RAF Honington - Postwar Use

Postwar Use

With the departure of the USAAF in February 1946, Honington airfield was returned to the RAF. It became a major servicing centre for RAF Transport Command aircraft. During the Berlin Airlift, RAF Honington played a major role in keeping the aircraft of Transport Command flying. In 1949, the station reverted to Bomber Command.

From 1950 to 1956, RAF Honington housed No. 94 Armament Maintenance Unit for bomb storage. The airfield was upgraded during this time to include a 9,000 ft concrete runway.

English Electric Canberra bomber squadroms, 10, XV, 44, and 57 were based at RAF Honington from February 1955 to 1957. 10 and XV Squadrons took part in the Suez Crisis of 1956.

In 1956, RAF Honington also became one of the main V bomber bases maintaining three Vickers Valiant squadrons, Nos, 7, 90, and 199. Later Handley Page Victor Squadrons, 55 and 57 were added. New facilities were constructed including a large East-West runway. These squadrons left in 1965 and the airfield was placed in reserve.

In 1968, the airfield became the UK base for the RAF's Hawker Siddeley (Blackburn) Buccaneer bomber. The first aircraft arrived in November 1969 and deliveries continued throughout the early 1970s. Nos. 12, 15 and 16 squadrons were formed. 15 and 16 squadrons moved to RAF Laarbruch in West Germany in 1971. Also, No. 237 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) formed to provide No. 208 training squadron which was operational in 1974. The Buccaneers operated from RAF Honington until the 1980s when they relocated to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

IX(B) Squadron reformed at RAF Honington in August 1982, becoming the world's first Panavia Tornado GR1 squadron. The aircraft were equipped with WE.177 nuclear laydown bombs. The last aircraft (of the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit) left in 1994.

The station is now the RAF Regiment depot and home to the following RAF Regiment Squadrons: 1 Sqn RAF Regt, 2 Sqn RAF Regt (Parachute), 15 Sqn RAF Regt, 26 Sqn RAF Regt (Joint CBRN), and 27 Sqn RAF Regt.