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RAF Woodbridge | |
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Near Woodbridge, Suffolk in England | |
Coordinates | 52°05′16.08″N 001°24′02.97″E / 52.0878000°N 1.4008250°E |
Type | RAF and US Visiting Forces flying station |
Area | 369 hectares |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | Royal Air Force (1943–1952) United States Air Force (1952–1993) |
Condition | Closed |
Site history | |
Built | 1943 |
In use | 1943–1993 |
Fate | Transferred to the British Army in 2006 and became MOD Woodbridge, comprising Rock Barracks and Woodbridge Airfield. |
Airfield information | |
Identifiers | IATA: WOB, ICAO: EGVG |
Royal Air Force Woodbridge, or more simply RAF Woodbridge, is a former Royal Air Force station located east of Woodbridge and around 7 miles north-east of Ipswich, in the county of Suffolk, England.
Constructed in 1943 as a RAF military airfield during the Second World War to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Germany it was later used by the United States Air Force during the Cold War, being the primary home for the 79th and 78th Tactical Fighter Squadrons and squadrons of the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations until 1993. For many years, the 81st also operated from nearby RAF Bentwaters, with Bentwaters and Woodbridge being known as the "Twin Bases".
Since 2006, it has been known as MOD Woodbridge, incorporating Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks. Woodbridge Airfield is used by Army Air Corps aircraft for training and Rock Barracks are home to the newly formed 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the Royal Engineers.