View source for RAF High Wycombe

{{Short description|Royal Air Force headquarters and administrative station in Buckinghamshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = RAF High Wycombe
| ensign=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
| ensign_size=90px
| native_name = 
| partof = 
| location = [[Walters Ash]], [[Buckinghamshire]]
| nearest_town = 
| country = England
| image = RAF High Wycombe - Tony Crowe.jpg
| caption = Aerial view of RAF High Wycombe.
| image2 = RAF High Wycombe badge.png
| image2_size = 150px
| caption2 = {{Language with name/for|la|Non sibi|Not for ourselves|break=yes}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L.G.|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/156 156]|edition=1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/156}}</ref>
| pushpin_map = Buckinghamshire
| pushpin_label = RAF High Wycombe
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Buckinghamshire
| coordinates = {{Coord|51|40|53|N|000|48|07|W|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| type = RAF non-flying station
| code = 
| site_area = 
| height = 
| ownership = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| operator = [[Royal Air Force]]
| controlledby = [[RAF Air Command]]
| open_to_public = 
| condition = 
| built = {{Start date|1938}}
| builder = 
| used = 1938 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| materials = 
| fate = 
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = [[Wing Commander]] Jenny Dennis
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = 
| occupants = 
* [[RAF Air Command|HQ RAF Air Command]]
* [[Joint Force Air Component Commander]]
* [[No. 1 Group RAF|HQ No. 1 Group (Air Combat)]]
* [[Joint Ground Based Air Defence Headquarters]]
* [[No. 2 Group RAF|HQ No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)]]
* [[No. 11 Group RAF|No. 11 Group (Multi-domain Operations)]]
* [[No. 22 Group RAF|HQ No. 22 Group (Training)]]
* [[European Air Group|HQ European Air Group]]
* [[United Kingdom Space Command]]
| website = {{Official website|https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-high-wycombe/ }}
}}
'''Royal Air Force High Wycombe''' or more simply '''RAF High Wycombe''' is a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Royal Air Force station|station]], situated in the village of [[Walters Ash]], near [[High Wycombe]] in [[Buckinghamshire]], [[England]]. It houses [[RAF Air Command|Headquarters Air Command]], and was originally designed to house [[RAF Bomber Command]] in the late 1930s. The station is also the headquarters of the [[European Air Group]] and the [[United Kingdom Space Command]].

The location of the station was originally suggested by [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Alan Oakeshott when the [[Air Ministry]] was seeking a new, secure, site for Bomber Command away from [[London]]. Wing Commander Oakeshott was [[Killed in action|killed in combat]] in 1942 and is commemorated on the [[Naphill War Memorial]] and in the name of the station's welfare centre, opened in 2011.

The motto of RAF High Wycombe in [[Latin]] is 'Non Sibi', which translates as 'not for ourselves'.

==History==
[[File:Walters Ash, Buckinghamshire - Oxfordshire Churches.jpg|thumb|left|Supermarine Spitfire IIa, P7666, EB-Z, "Observer Corps", the personal mount of Olympic Hurdler and OC, 41 Squadron, Sqn Ldr [[Don Finlay]], 1940–41, is the gate guardian at RAF High Wycombe.]]
===Construction===
Prior to the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]], the [[Air Ministry]] sought a safe location for [[RAF Bomber Command]] away from London. The wooded area near [[Naphill]], [[Walters Ash]] and [[Lacey Green]] was suggested by [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Alan Oakeshott as ideal for this purpose, since the trees could provide natural [[camouflage]] from the air.<ref name="RAF history">{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/history/index.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404183058/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/history/index.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 April 2012 |title=History |year=2012 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

Buildings were designed to resemble other uses, such as the Officers' Mess which was built to look like a [[manor house]]. The fire station was built with a tower to resemble a village church. Trees were preserved as much as possible to maintain the camouflage they provided. Roads were laid out so as to avoid most trees. The building work was carried out by [[John Laing Group|John Laing and Son]],<ref>Ritchie, p. 91</ref> with 400 workmen and 80 specialists involved. Tunnels were dug to connect each block on the station, linked to an Operations Block built {{convert|55|ft}} below ground.<ref name="RAF history"/>

To preserve secrecy, the station was known as "Southdown" in March 1940, as part of a directive by the Air Ministry. The site's postal address was given as "[[General Post Office|GPO]] High Wycombe."<ref name="History">{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/aboutus/history.cfm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908142518/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/aboutus/history.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2012 |title=History of Royal Air Force High Wycombe |year=2012 |publisher=Royal Air Force |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

Whilst High Wycombe was not an official flying station, a small airfield was used in the nearby village of [[Lacey Green]], {{convert|1|mi}} to the north. The airfield was unpaved and was used for small flights into and out of RAF High Wycombe and was only used between June 1944 and late 1945.<ref>{{cite web|title=RAF Lacey Green|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/lacey-green/|website=Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust|access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Burnett|first1=David|title=The Best of Lives; Air Commodore Wilf Burnett|date=2010|publisher=Author House|isbn=978-1-4520-6480-2|page=129}}</ref>

High Wycombe was also used by the [[325th Air Division|325th Photographic Wing]], [[United States Army Air Forces]], from 9 August 1944 until 20 October 1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/325th_Reconnaissance_Wing.cfm|title=325th Reconnaissance Wing|publisher=Army Air Corps Museum|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref>

===Post-War===
Headquarters, [[7th Air Division]] of the [[Strategic Air Command]], supporting SAC operations in UK relocated to High Wycombe from [[RAF South Ruislip]] in 1958, and commanded all SAC operations from there until 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanairmuseum.com/place/173|title=High Wycombe|publisher=American Air Museum in Britain|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref>

The [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|station badge]], incorporating a thunderbolt and two pillars to symbolise the support the station gave to Bomber Command, was approved on 23 November 1966.<ref>{{cite book|title=Knights of the Sky: Numbered Flying Squadrons|first=Barry R. |last=Holliss|year=1992|publisher=Enthusiasts Publications|isbn=978-0907700166}}</ref> RAF Bomber Command merged with [[RAF Fighter Command]] to form [[RAF Strike Command]] at RAF High Wycombe on 30 April 1968.<ref name=time60>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline196069.cfm RAF Timeline 1960–1968]RAF {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301193157/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/rafhistorytimeline196069.cfm |date=1 March 2012 }}</ref> The station's title, Royal Air Force Station High Wycombe, was officially approved on 1 January 1969.<ref name="History"/> From 1983 to 1984 there was a [[peace camp]] protesting against the building of a bunker there at that time to house RAF Strike Command.<ref>[http://peace.maripo.com/p_camps.htm Peace Camps]</ref>

On 1 July 1994, Headquarters [[Allied Forces Northern Europe|Allied Forces North Western Europe]] (AFNORTHWEST) of [[NATO]] was established at High Wycombe.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Brace by Wire to Fly by Wire|last=March|first=Peter R.|publisher=Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprises|year=1998|isbn=1-899808-06-X|location=RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England|pages=162}}</ref>

RAF Strike Command merged with [[RAF Personnel and Training Command]] to form [[RAF Air Command]] at RAF High Wycombe on 1 April 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=HQ Air Command|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/rafcommand.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701133558/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/rafcommand.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2008|website=Royal Air Force|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=15 August 2016}}</ref> Since 2009, the station has been responsible for reviewing [[UFO]] sightings as part of efforts to identify any possible unauthorised military incursions into UK airspace. Civil servants tasked with reviewing such sightings relocated to the station from the [[Ministry of Defence Main Building]] in London.<ref>{{cite news |title=New home for UFO investigations |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7816199.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date=7 January 2009 |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

The Ministry of Defence and [[Serco]] agreed a ten-year contract in February 2010 whereby Serco would provide support services at RAF High Wycombe and [[RAF Halton]], including leisure services, general engineering and catering.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/2010/rafstationscontract.asp |title=Serco in new ten year contract to support two key RAF stations |date=24 February 2010 |publisher=Serco Group |access-date=8 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227225546/http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/2010/rafstationscontract.asp |archive-date=27 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The actor [[David Jason]] officially opened the station's new welfare centre, named after Wing Commander Alan Oakeshott, in July 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir David Jason visits RAF High Wycombe |last=Phillips |first=Neil |url=http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/9118019.Sir_David_Jason_visits_RAF_High_Wycombe/ |newspaper=Bucks Free Press |date=3 July 2011 |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref> An Armed Forces Community Covenant between the station and [[Wycombe District|Wycombe District Council]] was signed on 16 April 2012, designed to strengthen the links between the military and the local community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/WycombeCouncilSignsCommunityCovenantWithRafStation.htm |title=Wycombe Council signs Community Covenant with RAF station |work=Defence Policy and Business |date=19 April 2012 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=6 May 2012}}</ref> Personnel exercised the station's [[Freedom of the City#Military privilege|Freedom]] of Wycombe District on 29 May 2012, parading through [[Princes Risborough]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/RafHighWycombeExercisesFreedomOfTheDistrict.htm |title=RAF High Wycombe exercises Freedom of the District |date=30 May 2012 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=3 July 2012}}</ref>

== Based units ==
The following notable units are based at RAF High Wycombe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701062353/http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhighwycombe/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2009|title=RAF High Wycombe|website=RAF High Wycombe|language=en|access-date=1 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadailyreportxml/Written-Questions-Answers-Statements-Daily-Report-Commons-2018-07-24.pdf|title=Written Answers to Questions – Air Force (165498)|last=Lancaster|first=Mark|date=24 July 2018|website=UK Parliament|page=17|access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

=== Royal Air Force ===
'''[[RAF Air Command|Air Command]]'''
* Headquarters Air Command
* RAF Safety Centre
* RAF Digital
[[No. 1 Group RAF|'''No. 1 Group (Air Combat)''']]
* Headquarters No. 1 Group (Air Combat)

[[No. 2 Group RAF|'''No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)''']]
* Headquarters No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)

'''[[No. 11 Group RAF|No. 11 Group (Multi-domain Operations)]]'''

Headquarters No. 11 Group (Multi-domain Operations)
*[[Joint Force Air Component Headquarters|Joint Force Air Component Commander]]
*National Air & Space Operations Centre (NASOC)

[[No. 22 Group RAF|'''No. 22 Group (Training)''']]
* Headquarters No. 22 Group (Training)

=== Other ===
'''[[European Air Group]]'''
* Headquarters European Air Group

'''[[United Kingdom Space Command]]'''
* Headquarters UK Space Command
** UK Space Operations Centre<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-space-operations-centre/about |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
*** 1 Space Operations Squadron<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Two UK Space Command units to be rewarded with squadron status |url=https://www.forces.net/space/two-uk-space-command-units-be-rewarded-squadron-status |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.forces.net |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Aviation}}
*[[List of Royal Air Force stations]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book|first=Berry|last=Ritchie|title=The Good Builder: The John Laing Story|publisher=James & James|year=1997}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|RAF High Wycombe}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.wycombeworldonline.co.uk/ Wycombe World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211183106/http://www.wycombeworldonline.co.uk/ |date=11 December 2013 }} – RAF High Wycombe station magazine

{{Royal Air Force}}
{{Royal Air Force stations}}
{{Royal Air Force stations in Buckinghamshire}}
{{USAF Bases in the UK}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{USAAF 8th Air Force UK}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:High Wycombe}}
[[Category:Military installations established in 1938]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force stations in Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:High Wycombe]]
[[Category:Cold War military history of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in England]]