Wattisham airfield |


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	Albums Wattisham airfield [366] 2015 Attack Helicopter Display Team [28] Apache AH1 operations [174] Czech Air Force Visit [7] Police and 'B' Flight, 22 Sqn [47] Visitors and ex-residents [66] Historic Wattisham [16] AAC Apache 100k hours [19] An-124 visit 09/2011 [9] Apache AH1 detail images [77] RAF Mildenhall [563] RAF Mildenhall 2018 [27] RAF Mildenhall 2017 [34] RAF Mildenhall 2016 [31] RAF Mildenhall 2015 [25] RAF Mildenhall 2014 [132] RAF Mildenhall 2013 [99] RAF Mildenhall 2012 [36] RAF Mildenhall 2011 [79] RAF Mildenhall 2010 [51] RAF Mildenhall 2009 [23] RAF Mildenhall 2008 [26] RAF Lakenheath [381] RAF Lakenheath 2018 [14] RAF Lakenheath 2017 [45] RAF Lakenheath 2016 [60] RAF Lakenheath 2015 [29] RAF Lakenheath 2014 [30] RAF Lakenheath 2013 [17] RAF Lakenheath 2012 [54] RAF Lakenheath 2011 [63] RAF Lakenheath 2010 [40] RAF Lakenheath 2009 [29] RAF Coningsby [780] RAF Coningsby 2018 [32] RAF Coningsby 2017 [24] RAF Coningsby 2016 [31] RAF Coningsby 2015 [62] RAF Coningsby 2014 [17] Exercise Green Flag 2013 [34] RAF Coningsby 2013 [66] RAF Coningsby 2012 [138] RAF Coningsby 2012 open day [11] RAF Coningsby 2011 [97] RAF Coningsby 2010 [98] RAF Coningsby 2009 [32] RAF Coningsby 2008 [29] RAF Coningsby 2010 open day [15] 493rd FS at Coningsby, 2009 [47] Older Coningsby pictures [29] 6 Sqn Jaguars, 2006 [18] RAF Cottesmore [36] RAF Cottesmore 2010 [13] RAF Cottesmore 2008 [23] RAF Marham [51] RAF Marham 2010 [9] RAF Marham 2008 [14] Older RAF Marham images. [28] RNAS Yeovilton [40] Yeovilton Air Day 2009 [24] 801 NAS SHAR finale [16] Rougham shows [66] Rougham 2011 [16] Rougham 2010 [14] Rougham 2009 [17] Rougham 2008 [10] Older Rougham pictures. [9] Duxford shows and visits [141] Duxford May show 2017 [25] Duxford D-Day show 2014 [31] Duxford May show 2013 [21] Duxford American Air Day 2012 [7] Duxford May show 2012 [10] Duxford September show 2011 [12] Duxford autumn show 2010 [11] Duxford shows 2008 [13] Duxford shows 2007 and earlier [11] Colchester military events [35] Colchester show 2013 [16] Colchester Military Festivals [19] Norwegians to North Weald [16] Frisian Flag and Wittmund [32] RAF Watton gliding [24] Scenery pictures [23] Elmsett Open days [10] Onboard USS George H W Bush [20] HMS Dauntless [10] Exercise Indra Dhanush 07 [10] Aviation odds & ends [42] Published images [19] 2742 photos


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	display all photos in all sub-albums Calendar Calendar Language Language Brasil [BR]Brasil Catalan [CA]Catalan Česky [CZ]Česky Dansk [DK]Dansk Deutsch [DE]Deutsch English [UK]English Español [AR]Español Español [ES]Español Français [FR]Français Français [QC]Français Hrvatski [HR]Hrvatski Italiano [IT]Italiano Latviešu [LV]Latviešu Magyar [HU]Magyar Nederlands [NL]Nederlands Norwegian [NO]Norwegian Polski [PL]Polski Português [PT]Português Română [RO]Română Slovenšcina [SL]Slovenšcina Slovensky [SK]Slovensky Srpski [SR]Srpski Svenska [SE]Svenska Tiếng Việt [VN]Tiếng Việt Türkçe [TR]Türkçe Македонски [MK]Македонски Русский [RU]Русский Српски [SR]Српски עברית [IL]עברית العربية [AR]العربية فارسی [IR]فارسی ქართული [GE]ქართული 日本語 [JP]日本語简体中文 [CN]简体中文 Home / Albums / Wattisham airfield Wattisham is my local airfield, being located just a few miles from Stowmarket. The airfield has a long and distingushed history, having been built and completed just in time for war in 1939 and initally operating as a light bomber base with RAF Blenheims. The very first RAF raid on Germany was mounted from Wattisham. The USAAF 8th Air Force operated the 479th Fighter Group from Wattisham later in the war, and the airfield became a RAF fighter station post war, remaining as such until the Phantoms were withdrawn in 1992. Wattisham was handed over to the Army Air Corps, and is now the home to all frontline AAC Apache units. The RAF still have a small presence with 'B' Flight, 22 Sqn, RAF operating Sea King HAR3A's in the Search & Rescue role. Suffolk police also operate their Air Support Unit from one of the former Phantom Hardened Aircraft Shelters. Despite what many think, viewing and photography at Wattisham is still quite possible, although it has to be remembered that security is higher than in the RAF days. For further information on Wattisham's history, I would recommend Dave Eade's recently published book; 'RAF Wattisham: A Pictorial History', which contains one of my Apache images. 2015 Attack Helicopter Display Team 28 photos For the 2015 season the AAC Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham appeared for the first time with a pairs demo. Going by the name 'Gunship' the team appeared at a number of airshows during the season. Most of my images were taken during practise sessions at Wattisham prior to public events. Apache AH1 operations 174 photos This folder will contain all images of Apaches taken in and around Wattisham airfield that are not in other, more specific albums. The airfield is now home to all six frontline AAC AH squadrons, spread between 3 and 4 Regiments, AAC. Only aircraft retained with Westlands at Yeovil and the dozen airframes assigned to 673 Sqn, the AH training squadron at Middle Wallop are not based here. Czech Air Force Visit 7 photos A few images of one of the most unusual visitors to Wattisham in recent years. The arrival and overnight stop by two Czech Republic Airforce helicopters. The Mi-24 Hind and Mi-17 Hip were actually enroute to Scotland for the weekend Leuchars airshow. Police and 'B' Flight, 22 Sqn 47 photos Wattisham is also home to the local Royal Air Force Search & Rescue flight. Operated by 'B' Flight, 22 Sqn, the two Sea King HAR3A's are flown from a newly built hangar on the site previously occupied by the old 'Q' Shed. The former Suffolk Police Eurocopter EC-135P-2+ is now operated by the NPAS (National Police Air Service) from the North side HAS site. Visitors and ex-residents 66 photos Wattisham is not noted as a airfield that recieves many visitors. It does function as a refuelling stop for many military rotary aircraft transiting to and from Europe, and does occasionally host large fixed wing transports, including the Antonov An-124's airlifting Apache's to and from the US. Although the AAC only operate Apaches from Wattisham now, Lynx and Gazelle were based here until recently. Historic Wattisham 16 photos A few images from the good old days when Wattisham vibrated to the sound of the mighty Phantom. These are scanned in from prints, so lack quality compared to modern images. AAC Apache 100k hours 19 photos In May 2011, the AAC Apache fleet passed a 100 thousand flying hours, a third of which has been flown in Afghanistan since 2006. A media event was hosted at Wattisham on the 25th May to celebrate this, coinciding with the breaking news that the type would be deployed over Libya as well. An-124 visit 09/2011 9 photos The latest Antonov An-124 arrived at Wattisham on Sunday, 25th September to load Apaches for Exercise Crimson Eagle in the US.


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