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RAF Boulmer
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RAF Boulmer 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 Fighter Control, No. 202 Squadron RAF search and rescue, and the support staff needed to run such an important station.
940 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.
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Encyclopedia
RAF Boulmer 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 Fighter Control, No. 202 Squadron RAF search and rescue, and the support staff needed to run such an important station.
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. In 1943 RAF pilots began using the dummy airfield as a relief landing ground. Later that year the airfield became operational as a training field for No 9 Battle Training School.
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, 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 Lockheed Martin 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 sole 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.
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 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 the 10th of 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 Fighter Control
- Support Wing
- No. 202 Squadron RAF
- Engineering & Supply Squadron
School of Fighter Control
The RAF School of Fighter Control (SFC) is part of Chief of Staff Operations organisation, Strike Command and and has been located at RAF Boulmer since 1990. Commanded by a Wing Commander, the SFC 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 SFC plays a central part in delivering the training required by Fighter Control officers (FCs) 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 FC courses for Officers and selected airmen and airwomen in both the Weapons Control and Surveillance sub specializations. These FCs 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 Fighter Control , specialist training courses for instructors posted to the School, management of the National Vocational Qualification scheme and training for foreign exchange officers.
Affiliations
The base is affiliated to HMS Northumberland.
See also
External links
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