parachute and glider operations by No 296 and 297 Squadrons, both equipped with Albemarles.

On D-Day, these Squadrons were involved in dropping paratroops and launching Horsa gliders for the purpose of capturing bridges, six miles inland from the coast, over the River Orne and Caen Canal. On the same day, two more gliders were placed directly on a coastal battery controlling the estuary of the River Orne, which was in a position to oppose the seaborne landings. All of these operations were completed successfully.

The Squadrons were involved in the airborne landings at Arnhem in September 1944, and were also engaged in dropping personnel and supplies to the resistance movements in Europe. On 31st December 1945, RAF Brize Norton was transferred from Flying Training Command to Transport Command, and became the home of the Transport Command Development Unit and the School of Flight Efficiency. The Army Airborne Transport Development Unit joined these units in May 1946. Flying Training Command returned to the Station with No 204 AFTS in August 1949, but their stay was a short one and they left in June 1950 when the Americans arrived.

The USAF accepted control in April 1951. Until early 1952, the main task of the USAF elements at RAF Brize Norton was to support US Army engineers engaged in extending the runway and building taxiways, hard standings and accommodation. In June 1952, some 21 B36 Convair Peacemaker bombers were the first American aircraft to arrive at RAF Brize Norton. The first jet bombers to land here were B47 Stratojets in September 1953. A rotation of bomber wings and refueling Squadrons continued until April 1958, with the exception of a period of runway reconstruction from October 1955 until September 1956. In April 1958, the Reflex alert concept came into force and, under this arrangement units of Strategic Air Command were detached from the US for a 90-day tour of duty.

Seven USAF bomber wings provided B47 aircraft for Reflex duty at RAF Brize Norton, the last one returning to the US in April 1965.

In April 1965 the RAF took control of Brize Norton and it became a Transport Command airfield. Then, on the renaming of the Command in August 1967, it became an Air Support Command airfield. There followed a steady build up of personnel and facilities to make RAF Brize Norton the Strategic Air Transport (AT) base for the RAF. This included the construction of the Gateway House Hotel and the building of the £2 million Base Hangar, at that time the largest cantilever structure in Western Europe. Two Britannia Squadrons, No 99 and 511, joined the VC10s of No 10 Squadron and the Belfasts of No 53 Squadron in June 1970 to bring the station to full operational strength. Early in 1972, the station became part of No 46 Group, Strike Command and, in October 1975, became part of No 38 Group, Strike Command.

Following the 1974 Defence White Paper, 53, 99 and 511 Squadrons were disbanded. No 10 Squadron remained to provide its worldwide role, and was joined by No 115 Squadron in 1976, operating Argosy aircraft which were used to calibrate service ground radio and radar aids. Andover aircraft replaced the Argosys and, in 1982, No 115 Squadron was moved to RAF Benson. To replace the disbanded Nos 53, 99 and 511 Squadrons, the following major units moved into RAF Brize Norton during 1976: the Joint Air Transport Establishment; No 38 Group Tactical Communications Wing (TCW); No 1 Parachute Training School (PTS) and the RAF Movements School (RAFMS).

In 1982, many TCW and Station personnel were deployed to Ascension Island in support of the Falkland Islands’ conflict. No 10 Squadron was heavily engaged with moving personnel, stores and ammunition to Ascension Island, and the recovery of casualties from Ascension and Montevideo. At the end of the war, No 10 Squadron repatriated hundreds of servicemen back to their families. The Squadron then assumed the re-supply task for the new Falklands Garrison. Also in 1982, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons were formed. No 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron and No 2624 (County of Oxford) Regiment Squadron recruited locally and were based at RAF Brize Norton. In 1983, the first TriStar arrived, and the following year No 216 Squadron was formed and the first VC1O K was delivered to No 101 Squadron.

The usefulness of a large tanker force was graphically illustrated during RAF Brize Norton’s next major commitment, the Gulf War in 1991. No 101 Squadron deployed to the Gulf area, as did elements of No 216 Squadron. They provided air-to-air refueling (AAR) support for the RAF’s fast jet assets as well as providing support for the US Navy and Marine Corps. No 10 Squadron, along with the balance of No 216 Squadron, provided logistic support into theatre. TCW and many individual station personnel were also deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of the Multi-National Force.

With the demise of the Victor force in 1993, RAF Brize Norton became the centre for all AAR operations in the Royal Air Force. During 1994, No 19 Squadron RAF Regiment, which was based at RAF Brize Norton for the purpose of providing Rapier missile defence for the US Air Force bases at nearby RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Fairford, was disbanded.

Over the years, the Station has maintained its links with the USAF, hosting several large-scale USAF tanker deployments and culminating in a major operational deployment providing support for the Kosovo air campaign. RAF Brize Norton’s assets were widely used, with aircraft from Nos 10, 101 and 216 Squadrons all playing key roles, while the USAF detachment flew 24 KC135 aircraft from the station for the duration of the operation. At the same time, the nearby USAF base of RAF Fairford was launching B52 and B1 sorties. As a result, the airspace was quite crowded on occasion!

On 1st April 2000, the Station became part of No 2 Group. The complement of flying squadrons was increased to four with the formation of No 99 Squadron and the arrival of C-17 aircraft in summer 2001. Following the tragic incidents of 11th September 2001, RAF Brize Norton has played a significant role in the campaign against terrorism. Seven aircraft and 500 personnel deployed to support operations in Afghanistan, and 12 aircraft and 600 personnel deployed in support of Operation Telic in Iraq. For both operations, the station undertook the movement of record numbers of passengers and massive amounts of freight before, during and after fighting operations.