The largest RAF Station in the UK, Brize Norton is the nerve centre
of the RAF’s air transport capabilities. Opened in 1937, the
Station was used to train airborne forces, before being handed over
to the USAF in 1950. Strategic Air Command based B-29 and B-47 bombers
at Brize, before the RAF reclaimed the Station for use as a base.
The main flying role of the station is to provide strategic Air
Transport operations and to operate squadrons of aircraft that are
equipped to carry out Air-to-Air Refuelling anywhere in the world.
The station also provides training for parachutists, trials associated
with air dropping men and materials, communications and navigational
aid, and facilities for aircraft operating away from their home
bases.
Currently based at Brize Norton are: 10 VC10 C1Ks, 4 VC10 K3 and
1 K4 of 101 Squadron; 2 Tristar K1, 4 KC1 and 3 C2 of 216 Squadron;
6 C-17s of 99 Squadron
Also based at Brize Norton is No 1 Parachute Training School, which
includes the RAF Parachute Display Team, the Falcons.
RAF Brize Norton is the largest Station in the Royal Air Force,
employing some 3900 Service personnel and over 600 civilians. We
are an extremely busy station and are constantly in the public eye,
as the main airport used for deploying UK troops worldwide.
Our mission is "To project Air Transport and Air-to-Air Refueling
and support deployed operations and exercises".
Our vision is "Excellence in Rapid Global Mobility".
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