RAF Cranwell
| RAF Cranwell | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | , ICAO: EGYD |
| County | Lincolnshire |
 | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Location | TF008494 53°1’59"N, 0°29’49"W |
| Runway(s) | 6,830 feet (Asphalt/Concrete) 4,800 feet (Asphalt/Concrete) 2,500 feet (Grass) |
| Website | rafcollegecranwell |
Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell (ICAO: EGYD) is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the Royal Air Force College, which trains the RAF's new officers and aircrew. Its motto, Altium Altrix, meaning "Nurture the highest" appears above the main doors of the Officers' Mess.[1]
The College is the Royal Air Force equivalent of the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
History
The history of military aviation at Cranwell goes back to November 1915,[2] when the Admiralty requisitioned 2,500 acres of land from the Marquess of Bristol's estate. On 1 April 1916, the "Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment, Cranwell" was officially born.
In 1917 a dedicated railway station was established for RAF Cranwell on a new single track branch line from Sleaford, the train being known as The Cranwell Flyer.[3]
With the establishment of the Royal Air Force as an independent service in 1918, the RNAS Training Establishment became RAF Cranwell.[4] The Royal Air Force College Cranwell was formed on 1 November 1919 as the RAF (Cadet) College.[5]
Role and operations
- Royal Air Force College
- RAF Recruitment: Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre
- Headquarters Central Flying School: this has been located at RAF Cranwell since 1995 when it moved from RAF Scampton
- No. 3 Flying Training School
- Air Cadets: Headquarters of the Air Training Corps the Air Cadet Organisation's Adult Training Facility.[6]
Civilian use
- RAF Cranwell Flying Club
- Cranwell Gliding Club
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about RAF Cranwell) |
- [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-college-cranwell/ RAF College Cranwell
- Cranwell Courier – RAF Cranwell station magazine
- Cranwell Gliding Club
References
- ↑ "Ridges and Furrows". p. 30. http://www.artsnk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Heritage-Lincolnshire-Research.pdf. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ↑ Halpenny (1981), p.74
- ↑ A J Ludlam, The RAF Cranwell Railway, Oakwood Press, Headington, 1988, ISBN 0 85361 379 6
- ↑ Halpenny (1981), p.75
- ↑ Phillips-Evans, J. The Longcrofts: 500 Years of a British Family (Amazon, 2012)
- ↑ "HQ Air Cadets". Ministry of Defence. https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/who-we-are/contact-us/. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- Halpenny, Bruce Barrymore: Action Stations Vol.2: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands (1981) ISBN 978-1-85260-405-9