FighterControl

Can anyone recall use of the HAS sites RAF Honington. Tornados of 13 Sqd and previously probably 9 Sqd were housed in the site at the NW end while TWCU operated from the ASP. So, was the HAS site at the NE end actually ever used ?

Thanks for any info.

Never knew there were 2 HAS sites till you pointed it out! Just looking at the site on Google maps and it seems in lovely condition, would suit a couple of extra Typhoon sqns just nicely

The NE HAS site was home to IX(B) Squadron when they became the first operational Tornado GR.1 Squadron, you are correct that TWCU operated from the main ASP and much later when the NW HAS site was built that was home to XIII Squadron operating the Tornado GR.1A.

Hope this helps.

06 end was used, you could drive down to the crash gate and see Tornadoes parked up outside.

Thank you all for the quick and very helpful replies. I never visited Honington 82-86 to see IX(B) Sqd but well remember that HAS area when photographing the XV(R) Tornados at the 24 end in 93. What a waste of a great operational station. Cheers again.

RAF Honington's runway was 27 and 09, but yes you could drive down to the crash gate and photograph XIII Squadron in the HAS site, you could also take a nice long walk up to 27 and photograph the Tornado's taxiing out and on approach, in it's hay day Honington was a great place to visit, sadly missed.

We used to drive up the road on the North side of the airfield right up to the farm by the NE HAS when 9 sqdn were there....and also look across to the ASP for the Buccs and Hunters.

I have video taken at Honington back in the ninties 13s and french airforce,i could run a copy off if anyone is interested

Possibly being kept ready for F-35 Ops? From Marham and/or Lakenheath?

Unknown74 wrote:Possibly being kept ready for F-35 Ops? From Marham and/or Lakenheath?

More likely it's more than a little difficult and expensive to demolish and remove a HAS site, particularly when there's no particular need to.

Remember going there when coltishall deployed it's jags...was quite with only a few launches...so we went to lakenheath as it was wall to wall

Lakenheath F-15's used it as a bolt hole think it was 1993 , long line of F-15 on the ramp Mildenhall Fete weekend

Didn't the Honington HASs have special vaults? You never know when you might need them again.

Saw Marham Victor's bolthole there in '66 when it was a standby base. Got stationed there in '69 when it was reactivated for Bucc's and Hunter's. The next year saw Comet's, Canberra's and Victor B(SR)2's operating from there for many month's while Wyton's runway received attention - consequently it wasn't a base which welcomed people with binoculars and camera's lingering outside. After Wyton's a/c departed Shackleton's moved in, having been displaced from Ballykelly - a very interesting few years.

The Eagles from LN used Honington during the summer of 1995 whilst runway repairs were undertaken at there own base. Drove down to the NW HAS site which was being used by the F15s that summer.

page_verify wrote:Didn't the Honington HASs have special vaults? You never know when you might need them again.

Don't think any of the RAF stations had the vaults built within the HAS's, happy to be corrected though.

You are talking about WS3 vaults, some at Marham, and of course LN.

Didn't realise Marham had them installed.

Bit long winded and as you will read it was classified but our colonial cousins accidentally released this to the public.......

http://www.basicint.org/sites/default/f ... 010297.pdf

Thunder wrote:

Didn't realise Marham had them installed.

"Had" being the correct terminology, the vaults were filled in many years ago. They were stored in the open by the tower for nearly a year before they were installed into the shelters. Great sport winding up the RAF(P) as well by driving into the HAS and parking on the vault and waiting for the phone call asking you to remove your vehicle! The same vaults were also installed in the first generation HAS at Bruggen as well.


Regards