Brize Norton
BRIZE NORTON: Military aerodrome later large air base
Note: Picture by the author.
IATA: BZZ ICAO: EGVN
Miltary users: Before WW2:
Royal Air Force 2 FTS (Flying Training School)
ATS [Advanced Training School] (Hawker Furys)
WW2: RAF Flying Training Command 23 Group
6 AFU [Advanced Flying Unit] (North American Harvards & Airspeed Oxfords)
No.2 SFTS (Harvards)
21 HGCU (Heavy Glider Conversion Unit) (Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys and Airspeed Horsas)
RAF 38 Group
Sqdn? (Armstrong Whitworth Albermarles)
6 MU (Maintenance Unit)
Post 1945: RAF Training Command?
1953: USAF Strategic Air Command
Boeing B-29 Superfortress’, KB-29s & B-36 Convair B-36 Peacemakers
Boeing B-47E Stratojets, KC-97Gs, Boeing B-52B Stratofortress’ & Convair B-58 Hustlers
MIKE CHARLTON GALLERY
Note: In 2017 I was kindly contacted by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection of British aviation postcards. See - www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
1965: RAF Transport Command:
99 & 511 Sqdns (Bristol Britannias)
From 1975: RAF Transport Command:
53 Sqdn (Short Belfasts),
99 & 511 Sqdns (Bristol Britannias)
10 & 101 Sqdns (Vickers VC-10s)
115 Sqdn ( Avro [BAC] Andovers)
216 Sqdn (Lockheed Tri-Stars)
241 OCU (VC-10s & Tri-Stars)
1998 snapshot: RAF Air Transport/Tankers
10 Sqdn 10 x VC10 C IK
101 Sqdn 14 x VC10 K 2 & K 3 1 x VC10 K 4
216 Sqdn 9 x TriStar K 1, KC 1 & C 2/2A
In 2001 the first of six RAF C-17 Globemasters arrived
Operated today by: 1980s to 2000: MoD/ Royal Air Force
Flying club: RAF Brize Norton Flying Club
Location: 12nm W of Oxford, 4nm SW of Witney
Period of operation: 1937 to present day
Note: This map is reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways: WW2: 04/22 1828x46 hard 08/26 1828x46 hard
Late 1950s, early 1960s. The USAF extended runway 08/26 to 2743m and presumably widened it to 55m? Runway 04/22 fell into disuse during this period
1990/2000: 08/26 3050x55 hard
NOTES: The almost unbelievable degree of apparent ineptitude of many if not most RAF pilots and aircrews during the period leading up to and often during WW2 can be well illustrated here when in November 1939 eighteen aircraft of the so called Advanced Flying Squadron in No.2 FTS based here were posted to PENRHOS for a four week stint at armament training. Three aircraft were ‘lost’ going to PENRHOS and only twelve returned intact to BRIZE NORTON! A third of their aircraft lost within a month or so - can you believe it? Those guys didn’t need an enemy - they were doing quite well without one!
In WW2, presumably around 1944, ex-bomber Armstrong Whitworth Whitley types were used to tow Airspeed Horsa (Heavy Gliders) for the No.21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit. Ironically perhaps, after WW2 BRIZE NORTON was a disposal site for Horsas.
THE USAF MOVE IN
In the early 1950s it seems the giant Convair B.36s were based here. It seems that up to six aerodromes were intended to be adapted to take this aircraft, (MARHAM, LAKENHEATH and SCULTHORPE originally), with runways lengthened and strengthened and possibly widened too , (to 91 metres which didn’t happen). These first three airfields were then regarded by the USAF as being prone to sneek attacks so the B.36 was positioned west to safer sites, FAIRFORD, UPPER HEYFORD and here.
SPYING FOR THE AMERICANS?
On the 26th January, or so the story goes, three Martin RB.57Ds arrived operated by No. 7 Detachment of the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. It seems they were on a TDY named ‘Border Town’ tasked to perform a series of clandestine night ELINT missions along the borders with the ‘Iron Curtain’. It seems they completed several missions and departed home on the 5th April. We now know that RAF crews often performed similar dangerous duties using USAF aircraft during this period but I don’t know if this applied in this particular case.
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Highly recommended reading on this subject is 'Britain on the Brink' by Jim Wilson. He tells us that during this period, October 1962, the USAF had Boeing B-47 Stratojets based here and at FAIRFORD, GREENHAM COMMON and UPPER HEYFORD loaded with nuclear weapons and poised to go at a moments notice. The RAF 'V-bomber' force were at an equal state of readiness.
The USAF also had North American F-100 Super Sabres loaded with 1.1 megaton bombs at high-alert status at BENTWATERS, LAKENHEATH and WETHERSFIELD.
A PERSONAL MEMORY
For a considerable period of time in the late fifties and early sixties BRIZE NORTON was a major US base and riding through the area in the early 1960s on my bicycle for a tour of southern England aerodromes with my friend Mike Parker, (who since became a highly respected aviation engineer), we were amazed to suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a typical US town. All the cars were American and the houses looked strange to us and seemed very American too. And we were certainly impressed seeing almost continuous activity by the B-47 Stratojets based here, which pumped out almost unbelievable plumes of black smoke when taking off.
BRIZE NORTON was also used by one Middle Eastern royal family as a destination for their VC.10 and DC-8 aircraft visiting the UK. (They had a large house in Mayfair guarded by armed civilians). Only in the 1970’s and 80’s? I was employed on a few occasions with my 8.5 ton truck to transport the baggage of this Royal family from Mayfair in central London together with an armed officer from their Army. The larger amount of baggage of the officials and servants following in a smaller ‘unarmed’ luton type van!
SPOTTERS NOTES
In 1977 the Cessna 206 G-ASVN of the RAF Sport Parachute Association and DH.82A Tiger Moth G-AYKC were based here.
ANOTHER PERSONAL MEMORY
I was given the job of moving the Druine D.31 Turbulent G-ASTA from BRIZE NORTON to RAF NEATISHEAD in May 2001. Such a privilege to be airside at BRIZE NORTON. And, you might like to see my pictures of the Phantom at RAF NEATISHEAD in my article on museums and gate guardians.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
