Royal Marines Base Chivenor is a
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
military base used primarily by the
Royal MarinesThe Royal Marines are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service. They are also the United Kingdom's specialists in amphibious warfare, including the operation of landing craft; mountain warfare;...
. It is situated on the northern shore of the
TawThe River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel 72km away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
estuary, adjacent to the
South West Coast PathThe South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
, on the North coast of
DevonDevon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Originally a civil airfield opened in the 1930s, the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
took over the site in May 1940 for use as a Coastal Command Station, calling it
RAF Chivenor. After
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the station was largely used for training, particularly weapons training. During the 1960s, one of the RAF's Tactical Weapons Units (TWU) used
Hawker HunterThe Hawker Hunter was a UK jet fighter aircraft of the 1950s and 1960s. The Hunter served for many years with the Royal Air Force and was widely exported, serving with 19 air forces. A total of 1,972 Hunters were produced by Hawker Siddeley and under licence....
aircraft for training. In 1974, the station was left on "care and maintenance", though No. 624 Volunteer Gliding Squadron continued to fly from there. The TWU returned flying
BAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
s in 1979 and 1981. In 1994, the TWU left Chivenor, merging with No. 4 Flying Training School at
RAF ValleyRAF Valley is a Royal Air Force station on the island of Anglesey, Wales, less formally known as Anglesey Airport. It provides fast-jet training using the BAE Hawk....
, with the RAF handing the airfield over to the Royal Marines. The Marines have an existing equipment testing base at Arromanches Camp, in
InstowInstow is a village in north Devon, England. It is on the estuary where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet, between the villages of Westleigh and Yelland and on the opposite bank of Appledore....
, located across the Taw Estuary and approximately two miles from Chivenor.
The RAF still has the "A" flight of
22 SquadronNo. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at four stations in the southern of the United Kingdom.-History:...
, with two search and rescue
Sea KingThe Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...
helicopterA helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors, each rotor consisting of two or more rotor blades. Helicopters are classified as rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from fixed-wing aircraft because the helicopter achieves lift with the...
s stationed there, and No. 624 Volunteer Gliding Squadron operating Vigilant T1 motor gliders.
In a spending review that was announced over the summer of 2004, the presence of 22 Squadron at Chivenor was under review. After the flooding at
BoscastleBoscastle is a village and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, in the civil parish of Forrabury and Minster. It is situated 14 miles south of Bude and 5 miles north-east of Tintagel....
, this threat was rescinded.
The beginning of RAF Chivenor
In February 1940 the story of RAF Chivenor begins when the Air Ministry constructed an aerodrome on the site of Chivenor farm near a civilian airfield. RAF Chivenor opened on 25 October 1940 within No. 17 Group, Coastal Command. There were two units based there initially, No. 3 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit and No. 252 Squadron, both operating Beaufighters, Blenheims and Beauforts.
The war years
From 1942 onward the role of Chivenor was changed from training, to anti-submarine patrolling. From 1942 to 1943 the squadron flew the
Armstrong Whitworth WhitleyThe Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British...
, then in 1943 Chivenor squadron converted the
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
equipped with the ASV radar and
Leigh lightThe Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced German U-boats at...
s.
- Units based at Chivenor during the war.
- November 1941 to September 1943
51 Squadron:
Armstrong Whitworth WhitleyThe Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British...
, 77 squadron :
Armstrong Whitworth WhitleyThe Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British...
/
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, 502 Squadron :
Armstrong Whitworth WhitleyThe Armstrong Whitworth A.W.38 Whitley was one of three British twin-engine, front line medium bomber types in service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War. It took part in the first RAF bombing raid on German territory, and remained an integral part of the early British...
/
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, No 1417 Flight :Wellington Training units
- July 1942 to September 1943
235 Squadron: Beaufighters, 236 Squadron: Beaufighters, 248 Squadron: Beaufighters
- September 1943 to the end of the war
172 squadron:
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, 407 Canadian Squadron:
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron:
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
, 304 Polish Squadron:
Vickers WellingtonThe Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
In November 1941 the structure of the base changed with three new squadrons 51, 77 and 502 Flying a mixture of Whitley’s and Wellingtons and one new flight 1417 that was used to training crews on the
Leigh lightThe Leigh Light was a British World War II era anti-submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic.It was a powerful searchlight of 24 inches diameter fitted to a number of the British Royal Air Force's Coastal Command patrol bombers to help them spot surfaced German U-boats at...
and radar Wellingtons. In July 1942 three squadron of Beaufighter were located at Chivenor to offer long range protection in the Bay of Biscay. By September 1943 all of the Whitley had been take out of active service at Chivenor. Four squadrons of Wellingtons 172, 407, 612 and 304 were located at the base. 172 was the Wellington Training squadron taking over from 1417 Flight. The base had personnel from Canada, Poland and the UK.
Post war
1946-1949
After the Second World War ended the future of the station was not certain. In 1946 a group of miscellaneous meteorological and anti-aircraft units moved to Chivenor, including Halifaxes of Nos 517 and 521 Squadrons which flew 10 hour sorties to collect weather information. At the same time the station play host to No 248 Squadron (Mosquitos), No 254 Squadron (Beaufighters) and the Spitfires and Martinets of No 691 Squadron, Army Air Corps. In October 1946, No. 11 Group, Fighter Command took command of the station with No.203 Advanced Flying School. This lasted until July 1949 when the station was transfer to 5 and 7 Squadrons, Army Air Corps and No 1 Overseas Ferry Unit. This latter unit had the duties to ferry Meteors, Vampire and Mosquitoes to the middle east and the far east.
1950-1957
In February 1950 the Chivenor station flight was formed with Tiger Moths. It was at this time when post war civilian flying restarted with Wrafton flying club later change its name to the Puffin flying club. At this time the RAF was operating as No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit which flew Vampire and Meteors. Then in mid 1955 the first of the Hunter Operational Conversion Courses was started: flying was still mainly on the Vampire FB5 with approximately 20 hrs on the Hunter F1 before pilots were sent to their operational squadrons. During the next 2 years the Vampires were phased out and the course became all Hunter once the Hunter T7, a two seater trainer version became available. There were 2 squadrons called simply 1 and 2, each capable of training a student from conversion to operational and weaponry training.
Operational Units
229 OCU,CONSISTING OF 2 SQUADRONS.
Chivenor Station Flight
1958-1972
In May 1957 the RAF exercise ‘Vigilant’ changed Chivenor’s Squadron's status. They assumed a wartime reserve role and were renumbered as Nos 145 and 234 Squadrons. The squadron's were now flying the Hunter F4 and T7 until the F4 was replaced by the F6. The two squadrons were numbered and then renumbered until they became 63(Reserve) and 79(Reserve) Squadrons training fighter pilots. In March 1967 the Torrey Canyon ran aground on Seven Stones Reef near Land Ends. For three days, Hunters from Chivenor and other bases bombed the ship to burn off the oil. The final Hunter unit based at Chievnor was the Singapore Operational Training Flight. In 1972, 229 OCU was transferred to RAF Brawdy and the station was put into a rebuilding programme. It was in June 1957 that a new chapter in Chivenor’s story started with the arrival of ‘E’ Flight 275 Squadron with their Sycamore HR14s on search and rescue duties. In 1958 ‘E’ Flight changed to ‘A’ Flight 22 Squadron, which now has 50 years of twenty-four hour search and rescue experience operating from Chivenor.
Hawks at RAF Chivenor
In 1979, the
RAFThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
rebuilding programme ended and the station was reactivated as No. 2 TWU flying
BAe HawksThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
with Nos
63(R)-In World War I:No. 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling, Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was intended to operate as a day-bomber unit over the Western Front in France, and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft; however at the last...
and
151(R)151 Squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft.During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.Sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed...
Squadrons training fast jet pilots and navigators. In 1992, the government’s options for change defence review resulted in the structure of the station changing with 2 TWU being re-designated as 7 Flying Training School. The squadrons also changed their numbers from
63(R)-In World War I:No. 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling, Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was intended to operate as a day-bomber unit over the Western Front in France, and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft; however at the last...
and
151(R)151 Squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft.During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.Sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed...
to 19(R) and
92(R)No. 92 Squadron, also known as No 92 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force was a fighter squadron which was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at London Colney as a fighter squadron on 1 September 1917. It deployed to France in July 1918 and saw action for just four months, until the end of the war...
. 7 Flying Training School operated in conjunction with 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley. This training course was called the Mirror Image Training Course which lasted for three years until 1995 when the MoD announced that RAF Chivenor would close. For a time the future of the base was not assured but the Royal Marines filled the gap. RAF Chivenor closed on 1 October 1995.
- Operational Units
- 1979-1992
- 2 TWU
- 63(R) Sqn
-In World War I:No. 63 Squadron was formed on 31 August 1916 at Stirling, Scotland as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The squadron was intended to operate as a day-bomber unit over the Western Front in France, and was therefore equipped with de Havilland DH4 aircraft; however at the last...
- 151(R) Sqn
151 Squadron was founded at Hainault Farm in Essex on 12 June 1918, and was equipped with Sopwith Camel aircraft.During the five months in which 151 Squadron had taken part in hostilities overseas, the total number of hours flown by night was 1443 hrs 26 mins.Sixteen enemy aircraft were destroyed...
- 1992-1995
- 7 FTS
- 19(R) Sqn
- 92(R) Sqn
No. 92 Squadron, also known as No 92 Squadron, of the Royal Air Force was a fighter squadron which was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps at London Colney as a fighter squadron on 1 September 1917. It deployed to France in July 1918 and saw action for just four months, until the end of the war...
A new beginning as RMB Chivenor
From the 1st October 1995 onwards, the Royal Marines took control of the base, it being renamed Royal Marines Base Chivenor (RMB Chivenor) and is home to the
Commando Logistics Regiment, Royal MarinesThe role of the Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines is to provide second line Combat Service Support to Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade and Royal Marines Commandos in peace, war and operations other than war....
and
24 Commando Regiment Royal EngineersFormed in April 2008, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers which supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Expeditionary in nature, this elite fighting force is optimised as an Amphibious formation, with the unique ability to rapidly deploy around the...
.
The airfield is still an operational airfield used by the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and RAF. The airfield is used today for search and rescue duties with a detachment of
22 Squadron RAFNo. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at four stations in the southern of the United Kingdom.-History:...
based there for this purpose and by 624
Volunteer Gliding SquadronVolunteer Gliding Squadrons are Royal Air Force flying training units, operating military Viking TX.1 and Vigilant T.1 gliders to train Air Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps....
which operates Vigilant T1 motor gliders, providing flights for the
Air Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organization and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air Commodore Ian R W Stewart, serving...
and
Combined Cadet ForceThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
. The airfield is also used for training by many aircraft types including Merlins, Sea Kings, Pumas, Chinooks, Lynx, Hercules C- 130, C17 Globemasters and Hawks. There are regular flights by Hercules, C17 and many helicopters supporting the Marines' operations.
Operational units
- Royal Marines
The Royal Marines are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service. They are also the United Kingdom's specialists in amphibious warfare, including the operation of landing craft; mountain warfare;...
- Commando Logistic Regiment
The role of the Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines is to provide second line Combat Service Support to Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade and Royal Marines Commandos in peace, war and operations other than war....
- HQ Squadron
- Equipment Support Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Medical Squadron (Royal Navy)
- Landing Force Support Party
- Signal Troop
- Light Aid Detachment
- British Army
The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England and Scotland and...
- 24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
Formed in April 2008, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers which supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Expeditionary in nature, this elite fighting force is optimised as an Amphibious formation, with the unique ability to rapidly deploy around the...
- 54 HQ Squadron
- 59 Field Squadron
- 56 Field Squadron
- REME Workshop
- RAF
- 22 Squadron
No. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at four stations in the southern of the United Kingdom.-History:...
(A Flight)
- Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organization and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air Commodore Ian R W Stewart, serving...
- Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces. The term is also often used colloquially to refer to people who are not members of a particular profession or occupation, especially by law enforcement agencies, which often use...
Commando Logistic Regiment
The
Commando Logistic RegimentThe role of the Commando Logistic Regiment, Royal Marines is to provide second line Combat Service Support to Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade and Royal Marines Commandos in peace, war and operations other than war....
's role is to ensure the re-supply of ammunition, water, fuel and food, known as "combat supplies" to the ground forces, and provide specialist services to sustain the brigade's operation
24 Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
Formed in April 2008,
24 Commando Engineer RegimentFormed in April 2008, 24 Commando Engineer Regiment is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers which supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Expeditionary in nature, this elite fighting force is optimised as an Amphibious formation, with the unique ability to rapidly deploy around the...
is a unit of the British Army's Royal Engineers which supports 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Expeditionary in nature, this elite fighting force is optimised as an Amphibious formation, with the unique ability to rapidly deploy around the World and project force without reliance on ports or airfields.
22 Squadron
"A" Flight of
22 SquadronNo. 22 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Sea King HAR.3 and HAR.3A at four stations in the southern of the United Kingdom.-History:...
with three Sea King HAR3A helicopters for Search and Rescue duties. part of the
RAF Search and Rescue ForceThe RAF Search and Rescue Force is the Royal Air Force organization which provide around the clock aeronautical search and rescue cover in the United Kingdom, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands.-Role:...
Viking/Jackal Driver Schools
The Viking/Jackal driver schools has the responsibility for training Marines to drive Viking and Jackal fighting vehicles. These two units are relatively small- larger than a Troop but smaller than a Squadron.
624 VGS Squadron
624 Squadron's role is as a Volunteer Gliding Squadron operating military Vigilant T.1 motor gliders. They train Air Cadets from local
Combined Cadet ForceThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
and
Air Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organization and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air Commodore Ian R W Stewart, serving...
detachments.
Arromanches Camp
Arromanches Camp is located at Instow 3 miles as the crow flies from Chivenor across the
River TawThe River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel 72km away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
. Although 11 Amphibious Test and Trials Squadron based at this camp is part of
1 Assault Group Royal Marines1 Assault Group Royal Marines provides the Royal Marines expertise in small boat operations in support of littoral operations, both amphibious and riverine activities...
from
PooleRoyal Marines Poole is a British naval base in Poole, England and is the centre for the Royal Marines and Royal Navy amphibious and riverine activities.-History:...
it is a administered by the RMB Chivenor Base Support Regiment that provides messing and support facilities from Chivenor.
The name of the camp comes from the name of the town on
Gold BeachGold Beach was the code name for one of the central D-Day landing beaches that Allied forces used to invade German-occupied France on June 6, 1944, during World War II....
of the Normandy landing from the Second World War. The village of
InstowInstow is a village in north Devon, England. It is on the estuary where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet, between the villages of Westleigh and Yelland and on the opposite bank of Appledore....
is twinned with Arromanches.
Trivia
When Peter Carter is washed ashore in
A Matter of Life and Death, the filming location was
Saunton SandsSaunton Sands on a wet and windy day|right|thumbSaunton Sands is a beach in the English village of Saunton on the North Devon coast near Braunton, popular as a longboard surfing location. Its southern end, 'Crow Point', lies at mouth of the River Taw estuary...
, the seaward (westward) portion of
Braunton BurrowsBraunton Burrows is a sand dune system on the North Devon coast. Braunton Burrows is a prime British sand dune site, the largest sand dune system in England. It is particularly important ecologically because it includes the complete successional range of dune plant communities, with over 400...
dune system. As he talks to the shepherd boy, the
De Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland Mosquito was a British combat aircraft that excelled in versatility during the Second World War. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito adapted to many other roles in during the air war in both the Pacific theatre of Operations and the European theatre,...
that flies over him almost certainly has just taken off from RAF Chivenor, which borders the dune system to the east.
On 23 March 2007, 15 British Royal Navy personnel, from
HMS Cornwall (F99)The sixth and present HMS Cornwall is the first of the Batch 3 Type 22 frigates of the Royal Navy. Cornwall is based at HMNB Devonport in Devon, England, part of the Devonport Flotilla....
, were detained by the Navy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The 15 personnel were released on 4 April 2007, then they were take to Chivenor where they reunited with their families and gave press interviews.
On the 21 November 2008 the BBC
Top Gear (current format)Top Gear is a BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style. The show is currently presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond...
series filmed segments near to Chivenor. In the segments the presenter Jeremy Clarkson takes part in a mock battle on the beach at Instow with around 30 marines from Chivenor and other marines.
The Sea King from 22 squadron A-Flight at Chivenor took a starring role in the National Geographic Channel documentary television series Sea Patrol UK, with B-Flight of 22 Squadron at AAC Wattisham along side Royal Navy and Coastguard units.
External links