Dates: 1940 - 1976

From 1940 to 1955 Fighter Command was based here, It was a Training Squadron for Navigation Using the latest Navigation procedures, the Squadron was 238 O.C.U. and Bristol Brigand Aircraft was used for this purpose, and also on this Squadron they had Bristol Buckmaster Aircraft for Pilot Training, and also a number of Balliol Aircraft which basically was a Pilot Trainer shaped similar to the Spitfire but both the Pilot and Trainee sat side by side. After this it became a Transport Airfield, and Hastings Aircraft was flown from RAF Colerne. After the demise of the Hastings and the new C-130 Hercules being introduced to the RAF Air Support Command. The Hercules were based at RAF Lyneham and for many years Major Servicing of the Hercules was carried out at RAF Colerne by the Air Engineering Squadron until the station closed in 1976. A/c No. XV198 crashed, killing all crew on board here in September 1973.

Used by the British Army as its training facility for the Junior Leaders Regiment of the Royal Corps of Transport. Young men from the age of 16 were trained in a variety of the skills needed to enable them to become better soldiers in the Army. Basic driver training was done on simulators, car driver training to licence level and motorcycle training were undertaken here.

The Regiment consisted of:- 30 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT, 57 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT and 90 (Junior Leader) Squadron RCT.

Estranged from the regiment at Driffield in Yorkshire was 32 Driver Training Squadron RCT. Here young soldiers were sent to the ASMT at Leconfield to be taught to drive the basic vehicles of the Army (typically a Land Rover and a 4 Tonne HGV Lorry) and to qualify as Driver Trade B3 before being posted to a full time working regiment where their technical trade training would be continued.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Colerne

" looking for cherry hurlock dave frampton bob parker jim balleti chick fowle and anybody who worked on the beverly’s at RAF abindon 47 squadron 1956 -1960 also anybody who worked on the vallettas at RAF Kuala- Lumpur 1953-1955  52 squadron Also anybody that worked the comm flight RAF Colerne ansons and chipmunks. 1960-1962 "

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" Looking for any body who knew me from RAF kuala Lumpur 1953-1955 52 sqdn working on vallettas and voice Dakota. RAF Abingdon 1956-1959 47 sqdn working on Hastings Then the Beverlys Raf Colerne 1959-1962 Working on Chipmunks and Ansons Comm Flight. I remember from RAF Abingdon Cheify Smith  Cheify ..."

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" I was at RAF Colerne at the time, early 60’s, I think it was one of ’Our Hastings’ that ’Went in’ at Abingdon. I remember the ’Snoops / Snowdrops’ snatching the 700’s from the hangar. "

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" trying to get in touch with mtd,s.At RAF st.Athan.RAF marham.RAF seletar.RAF changi.RAF colerne.67/73. Last edited by Ally Bell"

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" Hi My friend Mike would like to get in touch with some of his old school friends his parents were stationed at RAF COLERNE in Wiltshire He attened CORSHAM SEC. BOYS SCHOOL in the mid 60’s and lived on Pinewood Way The names are: David Ashworth Nigel Buckley Les Tatterall Alan Bicknall Paul Adams if your out there please get in touch Lynn Murphy "

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