RAF Benson

RAF Benson
Near Wallingford, Oxfordshire in England
Benson village (left) and RAF Benson (centre and right) from the air
Spectemur agendo (Latin for 'Let us be judged by our acts')[1]
RAF Benson Shown within Oxfordshire Show map of Oxfordshire RAF Benson RAF Benson (the United Kingdom) Show map of the United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°36′59″N 001°05′45″W / 51.61639°N 1.09583°W / 51.61639; -1.09583
Type	Main Operating Base
Code	EB
Area	261 hectares (640 acres)
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	Joint Aviation Command No. 2 Group RAF
Condition	Operational
Website	Official website
Site history
Built	1938 (1938)–1939
Built by	John Laing & Son Ltd
In use	April 1939 – present
Battles/wars	European theatre of World War II Cold War
Garrison information
Current commander	Wing Commander Laurie Tostevin
Occupants	No. 22 Squadron No. 28 Squadron No. 33 Squadron Oxford University Air Squadron No. 6 Air Experience Flight See Based units section for full list.
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB, WMO: 3658
Elevation	61.8 metres (203 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 01/19 1,825 metres (5,988 ft) Asphalt and concrete
Source: RAF Benson Defence Aerodrome Manual[2]

Royal Air Force Benson or RAF Benson (IATA: BEX, ICAO: EGUB) is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station located at Benson, near Wallingford, in South Oxfordshire, England. It is a front-line station and home to the RAF's fleet of Westland Puma HC2 support helicopters, used primarily for the transportation of troops & equipment. Flying squadrons comprise No. 33 Squadron flying the Puma, No. 22 Squadron which provides operational evaluation and training for all aircraft in Joint Aviation Command and No. 28 Squadron, which is the combined Puma and Boeing Chinook HC6A training unit. Other units include the Oxford University Air Squadron and No. 6 Air Experience Flight, both flying the Grob Tutor T1 light training aircraft used for student and cadet flying training. The National Police Air Service and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance are also based at the station, both operating Airbus H135 helicopters.

RAF Benson opened in 1939 and during the Second World War it was tasked with training aircrews on the Fairey Battle light bomber and Avro Anson training aircraft. It was later home to squadrons flying the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito which operated in the photographic reconnaissance role. Benson operated under RAF Transport Command throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s, various communications and administrative units were present and in the early 1990s the station began its association with the support helicopter force.