207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY
No.1 Flying Training School
RAF Linton-on-Ouse
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One of the busiest training airfields in the
RAF, Linton-on-Ouse has been used as a
Bomber, Transport and Fighter airfield in its long and
interesting history since it opened in 1937.
Since 1957 the main role of the Station has been pilot training, initially with the Jet Provost. No.1 Flying Training School now operates Tucano T1s at Linton-on-Ouse, providing basic flying instruction. Student aircrew are taught in a controlled and regulated environment and are destined to fly fast jet aircraft. 1 FTS strives for excellence and its graduates are as well trained, if not better, than those of any air force. Also flying at Linton is No.642 Volunteer Gliding School, equipped with Vigilant T1s. |
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The two seat tandem Tucano is used to develop students in a range of skills - general and all-weather aircraft handling, take offs and landings and night flying - all essential skills for any military pilot.
207(R) and 72(R) Squadrons, each awarded the number plates of a distinguished RAF Squadron in July 2002, are the Flying Training squadrons at Linton. The Tucano Air Navigation Squadron was re-badged as 76(R) Squadron in 2007, commemorating 76 Squadron's time at Linton in 1942-43 when Wg Cdr Leonard Cheshire was one of its COs.
207(R) Squadron later became a Flight of 72(R) Squadron.
1 FTS is part of 22 Group (Training), formerly Personnel and Training Command, HQ moving from RAF Innsworth to High Wycombe. The Ministry of Defence dropped the Agency status of all Service Training Groups including the Training Group Defence Agency in early 2006. Operationally little changed except the name. On October 30th 2006, the Group officially changed from 'Training Group' to 'No 22 (Training) Group' - see the 22 Group link on the left of your screen.
RAF High Wycombe, situated at Naphill in Buckinghamshire, is the home of the Royal Air Force’s Air Command. It was formed on 1 April 2007, when the RAF’s Personnel and Training Command and Strike Command merged. The creation of a single Command, with a single fully integrated Headquarters, "will better equip the RAF to provide a coherent and coordinated single Air focus to the other Services, MOD Head Office, the Permanent Joint Headquarters and the rest of MOD".
| Many famous squadrons have been
based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, where there is a large History
Room with displays on each of these squadrons, with an
extension dedicated to 1FTS.
The view here is of just some of these squadrons. It was intended that material for a display on 207R Squadron would be provided in due course. The purpose of the room is to provide students and staff with a place where the background to the work done at Linton and its satellites over many years can come to be appreciated. It is also a focus for those making return visits to where they were based (such visits are usually in connection with reunions etc.) |
 Royal Air Forces Register of Associations for Association details |
RAF Linton-on-Ouse is now expected to close in 2020 with the training activities relocated RAF Valley. The Tucanos are being replaced with Texan T Mk1s.
Links
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FTS 80th Anniversary photocall 31 July 1999 (Roger Cook)
RAF Valley
page last updated 29 July 2008: 25 Dec 13: 10 Oct 19