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RAF Odiham
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| RAF Odiham | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA: ODH - ICAO: EGVO | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military | ||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||
| Serves | Odiham | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 405 ft (123 m) | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 10/28 | 6,030 | 1,838 | Asphalt |
RAF Odiham (IATA: ODH, ICAO: EGVO) is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic small town of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC.2.
Contents |
Aircraft operations began from the site in 1925 but it was not until October 1937 that it was opened as a permanent airfield, ironically by Erhard Milch, then the Chief of Staff for the Luftwaffe.
During World War Two P-51 Mustangs and Hawker Typhoons were flown out of the base. After the Allied invasion of Europe the site became a prisoner of war camp. Following the end of the War RAF Fighter Command assumed control of the base and operated Spitfires, Hunters and Javelins. As part of Her coronation celebrations Queen Elizabeth II reviewed the Royal Air Force at Odiham in 1953.
After a short period in "care and maintenance" status the base was reopened as part of Transport Command. In this role the Westland Whirlwind and then the Bristol Belvedere helicopters were operated from the base. From 1961 to 1981 the Westland Wessex was based here, joined by the Puma in 1971.
In 1981 the Wessex helicopters moved to RAF Benson, followed by No. 33 Squadron's Puma's in 1997.
The first Chinook HC.1s were delivered to the RAF in 1980 and arrived at Odiham in 1982. The first HC.2 arrived in 1993. The RAF ordered the Chinook HC.3, a special forces variant, in 1995. These are yet to enter service. 618 VGS arrived in July 2000 to train Air Cadets to fly at weekends and during some weekdays on the Grob 109B Vigilant T Mk 1.
- 7 Squadron - 5 Chinook HC2
- 18 Squadron - 18 Chinook HC2
- 27 Squadron - 10 Chinook HC2
- Joint Helicopter Support Unit
- 618 VGS - 4 Vigilant T Mk 1
- Army Air Corps Squadron - 4S Defender (BN2 Islander Variant)
- World Aero Data airport information for EGVO