| RAF Boulmer | |
|---|---|
 Station badge |
|
| Active | 1953 – Present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Operational |
| Role | Air Surveillance and Control & also Search and rescue |
| Size | 1100 Service personnel, civil servants and contractors |
| Located | 30 miles north of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne |
| Motto | ‘semper in exubitu vigilans’ ('Always the Vigilant Sentry') |
| March | Royal Air Force March Past |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Group Captain P H Cox MA RAF |
RAF Boulmer (pronounced /'buːmə/) (IATA: N/A, ICAO: EGQM) is a Royal Air Force station near Alnwick in Northumberland and is currently home to ASACS Force Command, Control and Reporting Centre Boulmer, the School of Aerospace Battle Management, No. 202 Squadron RAF search and rescue, and the support staff needed to run such an important station.
Contents |
History
WWII
In 1940 a dummy airfield was set up near the village of Boulmer in order to divert German attacks from nearby RAF bases such as RAF Acklington.As the air threat to the United Kingdom receded, the decoy airfield, with its grass runways and plywood and canvas Hurricanes, was abandoned. In March 1943 RAF Boulmer was re-opened as a satellite airfield to house the advanced flights of 57 Operational Training Unit (a Spitfire training Unit based at RAF Eshott, Boulmer's parent unit). During this period, there were 3 tarmac runways and a unit of the RAF Regiment defended the Station. In November 1943 RAF Boulmer became home to No 9 Battle Training School, in which night flying, dive-bombing, strafing, bouncer, and chase tactics were taught. As the war ended the airfield closed, reverting to agricultural use. Part of the airfield formed the basis of a caravan site with the runway and taxiway being used as an access road to the site. The site remains and is called Seaton Park.
Cold War
In 1953 present day RAF Boulmer was opened as an Air Defence Control Centre as part of the ROTOR programme and later became part of the Linesman/Mediator system protecting the airspace of the United Kingdom. High powered radars were installed, positioned to detect Soviet bombers attacking from the North Sea. In 1978 A flight of 202 Squadron moved their search and rescue helicopters to Boulmer. Initially they flew Westland Whirlwinds and later Westland Sea Kings.
Post Cold War
In 1990 the RAF School of Fighter Control was moved to RAF Boulmer from RAF West Drayton, and then in 1994 Number 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC) reformed at RAF Boulmer, providing the Royal Air Force with a highly-capable, rapidly-deployable fielded air command and control capability. Later equipped with BAE Systems Type 101 Air Defence Radars, 1ACC played a key role in Operation TELIC following the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq.
In 2002, the Station began a major refurbishment of the underground bunker and installation of new equipment as part of the UKADGE Capability Maintenance Programme (UCMP). Valued at £60 Million, the first phase of the programme was declared operational at RAF Boulmer on 16 August 2004.
In 2004 RAF Boulmer's newly-refurbished NATO Control Reporting Centre (CRC) took over all air defence functions previously administered by the CRCs at RAF Buchan and RAF Neatishead. As the main CRC in the UK, Boulmer has responsibility for 24-hour surveillance of the UK's airspace, as well as liaison with NATO allies around Europe, in order to maintain an effective air defence cover for NATO's Northern Air Defence Region.
On 1 September 2004, RAF Boulmer also assumed responsibility, in addition to the Type 93 radar at Brizlee Wood (8 miles west of the Boulmer) for the Type 92 radars at RAF Buchan and RAF Benbecula.
In late July 2004 it was announced that RAF Boulmer would close by 2012, with the majority of its functions transferring to RAF Scampton. The first action taken in response to this announcement was for 1ACC to move to RAF Kirton in Lindsey, a former RAF Fighter Command base in Lincolnshire. This would bring the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS) closer together (the new CRC at RAF Scampton and the E3 Sentry force at RAF Waddington both also belonging to the ASACS Force). 1ACC's move to Kirton was completed in early 2005. Later that same year, due to perceived difficulties with funding for Scampton, a review was announced into the decision to close Boulmer.
On 10th January 2008 it was announced that a study had been conducted into where to base elements of the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS). The results concluded that the best option – in both financial and operational terms – is to retain RAF Boulmer as the ASACS hub and as a result the station would stay open beyond 2012.
Who is based here
- Air Surveillance and Control Systems Force Command
- Control and Reporting Centre
- School of Aerospace Battle Management
- Support Wing
- No. 202 Squadron RAF
- Engineering and Supply Squadron
Control and Reporting Centre
The Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at RAF Boulmer is tasked with compiling a Recognised Air Picture within NATO Air Policing Area 9, and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force. The CRC also supports the training of students undergoing training at the School of Aerospace Battle Management and controls military aircraft on routine training missions. Furthermore, the CRC provides trained personnel for out of area operations, currently ranging from The Falkland Islands to the Middle East. The unit also provides the UK’s tactical control facility for the combat training of air defence, ground attack and air-to-air refuelling aircraft and participates daily in Joint training with the Royal Navy, exchanging air picture information by both digital data link and voice nets with ships at sea.
During the summer of 2004, following the closure of CRC Neatishead in Norfolk, completion of the refurbishment of the underground bunker at RAF Boulmer marked the arrival of over 250 personnel to man the Unit. Following operational assessment of the new equipment, CRC Boulmer assumed 24/7 operations on 16 August 2004.
In summary, the CRC is manned 24/7 to support both NATO and national Quick Reaction Alert requirements. Managing the UK’s network-enabled capability for the Homeland Defence task, the CRC also supports the training of Air Surveillance and Control System personnel and our aircrew for deployment on operations worldwide.
School of Aerospace Battle Management
The RAF School of Aerospace Battle Management (SABM), formerly called the School of Fighter Control (SFC) is part of Chief of Staff Operations organisation, Air Command and has been located at RAF Boulmer since 1990. Commanded by a Wing Commander, the SABM was formed in 1940 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Unit its own crest in 1958. The school's motto is 'Disce ut dirigas' which means 'Learn that we may guide'.
The SABM plays a central part in delivering the training required by Aerospace Battle Manager officers (ABMs) of the Operations Support Branch and airmen and airwomen of the Aerospace Systems Operator (ASOp) and Aerospace Systems Manager Trade Group. It is also recognized as a centre of excellence for tactical Airspace Battle Management and provides training for the RAF's sister Services,NATO and other foreign national military personnel. Between 800 and 850 students attend one of the 30 different courses each year.
- A Squadron is responsible for ABM courses for Officers and selected airmen and airwomen in both the Weapons Control and Surveillance sub specializations. These ABMs and Aerospace Systems Managers not only play a pivotal role in homeland defence but also deploy out of area in support of operations defending the United Kingdom’s interests as well as strengthening international peace and security.
- B Squadron is responsible for Post Graduate, Advanced and Executive courses for selected Officers and SNCOs. It also provides training for airmen and airwomen of the ASOp trade group and delivers promotion courses for selected airmen and airwomen of the ASOp and Aerospace Systems Managers Trade Group. Principally, the Squadron delivers core training to develop the employment of officers, airmen and airwomen, as well as personnel from sister services, in aspects of air Command and Control and airspace battle management, at the tactical level, to support single-service, joint and multi-national air operations. The Squadron also provides specialist radar and data links courses for selected officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and airmen or airwomen and Pre-Employment Training courses for selected UK ASACS engineering officers, as resources permit. Finally, B Squadron offers advanced and executive fighter control training to selected International Students.
- C Squadron is responsible for ensuring that the high standards required from a centre of excellence are maintained; this includes the delivery of practical and theoretical lessons as well as all aspects of course maintenance. It also provides all of the support services within the School of Aerospace Battle Management, specialist training courses for instructors posted to the School, management of the National Vocational Qualification scheme and training for foreign exchange officers.
Engineering and Supply Squadron
The Engineering and Supply Squadron, include the radars at RAF Boulmer, RAF Buchan and RAF Benbecula and the Communications System Engineering Flight are under the command of the Officer Commanding Control and Reporting Centre at RAF Boulmer. The MT and SERCo Supply elements are under the command of Officer Commanding Support Wing.
Engineering & Supply Squadron began life on the Operations Site at RAF Boulmer some fifty years ago and throughout the intervening years, has been shaped by a combination of technological change, strategic planning and administrative accountability into what is today, a centre of outstanding engineering excellence.
From the early days of radar (Linesman and Mediator), through the Cold War years of the Type 84 and Type 85 radars, until the present day, the Squadron has been entrusted with bearing the torch for Boulmer and, in ensuring the sustainability of the Unit's many assets finds itself at the very forefront of leading edge technology and provides collectively the engineering backbone of the modern United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System.
At the very heart of the UK air defence network almost 225, engineering, supply, Mechanical Transport (MT) and technical administration staff, provide continuous 24-hour support to the Station throughout the year.
202 Squadron
'A' Flight is one of the 3 operational Flights of 202 Squadron and is based at RAF Boulmer. The Flight is commanded by a squadron leader and consists of approximately 20 aircrew, 30 engineers and 8 support staff. Using the ageing - but highly capable - Sea King Mark 3 helicopter, 'A' Flight provides round the clock search and rescue cover for a large area, stretching from Fife in the north to Hartlepool in the south and encompasses the Lake District in the west. The eastern boundary is very fluid with flights having been known to end up in Norway following a rescue.
Other Facilities
RAF Boulmer also has a 25m shooting range that is often used by Air Cadets of Durham / Northumberland Wing, ATC
Affiliations
The base is affiliated to HMS Northumberland.
See also
External links
Coordinates: 55°24′25″N 1°37′23″W / 55.407°N 1.623°W
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
