RAF Lyneham

RAF Lyneham 18th June 2009

Claire and I flew to Lyneham by Hercules, flying above the clouds with a sea of white beneath us. Approaching the airfield is spectacular as it is poised on a bluff rising out of the countryside below.

RAF Lyneham has been the home of United Kingdom military air transport operations since March 1943. The purchase of the Hercules fleet in the late '60s lead to this station becoming the centre of excellence for tactical air transport and one of the largest and busiest operational stations in the RAF. The Station's motto is:

'S U P P O R T - S A V E - S U P P L Y'

The Station's principal task is to ensure that the four operational squadrons based at Lyneham - Numbers XXIV, 30, 47 and LXX Squadrons - are able to meet their commitments.
These squadrons conduct Strategic airlift (inter-theatre, generally long range) originating from Lyneham; and Tactical airlift (intra-theatre, generally shorter range) using assets deployed for short or extended periods. In addition, all Squadrons have crews trained in an extended range of capabilities, including strip landing and air delivery by day and by night.

The Station is proud of its close working relationship with the Army, in particular with 16 Air Assault Brigade. An independent Army unit is based at Lyneham - 47 Air Despatch Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps - which is responsible for the preparation and despatch of all equipment dropped by parachute from the Hercules.

I liked Lynham and was sad to hear that it is planned for closure in 2012 when Brize Norton will become the single hub for air transportation and air to air refuelling.

We were encouraged to try out the guns used by the RAF squadron on deployment. This is not my field, Charles is the one who knows about guns and apparently I don't hold one well. You will see this from the photograph taken at the time. I was happier looking at the first aid kit carried by everyone which has helped save a number of lives since their introduction.

We were privileged to meet the volunteers who take responsibility for the repatriation of those military personnel who have died in theatre. I was impressed by the attention to every detail by the team we met, the awareness of the needs of the families being paramount.

This was a very emotional visit that demonstrated the sensitivity shown to the wider family of the RAF, relatives and friends.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFlyneham/