Wattisham Airfield

Wattisham Flying Station
Wattisham, Suffolk in England
An Army Air Corps Apache AH1 at Wattisham Flying Station
<div style="position: absolute; top: %; left: -18.8%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"> Wattisham Location in Suffolk
Coordinates	52°07′37″N 000°57′21″E
Type	Army Air Corps airfield
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	British Army
Controlled by	Army Air Corps
Condition	Operational
Site history
Built	1913 (1913)
In use	Royal Air Force (1939–1942 and 1946–1992) US Army Air Forces (1942–1946) Army Air Corps (1993 – present)
Garrison information
Garrison	3 Regiment AAC 4 Regiment AAC 7 Aviation Support Battalion REME
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: EGUW
Elevation	86.2 metres (283 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 2,423 metres (7,949 ft) Asphalt
Other airfield facilities	Dummy landing deck
Source: UK Military AIP

File:Policewattisham1.jpg

The Suffolk Police helicopter and the East Anglian Air Ambulance at Wattisham.

Wattisham Airfield is an operational Army Airfield located next to the village of Wattisham in Suffolk, England. It is home to 3 Regiment Army Air Corps and 4 Regiment Army Air Corps. They are part of the Attack Helicopter Force (AHF) within the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), whose headquarters is at Army Headquarters. They fly the Westland WAH-64 Apache helicopter.

Also located at Wattisham is 7 Aviation Close Support Battalion REME with a helicopter repair facility with worldwide capability, and 132 Aviation Supply Unit Royal Logistic Corps. The RAF maintains a presence at the airfield with section of Survival Equipment Specialists who maintain survival equipment carried by Apache aircrew including their helmets.

Apart from the military, the Anglia Gliding Club also operates from the airfield. (making it the oldest serving member of Wattisham, having been there as a RAFGSA club when the RAF occupied). Also resident is No 1287 Sqn, Air Training Corps.

The airfield covers a site of 1,072 acres (434 ha). There are 2,000 troops stationed on site with 600 houses for married personnel between Wattisham, Hadleigh and Ipswich. There are 300 Heavy Goods Vehicle^{[Clarification needed]}s, 200 Land Rovers, over 40 military helicopters and casual access for 2 Air Ambulances^{[citation needed]}.

There is a museum on site which tells the history of the airfield and this is open on Sundays during April to October.

History

Main article: RAF Wattisham

Wattisham Airfield has had a long and distinguished history. First opening in April 1939 the airfield was used by the RAF before being lent to the United States Army Air Forces in 1942. After the Second World War Wattisham became one of the UK's front-line air force fighter airfields during the Cold War with aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert on a rotational basis with other UK fighter stations.

Wattisham used to house 'B' Flight, 22 Squadron Royal Air Force with its Search & Rescue Sea King helicopters, until the privatisation of SAR provision in 2015, which led to 22 Squadron standing down. The closest SAR base under the new Bristow Helicopters contract is Manston Airport in Kent.

As of 1 November 2018, there were 852 personnel assigned to 3 and 4 Regiments and 429 to 7 Aviation Support Battalion.

Operational units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Wattisham Airfield.

British Army

Joint Helicopter Command / Army Air Corps

• Attack Helicopter Force
  • 3 Regiment
    • 653 Squadron – Apache AH1
    • 662 Squadron – Apache AH1
    • 663 Squadron – Apache AH1
  • 4 Regiment
    • 656 Squadron – Apache AH1
    • 664 Squadron – Apache AH1

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (16 Air Assault Brigade)

• 7 Aviation Support Battalion
  • HQ Company
  • 71 Aviation Company (Aviation Support Company)
  • 72 Aviation Company (Contingency Company)
  • 132 Aviation Supply Squadron (Royal Logistic Corps)

Royal Engineers (8 Engineer Brigade, 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group)

• Headquarters 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support)
  • 533 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Airfields) (STRE)

External links

• Wattisham Airfield by Wattisham Aviation Society
• About the airfield at controltowers.co.uk
• History of Wattisham
• Another history