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.
