RAF Honington perimeter fence

Image: © Bob Jones Taken: 21 Jan 2009

The sign may deter people from scaling the fence, but this is no longer a 'flying' base; it is used mainly by the RAF Regiment for training and support purposes. RAF Honington opened on 3 May 1937 as one of six operational airfields within No. 3 Group Bomber Command. In late 1942 the station was handed over to the United States 8th Army Air Force and the Advanced Air Depot No.1 was set up to repair and modify the B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Bomber Division. Between 1946 and 1950 transport Command Units were based at Honington and they played a vital part in the Berlin Airlift by maintaining the transport aircraft which flew in and out of the City. The Station returned to its operational flying role with the RAF in 1955 with the arrival of four Canberra Squadron and they soon took part in bombing operations during the Suez Crisis. In March 1994 flying operations ceased and the Honington Air Traffic Control Zone ceased to exist in preparation for the base to become the home of the RAF Regiment. (Notes from the RAF Honington website - http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafhonington/)

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