former RAF Oakington

 Second World War 1939-1945, RAF - Royal Air Force, draw only border, closed / former military, former air force base

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RAF Oakington is an RAF station located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Oakington, Cambridgeshire,England and 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north--west of Cambridge.

World War II
Construction was started in 1939, but was affected by the outbreak of war, the original plan called for Type C hangars two type J were erected instead. It was used by No. 2 Group in July 1940 for No. 218 Squadron which had recently returned from France. In September, Oakington was passed on for the No. 2 Group which stationed the first Short Stirling Squadron No. 7. The newly formed No. 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit started to use RAF Oakington to conduct high altitude work for Bomber Command's targets however there were poor surface conditions at RAF Oakington so No. 3 PRU often operated from RAF Alconbury.

Post war
The base contracted after the war, and much evidence of this is visible in farmland surrounding the current perimeter. During the 1950s RAF Oakington was an Advanced Flying Training School (No. 5 FTS), converting trainee pilots to jets on Vampires and in the 1960s and 1970s it was used for flight training, operating Vickers Varsity aircraft. When the need for training on piston engined aircraft reduced it was closed, becoming a British Army barracks.

Recent use
In 2000 the station domestic area was leased to the Home Office, and converted to an Immigration Reception Centre.However, following extensive criticism of the detention regime being run within the centre it was closed in 2010.

further historical detail available @: www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s102.html