List of V Bomber dispersal bases


In its early years, the British V bomber force relied on the concept of aircraft dispersal to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases. There were 22 such bases in 1962, in addition to the ten main bases making a total of 32 bases available for the V bomber force.
In times of heightened international tension the V bomber force, already loaded with their nuclear weapons, could be flown to the dispersal bases where they could be kept at a few minutes readiness to take-off. The bases were situated around the United Kingdom in such a way that a nuclear strike by an attacking state could not be guaranteed to knock out all of Britain's ability to retaliate. However, except during exercises, the dispersal bases, capable of taking two to four aircraft each, were never used. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan declined to order the dispersal of the V-Force because he believed the Soviets would view this as provocative. The bombers were instead held at 15-minute readiness at their main bases.
The dispersal bases are mentioned in the opening titles of the 1965 Peter Watkins documentary The War Game.

Types

Dispersal types include:
  • Operational Readiness Platform : Usually a group of 4 aircraft pans attached to the runway where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug
  • Dispersal Airfield: Group of 4 aircraft pans where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings
  • Home Station "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft cannot taxi in and out without the use of a tug
  • Home Station Looped "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings

Main bases

BaseLocationCo-ordinatesDispersal typeNotes
RAF ConingsbyLincolnshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H"
RAF CottesmoreRutland, EnglandORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"
RAF FinningleySouth Yorkshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"
RAF GaydonWarwickshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H"
RAF HoningtonSuffolk, EnglandORP & Home Station Looped "H"
RAF MarhamNorfolk, EnglandORP & Home Station Looped "H"
RAF ScamptonLincolnshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"
RAF WaddingtonLincolnshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H"
RAF WitteringCambridgeshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H"
RAF WytonCambridgeshire, EnglandORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"

Dispersal bases

England

BaseLocationCo-ordinatesDispersal typeNotes
RAE BedfordBedfordshire, EnglandDispersed Airfield
A&AEE Boscombe DownWiltshire, EnglandDispersed Airfield & ORP
RAF BruntingthorpeLeicestershire, EnglandNil
RAF BurtonwoodCheshire, England4 bay ORP
RAF CarnabyEast Riding of Yorkshire, EnglandNil
RAF CranwellLincolnshire, England2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield
RAF ColtishallNorfolk, England2 x 2 bay ORP
RAF ElvingtonNorth Yorkshire, EnglandNil
Filton AirportGloucestershire, EnglandDispersed Airfield
RAF KembleGloucestershire, EnglandNil
RAF LeconfieldEast Riding of Yorkshire, England2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield
RAF LeemingNorth Yorkshire, England1 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield
RAF LynehamWiltshire, EnglandDispersed Airfield
RAF ManstonKent, EnglandNil
RAF Middleton St GeorgeCounty Durham, England2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield
RRE PershoreWorcestershire, England2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield
RAF ShawburyShropshire, EnglandDispersed Airfield
London Stansted AirportEssex, EnglandNil
RAF St MawganCornwall, EnglandNil
RAF Tarrant RushtonDorset, EnglandNil
RAF WattishamSuffolk, England2 x 2 bay ORP
RNAS YeoviltonSomerset, England2 bay ORP