name	Royal Air Force Wittering
image-width	140px
icao	EGXT
type	Military
operator	Royal Air Force
location	Cambridgeshire
elevation-f	273
elevation-m	83
coordinates type	airport
coordinates region	GB
pushpin map	Cambridgeshire
pushpin label	EGXT
pushpin map caption	Location in Cambridgeshire
metric-rwy	yes
r1-number	08/26
r1-length-f	9,052
r1-length-m	2,759
r1-surface	Asphalt
footnotes	}}

RAF Wittering is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

History[link]

RFC Stamford[link]

Wittering's use as a military airfield dates back to 1916 when it began as RFC Stamford.

Formation[link]

RAF Wittering officially opened in 1924. The Central Flying School was at Wittering from 1926 until 1935, when it became a fighter base, and the CFS moved to RAF Upavon.

Second World War[link]

During the Second World War, the station was very active during the Blitz in 1940/1 in No. 12 Group (controlled from RAF Watnall in Nottingham) as it was the main fighter station for a lot of the southern East Midlands, and fighters from the station would often patrol as far as Birmingham. RAF Collyweston, a satellite station, was next door until 1941, although the next main fighter station further north was RAF Coleby Grange. The airfield was bombed five times, with seventeen people being killed on March 14, 1941. Aircraft from the station downed 151 Luftwaffe planes and 89 V-1 flying bombs. Hugh Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Putney served at the station, as did Andrew Humphrey (later Chief of the Defence Staff from 1976 to 1977, who flew Spitfires with 266 Sqn).

Post-war use[link]

The current airfield was created by the merging of RAF Wittering and nearby RAF Collyweston, by the construction of a 1.7-mile runway between them in 1941.

During the cold war RAF Wittering was a vital part of the strategic nuclear deterrent, with a runway built in 1954 long enough for the 'V' bombers (Avro Vulcan, Handley Page Victor and Vickers Valiant). Until January 1969 two squadrons (100 and 139) of Victor B.2 bombers equipped with Blue Steel stand-off missiles were part of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) force of the RAF. Two nuclear armed aircraft were permanently on 15 minutes readiness to take off. They were parked within of the westerly runway threshold. In times of higher tension, four bombers could be stationed beside the runway on the ORP (Operational Readiness Platform). If the aircraft were manned they could all be airborne within 30 seconds, a feat often demonstrated at V force stations across the country. Since the incoming missile warning from RAF Fylingdales BMEWS was only four minutes before impact this ensured if the country came under attack, the bombers would be scrambled and able to retaliate.

In 1968, the base became part of Strike Command. From October 1972 until August 1976, there were two squadrons flying the Hawker Hunter, which then moved to RAF Brawdy in south Wales.

Harriers[link]

From 1968 until late 2010 the station was known as the Home of the Harrier, although the first Harriers arrived for No. 1 Sqn in August 1969: the first squadron to have a vertical take off aircraft. The squadron left the base in August 2000. No. 4 (R) Sqn, formerly 233OCU, was the last Harrier flying squadron based at Wittering, departing upon disbandment in January 2011.

In May 1971, four aircraft from 1 Sqn operated from HMS Ark Royal, the first time the Harrier had operated from an aircraft carrier, under Wing Commander (later Sir) Ken Hayr (later killed at the Biggin Hill airshow on 2 June 2001 in a de Havilland Vampire).

In 1982, six Harrier GR3 aircraft were taken down to the Falklands on SS Atlantic Conveyor, and survived the Exocet attack, later to board HMS Hermes in May 1982. In June 1982, 12 GR3 aircraft were flown from Wittering, via RAF Ascension Island and mid-air refuelling with Victor tankers, on an 8,000 mile journey to the Falklands in 17 hours, which set an RAF record. The Harriers were from 1(F) Sqn. On 27 May 1982, Sqn Ldr (later Gp Capt) Bob Iveson was hit by anti-aircraft fire from GADA 601's 35mm cannon, and he ejected seconds before his aircraft exploded in mid-air near Goose Green. He evaded capture for two and a half days before being rescued by helicopter.

In January 1983, Sqn Ldr Brenda Palmer became the Senior Air Traffic Controller at the base, the first woman in the RAF to hold that title.

Towards the end of October 2010 parliament announced that the Harrier would be retired and on 15 December 2010 they were to fly over RAF Wittering amongst other RAF stations, from RAF Cottesmore. Due to the freezing conditions and low-cloud cover, the Wittering flypast could not take place.

RAF Regiment [link]

From 1970 to 1983 the station was also home to No. 5 Wing RAF Regiment consisting of No.15 and No.51 Squadrons RAF Regiment. On 21 June 1982, the Queen visited the station, as part of celebrations of the RAF Regiment's 40th anniversary.

In October 2001 No.37 Squadron GBAD RAF Regiment arrived from RAF Bruggen but was later disbanded in March 2006.

Current use[link]

It was announced in December 2009 that RAF Wittering was to become the sole operational base for the RAF/RN Harriers of Joint Force Harrier after the announcement that RAF Cottesmore was to close. However as a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Harrier fleet was withdrawn in December 2010 with all of Wittering's Harriers being stored at RAF Cottesmore.

The station has re-roled to be the home of the 'A4 Force' (the Royal Air Force's Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSUs)), with No 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing and its subordinate ACSSUs, 2 MT Squadron and 3 Mobile Catering Squadron (formerly the Mobile Catering Support Unit (MCSU)) moving in from RAF Stafford. Elements of the Armament Support Unit (ASU) also returned to RAF Wittering from RAF Marham in Norfolk to be part of the newly formed No 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing, which also took 5001 Squadron under command from 85 Wing when that unit also relocated from RAF Stafford. The Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) based in Peterborough, continues to be attached to and parented by the Station. The station is also home to 3 Sqn RAF Regiment who moved to Wittering from RAF Aldergrove in 2006 after a 7 month tour in Iraq. 3 Sqn are part of No 1 Force Protection Wing, also based at Wittering, 1 FP Wing also consists of 504 Sqn Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at nearby RAF Cottesmore.

In November 2011 the Ministry of Defence announced that 44 Service personnel from HQ 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, part of the Royal Engineers, will move from Waterbeach Barracks to RAF Wittering in the summer of 2013.

Seniority[link]

The station commander of RAF Wittering is currently Group Captain Richard Hill

Gliding[link]

RAF Wittering is also the birth place of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association's Four Counties Gliding Club, originally set up in March 1955. Following several relocations, the club returned to Wittering in late 2005. The RAFGSA East-Midlands Gliding Club was also based at Wittering during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

RAF Wittering is also HQ of the Air Training Corps South East Midlands Wing.

Subordinate and lodger units[link]

No. 42 (Expeditionary Support) Wing

*No 71 (Inspection and Repair) Sqn

*No 5001 Squadron

*No 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron

*No 93 (Expeditionary Armaments) Sqn based at RAF Marham

No 85 (Expeditionary Logistics (EL)) Wing

*No 1 Expeditionary Logistics Sqn

*No 2 Mechanical Transport Sqn

*No 3 Mobile Catering Sqn

*Joint Aircraft Recovery & Transportation Squadron (JARTS) [based at RAF St Athan]

No. 4 (Reserve) Squadron

Headquarters No 1 RAF Force Protection Wing

No. 3 Squadron RAF Regiment

Harrier Aerosystems Squadron

Low Flying Operations Squadron

Station Commanders[link]

The Station Commander ordinariily holds the rank of Group Captain. The ranks shown below, where above Group Captain, indicates higher ranks the former station commanders achieved.

Air Cdre Dudley Radford CB 1948

AVM Sir Alan Boxer 1958-9

Gp Capt Leonard Trent VC DFC 1959-62

AVM John Lawrence CB 1962-4

AVM Paul Mallorie CB 1964-9

AVM Peter Williamson CB CBE DFC 1969-70

AVM Alan Merriman CB CBE 1970-2

Gp Capt IH Kepple 1972-

Air Mshl Sir Laurence Jones 1975-6

AVM David Brook CBE 1976-8

Gp Capt AG Bridges MBE 1978-1981

Gp Capt P King CBE 1981-1983

AVM Peter Dodworth CB OBE March 1983- February 1985

AVM Peter Millar CB February 1985- 1986

AVM John Feesey 1986-8

Gp Capt JH Thompson 1988-

Gp Capt J Connolly 1995-7

Air Chief Marshal Chris Moran 1997-9

Gp Capt AFP Dezonie 1999-2001

Gp Capt A Kirkpatrick 2001-3

Gp Capt M Jenkins 2003-5

Air Commodore Ashley Stevenson 2005 - November 2006

Gp Capt Ro Atherton November 2006 - June 2008 (Wittering's first female commander)

Gp Capt Paul Higgins June 2008 - December 2009

Gp Captain Richard Knighton December 2009 -

See also[link]

List of Harrier Jump Jet family losses

References[link]

External links[link]

RAF Wittering

Four Counties Gliding Club website

News items[link]

Airmen told 'no uniforms in city'

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Cambridgeshire Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in the United Kingdom Category:Royal Air Force stations in England Category:Buildings and structures in Peterborough Category:Military units and formations established in 1924 Category:1924 establishments in England Category:1924 establishments in the United Kingdom

de:RAF Wittering fa:فرودگاه نیروی هوایی سلطنتی ویترینگ

name	Sophie
title	Countess of Wessex (more)
spouse	Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex(m. 1999)
issue	Lady Louise WindsorJames, Viscount Severn
full name	Sophie Helen
house	House of Windsor
father	Christopher Rhys-Jones
mother	Mary Rhys-Jones
birth date	January 20, 1965
birth place	Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford
religion	Anglican (Church of England)

Sophie, Countess of Wessex (Sophie Helen; ''née'' Rhys-Jones; born 20 January 1965), is the wife of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and member of the British Royal Family. Her husband is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Married in 1999, she worked in public relations until 2002 and now supports her husband in his Royal duties. The Earl and Countess have two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

Early life[link]

Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on 20 January 1965, the second child and first daughter of Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), a retired tyre salesman, and his wife, Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a secretary, who already had a son, David. Sophie was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident more than a decade before Sophie was born. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany, is her father's stepbrother; both men spent their early life in Sarawak, North Borneo, then a British Protectorate ruled by the White Rajahs.

While she was still young, the Rhys-Jones family moved from Wales to Brenchley, Kent. She began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School, before moving on to Kent College, Pembury where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared a flat in Fulham and who later became her Lady-in-Waiting. She then trained as a secretary at West Kent College, Tonbridge.

Career[link]

She began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including four years at Capital Radio, where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media. She also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year travelling and working in Australia. In 1996, with enough experience behind her, Rhys-Jones then launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin.

In 2001, a ''News of the World'' undercover reporter, Mazher Mahmood, posing as a sheikh, recorded the Countess making disparaging comments about certain members of the British Government and appearing to use her royal status in order to gain clientele. The comments were subsequently published in ''The Mail on Sunday'' newspaper, and then by other media outlets. Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were 'selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue'. Subsequently, in 2002, both the Earl and Countess announced that they would quit their business interests in order to focus on royal duties and aid The Queen in her Golden Jubilee year.

Marriage[link]

The engagement of Sophie Rhys-Jones and The Prince Edward, the youngest son of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, was announced on 6 January 1999. Their wedding took place on 19 June of the same year at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral.

The couple had met six years earlier, in 1993, at a charity event, and began their relationship soon afterwards.

On the day of their marriage, The Queen declared her youngest son would eventually be created Duke of Edinburgh, once that title reverts to the Crown, ''ie.'' after both The Queen and Prince Philip die and Charles as heir apparent to his father's titles as well as those of his mother becomes King – Sophie should then assume the title of Duchess of Edinburgh. Until then The Prince Edward will be Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn, the latter title reflecting his bride's Welsh origins. Upon her marriage Rhys-Jones became ''Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex''. After the union, the couple moved to Bagshot Park, in Surrey.

In December 2001, the Countess was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell, whereupon it was discovered that she was suffering from a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. Two years later, she gave birth to a daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, on 8 November 2003. It was a premature birth, resulting from a sudden placental abruption that placed both the mother and child at risk, and the Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital, while The Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius. The Countess returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, James, Viscount Severn. The children, per prior agreement between The Queen and their parents, will either not have or use (depending on interpretation) the titles of Prince and Princess, nor the style Royal Highness.

The Countess of Wessex is particularly close to her mother-in-law, The Queen, with whom she rides and shares an interest in military history. The Countess is reported to be the first of The Queen's children-in-law with whom she has enjoyed a permanently warm relationship. Due to this fact, The Countess is privileged enough to be the only member of the Royal Family to ride in the State Limousine with The Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

Royal duties[link]

The Countess of Wessex began to take on royal duties after her wedding, with her first overseas tour being to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000. She also became patron of a number of organisations, including the SAFC Foundation (the charitable arm of Sunderland AFC), and Girlguiding UK. In 2006, the Countess also lent her support to the Born in Bradford research project, which is investigating causes of low birth weight and infant mortality. The Earl and Countess of Wessex are the primary representatives of The Queen at foreign royal events. In this capacity, the Countess has attended the weddings of Prince Haakon of Norway, Princess Martha Louise of Norway, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the 40th birthday celebrations for Prince Willem-Alexander and the coronation and the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

In December 2011, the Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. On the same trip, the royal couple visited Bahrain, and received two gifts of jewels from the Bahraini royal family and Prime Minister. Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the Bahraini people. In February and March 2012, The Earl and Countess visited the Caribbean for the Diamond Jubilee, visiting St Lucia; Barbados; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Grenada; Trinidad and Tobago; Montserrat; St Kitts and Nevis; Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights of the tour included the 50th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations in St. Lucia, a joint address from both houses of the Barbados Parliament and a visit to sites affected by the recent volcanic eruptions in Montserrat

Criticism[link]

The Countess of Wessex has been criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the royal family of Bahrain during an official day-long visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by Bahrain’s king and a second set by the country’s prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifa. Her husband, the earl, received a pen and a watch as well as a silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who also gave the countess a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed.

Critics said the countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to political protesters in Bahrain. Denis MacShane, a former Foreign Office minister, said: “Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime.”

Gift guidelines[link]

Royal Family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts drafted in 2003 state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself (..) Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action."

Titles, styles, honours and arms[link]

Name	The Countess of Wessex
Dipstyle	Her Royal Highness
Offstyle	Your Royal Highness
Altstyle	Ma'am }}

Titles and styles[link]

20 January 196519 June 1999: ''Miss'' Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones 19 June 1999present: ''Her Royal Highness'' The Countess of Wessex

Sophie's style and title in full: ''Her Royal Highness The Princess Edward Antony Richard Louis, Countess of Wessex, Viscountess Severn, Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem''.

Honours[link]

''See also List of honours of the British Royal Family by country''

Decorations[link]

23px 2004: Member of the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II 23px 2005: Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (DStJ) 23px 2010: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

Medals[link]

23px 7 June 2005: Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan

Honorary military appointments[link]

; Canada Colonel-in-Chief of the South Alberta Light Horse (since 2005) Colonel-in-Chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment

; United Kingdom Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Army Music Royal Colonel of the 5th Battalion The Rifles Honorary Air Commodore Royal Air Force Wittering Ship's Sponsor of HMS ''Daring''

Arms[link]

Notes	The Countess bears the arms of her husband, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, impaled with her father's.
Year adopted	1999
Coronet	Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign
Escutcheon	Quarterly 1st and 4th Gules three Lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langed Azure 2nd Or a Lion rampant Gules armed and langued Azure within a double tressure flory counterflory of the second 3rd Azure a Harp or stringed Argent, the whole differenced with a label of three points Argent with the central point charged with a Tudor Rose; impaled with a shield quarterly Gules and Azure a Lion rampant regardant within an Orle Or.
Supporters	Dexter a Lion rampant gardant Or crowned with the coronet of the rank of a child of the Sovereign Proper, sinister a Wyvern Azure, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lis a Chain affixed also Or.
Motto	CAS GŴR NI CHÂR Y WLAD A'I MACO ''(Welsh: Hateful the man who loves not the country that nurtured him)''
Orders	The Royal Victorian Order circlet.VICTORIA
Other elements	Insignia of GCVO appended
Symbolism	right|100px Prior to marriage, Sophie Rhys-Jones had her arms redesigned by the Garter Principal King of Arms Sir Peter Gwynn-Jones, based on a 200 year old previous coat of arms, which had never been officially recognised. The new grant of arms applied to her father Christopher with remainder to his older brother Theo. The grant alludes to her family's noble Welsh heritage and one of her ancestors the warrior Elystan Glodrydd, Prince of Ferrig (represented by the Lion). The colours of red and blue is also the colours of the Royal Fusiliers Regiment, in which members of her family have served. She is quoted saying: ''"It's wonderful, I'm absolutely thrilled", "It's not modern and different, because it is representative of my family's heritage, so it's in keeping with that."''
Previous versions	Previous versions were depicted without the Royal Victorian Order, in which she was only appointed in 2010, but superimposed upon the badge of the Order St John (as DJStJ). Prior to her marriage, she bore her father's arms on a lozenge only. }}

Issue[link]

17 December 2007

style="background:#708090;"	Name !! style="background:#708090;">Birth !! style="background:#708090;" colspan="2"	Marriage	Issue
Lady Louise Windsor	8 November 2003	|
James, Viscount Severn	|

Ancestry[link]

Sophie is the 11th cousin once removed of her husband, through their common ancestors Nicholas St John of Lydiard Tregoze and his wife, Elizabeth (née Blount, a relative of royal mistress Elizabeth Blount). She is also of Welsh and Irish ancestry, through her father and her mother respectively, as well as distantly of French ancestry, being a descendant of King Henry II of France, which also makes her a distant descendant of Henry III of England. Sophie's paternal grandmother was a member of the family of the Viscounts Molesworth. Sophie is also a descendent of the Welsh prince and warrior Elystan Glodrydd by her father.

See also[link]

British Royal Family

References[link]

External links[link]

www.burkespeerage.com

Category:1965 births Category:British countesses Category:British people of Irish descent Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:Dames of the Order of St John Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Category:British princesses by marriage Category:Living people Category:House of Windsor Sophie, Countess of Wessex Category:British Anglicans Category:People from Oxford Category:People from Kent Category:People educated at Kent College, Pembury

af:Sophie, Gravin van Wessex ar:صوفي، كونتيسة وسكس be:Сафі, графіня Уэсекская bs:Sophie Rhys-Jones cs:Sophie, hraběnka z Wessexu de:Sophie Mountbatten-Windsor, Countess of Wessex et:Wessexi krahvinna Sophie es:Sofía de Wessex fa:سوفی، کنتس وسکس fr:Sophie Rhys-Jones ko:웨식스 백작 부인 소피 it:Sophie Rhys-Jones he:סופי, רוזנת וסקס hu:Zsófia wessexi grófné nl:Sophie Rhys-Jones ja:ソフィー (ウェセックス伯爵夫人) no:Sophie, grevinne av Wessex pl:Sophie Rhys-Jones pt:Sophie, Condessa de Wessex ru:Софи, графиня Уэссекская fi:Wessexin kreivitär Sophie sv:Sophie, grevinna av Wessex th:โซฟี เคาน์เตสแห่งเวสเซ็กส์ tr:Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones zh:蘇菲·惠斯-鍾斯 (威塞克斯伯爵夫人)