RAF Benson

RAF Benson is a Royal Air Force main operating base located near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. Construction of the base began in 1937 as part of the 1930s RAF expansion program and it officially opened in 1939. During the Second World War, it initially served as a training unit for Fairey Battle light bombers and Avro Anson aircraft. It later became a significant center for photographic reconnaissance, hosting No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit which operated Supermarine Spitfires and de Havilland Mosquitos for intelligence gathering over enemy territory. New paved runways were built in 1942. After the war, Benson continued its photographic reconnaissance role into the early 1950s and then came under Transport Command in 1953, operating Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1 tactical transport aircraft until the early 1970s. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it mainly served in a support role, housing administrative and communication units, and later Hawker Siddeley Andovers for radio and navigation-aid calibration.

RAF Benson's current support helicopter role began in 1992 with the arrival of Westland Wessex HC2 and subsequently Westland Puma HC1 helicopters. In 1999, the RAF's Support Helicopter Force was amalgamated into the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command, now known as Joint Aviation Command. In 2001, No. 28 Squadron reformed at Benson to operate the AgustaWestland Merlin HC3 support helicopter. The Merlin fleet was transferred to the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force in 2014-2016. In 2015, the Chinook Operational Conversion Flight, comprising Boeing Chinooks, transferred to Benson to form a joint Puma and Chinook OCU under a reformed No. 28 Squadron. The Joint Helicopter Support Squadron also moved to Benson in 2016. In 2020, the Rotary Wing Operational Evaluation and Training Unit adopted the No. 22 Squadron nameplate, taking on the operational testing and evaluation role for Joint Aviation Command.

Currently, RAF Benson is home to No. 22 Squadron (JAC Operational Evaluation Unit), No. 28 Squadron (Chinook HC6A training unit), and No. 33 Squadron (part of the Support Helicopter Force). It also hosts the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying Grob Tutor T1 light training aircraft. The base features a Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) with six helicopter flight simulators for training RAF, Royal Navy, British Army, NATO, and foreign crews. Civilian operations include the National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, both operating Airbus H135 helicopters, and the RAF Benson Flying Club. The station has one active runway (01/19) made of asphalt and concrete.