Dalton Barracks
From Air Cadet Central Wiki
Dalton Barracks, formerly RAF Abingdon (IATA: ABB, ICAO: EGUD), was a Royal Air Force station near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
The base was opened in 1932, initially as a training station for RAF Bomber Command. It continued in this role through World War II.
After World War II RAF Abingdon became part of RAF Transport Command, and also the home of 1 Parachute Training School. On 14 June 1968 a royal review was conducted at RAF Abingdon by Queen Elizabeth II to mark the 50th anniversary of the RAF.
Besides London University Air Squadron, the Oxford University Air Squadron was based at RAF Abingdon. Abingdon was also the home of no 6 AEF (Air Experience Flight) operating between 6-8 DHC Chipmunks for ATC/CCF Air Cadet flight experience training. 6 AEF was one of a very few locations that offered air cadets the "Air Cadet Navigator" training course, leading to the award of Cadet Navigator Wings.
In the 1980s and 1990s Abingdon became a maintenance field, servicing BAE Hawk and SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft. From 1981 many ex-airline Vickers VC10s were stored at the base following their purhcase by the MoD. By the early 1990s the aircraft were either converted to tanker configuration or scrapped.
From 1986 to 1988 RAF Abingdon became home to the Thames Valley Police Air Support Unit, flying a helicopter in support of police operations. It was also the home of the London University Air Squadron in the seventies. An annual airshow took place at RAF Abingdon until the late eighties. On 23 September 1988 a Phantom FGR2 crashed at the airfield while practicing for the airshow, and on 14 September 1989 a Panavia Tornado crashed near the field.
The station was closed in December 1992. It was taken over by the British Army and renamed Dalton Barracks. RAF Benson continues to use Abingdon as a diversion airfield and for helicopter training. 612 Volunteer Glider Squadron continues to fly Grob Vigilants at Abingdon.
