List of V Bomber dispersal bases

In its early years, the British V bomber force relied on the concept of aircraft dispersal to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases. There were 22 such bases in 1962, in addition to the ten main bases making a total of 32 bases available for the V bomber force.

In times of heightened international tension the V bomber force, already loaded with their nuclear weapons, could be flown to the dispersal bases where they could be kept at a few minutes readiness to take-off. The bases were situated around the United Kingdom in such a way that a nuclear strike by an attacking state could not be guaranteed to knock out all of Britain's ability to retaliate. However, except during exercises, the dispersal bases, capable of taking two to four aircraft each, were never used. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan declined to order the dispersal of the V-Force because he believed the Soviets would view this as provocative. The bombers were instead held at 15-minute readiness at their main bases.

The dispersal bases are mentioned in the opening titles of the 1965 Peter Watkins documentary The War Game.

Types

Dispersal types include:Template:Sfn

• Operational Readiness Platform (ORP): Usually a group of 4 aircraft pans attached to the runway where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tugTemplate:Sfn
• Dispersal Airfield: Group of 4 aircraft pans where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings
• Home Station "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft cannot taxi in and out without the use of a tug
• Home Station Looped "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings

Main bases

Base	Location	Co-ordinates	Dispersal type	Notes
RAF Coningsby	Lincolnshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Cottesmore	Rutland, England		ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Finningley	South Yorkshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Gaydon	Warwickshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Honington	Suffolk, England		ORP & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Marham	Norfolk, England		ORP & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Scampton	Lincolnshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Waddington	Lincolnshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H"	Template:Sfn
RAF Wittering	Cambridgeshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H"	Template:Sfn(HQ RAF Bomber Command)
RAF Wyton	Cambridgeshire, England		ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"	Template:Sfn

Dispersal bases

Scotland

Base	Location	Co-ordinates	Dispersal type	Notes
Prestwick Airport	Ayrshire, Scotland		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Machrihanish	Argyll and Bute, Scotland		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Kinloss	Moray, Scotland		4 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RNAS Lossiemouth	Moray, Scotland		Dispersed Airfield & 2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn(later transferred to the RAF)
RAF Leuchars	Fife, Scotland		2 x 2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn

Northern Ireland

Base	Location	Co-ordinates	Dispersal type	Notes
RAF Aldergrove	Country Antrim, Northern Ireland		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Ballykelly	County Londonderry, Northern Ireland		4 bay ORP	Template:Sfn

England

File:VulcanB2atFilton1960s.jpg

An Avro Vulcan B1A V bomber parked on one of the rapid dispersal points at Filton during a public air display in the 1960s

Base	Location	Co-ordinates	Dispersal type	Notes
RAE Bedford	Bedfordshire, England		Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
A&AEE Boscombe Down	Wiltshire, England		Dispersed Airfield & ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Bruntingthorpe	Leicestershire, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Burtonwood	Cheshire, England		4 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Carnaby	East Riding of Yorkshire, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Cranwell	Lincolnshire, England		2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Coltishall	Norfolk, England		2 x 2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Elvington	North Yorkshire, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
Filton Airport	Gloucestershire, England		Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Kemble	Gloucestershire, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Leconfield	East Riding of Yorkshire, England		2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Leeming	North Yorkshire, England		1 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Lyneham	Wiltshire, England		Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Manston	Kent, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Middleton St George	County Durham, England		2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RRE Pershore	Worcestershire, England		2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
RAF Shawbury	Shropshire, England		Dispersed Airfield	Template:Sfn
London Stansted Airport	Essex, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF St Mawgan	Cornwall, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Tarrant Rushton	Dorset, England		Nil	Template:Sfn
RAF Wattisham	Suffolk, England		2 x 2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RNAS Yeovilton	Somerset, England		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn

Wales

Base	Location	Co-ordinates	Dispersal type	Notes
RNAS Brawdy	Pembrokeshire, Wales		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn(later transferred to RAF)
RAE Llanbedr	Gwynedd, Wales		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn
RAF Valley	Anglesey, Wales		2 bay ORP	Template:Sfn

See also

• List of UK Thor missile bases
• List of Royal Air Force stations
• Four-minute warning

References

Bibliography

• Wynn, Humphrey - RAF Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Forces, their Origins, Roles and Deployment 1946-69 - HMSO London - 1994 - Template:ISBN - p. 449