RAF Halton
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| RAF Halton | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missing image Halton.gif RAF Halton Crest Station Crest | ||
| Role | Ground Training | |
| Location | Near Aylesbury, England | |
| Date Founded | July 1914 (as Army camp) | |
RAF Halton is one of the larger Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton, Buckinghamshire. It stands on land sold to the government by the Rothschild family during the First World War
The station is best known as the home to No. 1 School of Technical Training, which was based at the station after its formation by Lord Trenchard until it moved to RAF Cosford in the early 1990s. The SoTT trained apprentice RAF engineers on a 3 year course, the graduates of which were the best trained airmen engineers in the RAF and would usually go on to become Senior NCOs. Next door to RAF Halton stood Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton, a large military hospital; although the hospital buildings still stand, they are derelict and the surrounding married quarters have been sold off for private housing. A major feature of the station is Halton House Officer's Mess which is housed in Halton House - a French style mansion built by the Rothschild family.
Now primarily a training school, units based at Halton currently include:
- Recruit Training Squadron - basic training for all non-commissioned entrants to the RAF (except RAF Regiment Gunner entrants)
- Catering Training Squadron - Trains RAF caterers
- Airmans Command Squadron - NCO promotion courses
- Admin/Secretarial Training Squadron
- Defence Dental Centre
- Defence Centre of Training Support (DCTS)
The camp also includes a grass airfield primarily used for gliding (an Air Cadet Gliding School and a civilian club) and light aircraft training. This is also the HQ of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Wing, Air Training Corps.