Royal Air Force Wyton
Image courtesy of Peter Foster
Wyton Airfield has been associated with aircraft and flying for over 100 years. Originally just being a grass airstrip, and used by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, Wyton was taken over by the newly named Royal Air Force in 1918, In the 1930s a dramatic change took place at Wyton with four new hangars, taxiways and runways being built. Wyton was chosen for The Pathfinder Forces Headquarters.
In fact the first sortie of World War II was carried out from Wyton. Aircraft operating from Wyton included Mosquitos, Blenheims and Lancasters. After the war Wyton was used by the American Air Force for a short while,
The Jet Age
During 1953 the photographic reconnaissance Mosquitoes were replaced by Canberra PR3s, the first Jets to be based at Wyton.
Image courtesy of Ruthas
Other Squadrons operating Canberras arrived at Wyton over the next few years, including, 58 Sqn flying the PR7,
Image courtesy of Matzos
58 Squadron was replaced by 39 Sqn flying the PR9 on the 1st October 1970
Image courtesy of Bob Archer
360 Sqn with their T17s made the short hop over from Cottesmore in the summer of 1975
Image courtesy of Terry Senior
13 Sqn flying the PR7
Image courtesy of Joe Ciliberti
And finally 100 Sqn and 231 OCU arrived from RAF Marham in 1982
Images courtesy of Terry Senior
As the years went by other aircraft came to Wyton including the Valiants of 543 Squadron,
Which were replaced by the Victor SR2, The Victors would remain at Wyton until 1975, with some of them being converted to refueling tankers and being based at RAF Marham.
Image courtesy of Steve Bond
Other aircraft stationed at Wyton were Hastings, Devons, Bassetts, Comets, Nimrods and Hawks
Image courtesy of Tony Bish
Wyton was primarily a Canberra base having this type on strength for over forty years, In 1989 Wyton hosted the 40th anniversary of the Canberra’s first flight which was made on 13th May 1949
Image courtesy of Emanuel Magri
Image courtesy of David Hedge
Image courtesy of Tony Bish
Wyton was primarily a Canberra base having this type on strength for over forty years, In 1989 Wyton hosted the 40th anniversary of the Canberra’s first flight which was made on 13th May 1949
Image courtesy of Jim Baker
To celebrate this anniversary two T4 aircraft were painted in a blue paint scheme, one of which was flown by Wing Commander Roland Beamont forty years to the day of the first flight.
Image courtesy of Jim Baker
Soon after the 40th anniversary celebrations, it was decided to run down the Canberra fleet, first to disband was 231 OCU, then 100 Squadron, gradually converted to the Hawk, itself soon moving up to RAF Finningley.
Images courtesy of Tony Bish
The PR9s of 39 Sqn were soon on the move to RAF Marham, taking with them some spare T4s and PR7s
Image courtesy of Jim Baker
Finally 360 Sqn was disbanded on the 31st October 1994, bringing to an end over 40 years of continuous Canberra flying at Wyton.
