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RAF Valley Valley's position on the Isle of Anglesey made is ideally suited for its dual role of fighter base, protecting Liverpool and the North West, and ferry airfield, operating transport flights across the Atlantic. In 1957, Valley became a training base, and is now one of the most important. The largest unit based at Valley is No 4 Flying Training School, which operates 71 Hawk T1/T1A aircraft, and incorporates the Central Flying School Advanced Training Unit. Valley is also home to "C" Flight of No 22 Squadron equipped with 2 Sea King HAR3s for Search and Rescue duties, and the Search and Rescue Training Unit, which operates 3 Griffin HT1s.
RAF Waddington Initially a flying training base of the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, the Station closed in 1920, re-opening in 1926 as a bomber base, a role that continued until 1984 with the withdrawal from service of the last Vulcan aircraft. Waddington now fulfills two main roles in the RAF, that of electronic reconnaissance, carried out by the 3 Nimrod R1s of 51 Squadron, and Airborne Early Warning, provided by the 6 Sentry AEW1s of Nos 8 Squadron and 23 Squadrons. Ground and Air Defence of the airfield is provided by No 26 Squadron RAF Regiment with its Rapier FSC Surface-to-Air missiles, and No 2503 (County of Lincoln) RAuxAF Field Squadron. NATO aircraft of many nations use Waddington as a temporary base during exercises in the North Sea air combat range.
RAF Wattisham Once a fully operational RAF station, Wattisham is now only home to a Search and Rescue helicopter unit, "B" Flight of No 22 Squadron, equipped with 2 Sea King HAR3A helicopters.
RAF Wittering Originally called Stamford, the base was used as a training airfield from 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. The Central Flying School was at Wittering until 1935, from which time it became a fighter base, the role it now fulfills. Known as "The Home of the Harrier", Wittering currently hosts just one squadron following the transfer of No1(F) to nearby Cottesmore. This is the Operational Conversion Unit for the Harrier, No 20 (Reserve) Squadron, equipped with 9 Harrier GR7s and 5 Harrier T10s. As part of the joint RAF/Royal Navy Joint Force Harrier concept, the Sea Harriers of No 899 NAS, the Navy's Operational Conversion Unit for the type will move to Wittering from Yeovilton in the future.
RAF Woodvale Woodvale is currently home to the Liverpool and Manchester University Air Squadrons which both operate Tutor T1s, and No 10 Air Experience Flight.
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