USAF Police Alumni Association
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RAF BENTWATERS/WOODBRIDGE HISTORY


RAF BENTWATERS
1951 - In Sep 1951, the 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing becomes the new host unit for Bentwaters:

91st Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)
92nd Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)
116th Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)

1954 - re-designated 81st Fighter Bomber Wing in Oct 1954 & equipment changeover to F-84F "Thunderstreaks".

1958 - designated the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing & re-equipped with McDonnell 101A/C "Voodoos".  The F- 101s were capable of delivering a single nuclear weapon on a one-way trip to the Soviet Union. 

1965 - conversion to F-4C/D "Phantoms".  The F-4s continued the nuclear strike mission capability:

91st Tactical Fighter Squadron

92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron

1979 - conversion to A-10 aircraft:

92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron

510th Tactical Fighter Squadron

511th Tactical Fighter Squadron

1988 - 527th Aggressor Squadron transferred to Bentwaters with F-16C Falcons until 1990.

1993 - the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing was deactivated on Jul 1, 1993.  Bentwaters was returned to the British Ministry of Defence & the base was closed.




RAF WOODBRIDGE

1958 - RAF Woodbridge & RAF Bentwaters Designated the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing:

78th Fighter Inerceptor Squadron arrives from RAF Shepherds Grove Dec 1958

79th re-equipped with F-100 Super Sabres

78th designated Tactical Fighter Squadron & equipped with F-101A/C Voodoos

1965 - 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron re-equiped with F-4D Phantom IIs replacing Voodoos

1970 - arrival of the 67th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron (C-130s & HH53 Helicopters)

1979 - arrival of A-10 Thunderbolts at RAF Woodbridge:

78th Tactical Fighter Squadron

509th Tactical Fighter Squadron

1980 - transfer of the 91st TFS from RAF Bentwaters to RAF Woodbridge

1992 - the 67th Special Ops Squadron left RAF Woodbridge on 1 Apr 1992.  The 78th TFS was inactivated on 1  May 1992.  The 91st TFS inactivated 19 Aug 1992.

1993 - with the deactivation of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Woodbridge is returned to the British Ministry of Defence.
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“The USAF Police Alumni Association is a private not-for-profit 501c19 organization. The USAF Police Alumni Association is not a law enforcement agency and has no police powers. The USAF Police Alumni Association is not affiliated with, a part of, or an official representative of the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense or any other US Government agency.”
USAF Police Alumni Association
P.O. Box 6901
​Virginia Beach, VA 23456-0901
© 2023. USAF Police Alumni Association (R). All rights reserved.
Mission Statement: The USAF Police Alumni Association is dedicated to the development and creation of a virtual USAF Police Museum, Memorial and Alumni Association. Our mission is to honor the service and sacrifice of all USAF Police Veterans, past, present and future.
Front Photo by Samuel King Jr, USAF
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