RAF Prestwick
Royal Air Force Prestwick or simply known as RAF Prestwick, is a former Royal Air Force station based at the NATS air traffic control centre, adjacent to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, South Ayrshire, in south west Scotland. The unit was home to the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre which provided an air traffic control service to military aircraft operating within its area of responsibility. Prestwick was also home to a Distress and Diversion Cell which provided assistance to both military and civil aircraft in an emergency.
RAF Prestwick was established during the Second World War for the reception of aircraft coming across the Atlantic from North America.
The unit closed in December 2013 with operations transferring to the RAF unit at London Area Control Centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.
History
Prestwick Airport was established on 17 February 1936 as a base for Scottish Aviation Limited.Second World War
During the Second World War, Prestwick was used an eastern terminus for the North Atlantic air ferry route, one of a series of routes over which military aircraft were ferried from the United States and Canada to Great Britain, to support the war in Europe. A large number of heavy bombers, fighter aircraft and aircraft carrying diplomatic and VIP passengers transited through the airfield.RAF Ferry Command was formed on 20 July 1941 to take control of North Atlantic ferry flights but became part RAF Transport Command on 25 March 1943, with the role becoming the responsibility of No. 45 Group. Ferry flights were initially controlled by the Overseas Movement Control Centre, operating from a location in Gloucestershire. As the number of flights increased, Trans-Atlantic Air Control was relocated in November 1941 to Redbrae House, a mock Tudor home located near Prestwick Airport. A large United States military presence was established at Prestwick to support the ferry flights from North America.
In late 1944, a Flying Control Centre was established in Redbrae House, providing an area control service for the region. The centre was operated by a combination of British, Canadian and American military personnel until the end of the Second World War in 1945.
After the war, responsibility for TAC came under the control of RAF Transport Command after the United States Army Air Forces presence dramatically reduced. The centre at Redbrae House, previously operated by an international alliance of military personnel, was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Oceanic Area Control Centre was created.
Post war
In November 1947, the RAF regional control centre was re-designated Scottish Traffic Control Centre to control military aircraft flying within the airspace above Scotland. Around the same time, a civilian air traffic control service began to meet the demand from the expanding civil aviation market. The unit was staffed by RAF Air Traffic Control Officers and Air Traffic Control Assistants. Both military and civilian aircraft were controlled by RAF controllers who provided a variety of air traffic services predominantly outside controlled airspace or within airspace designated as Military Training Areas. A Distress and Diversion cell was co-located with ScATCC, tasked with assisting aircraft in distress and/or encountering emergency situations.In April 1977, the D&D cell and the Air Defence Notification Centre moved into new premises at Atlantic House, followed by ScATCC on 2 November 1978. ADNC closed on 31 March 1997, with approximately 65 RAF staff remaining at Prestwick.
The Freedom of the South Ayrshire was awarded to RAF Prestwick on 17 July 2009. In November of that year, the unit moved to the new NATS Prestwick Centre, built adjacent to Atlantic House, which accommodates the NATS civilian controllers providing oceanic and Scottish area control services.
The Prestwick Distress & Diversion Cell closed in December 2012 when D&D operations moved to RAF Swanwick in Hampshire.
Role and operations
Prior to its closure, RAF Prestwick's mission statement was "To contribute effectively to the delivery of airpower by assisting with the protection of the integrity of the UK’s airspace and being at the forefront of excellence in the provision of the air traffic control, airspace management and support services." The main responsibilities of RAF Prestwick was to provide air traffic control services to military aircraft carrying out the following activities.- Flying between 25,000 ft and 66,000 ft
- Crossing the national airways system
- On transit flights operating below 25,000 ft outside controlled airspace
- On operations
The unit at RAF Prestwick was parented by RAF Leuchars in Fife.
Units
The following units were based at RAF Prestwick at some point:- No. 1 Civil Air Navigation School RAF became No. 1 Air Observers Navigation School RAF
- 'D' Flight of No. 1 Operational Training Unit RAF
- 'D' Flight of No. 2 Operational Training Unit RAF
- No. 2 Supplementary School of Wireless Telegraphy RAF
- No. 3 Radio School RAF became No. 3 Radio Direction Finding School RAF
- No. 4 Ferry Pilots Pool ATA &
- No. 4A Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- No. 4B Ferry Pilots Pool ATA
- Detachment of No. 6 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
- Detachment of No. 7 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit RAF
- No. 10 Air Observers Navigation School RAF disbanded into No. 1 Air Observers Navigation School RAF
- No. 12 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School RAF became No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAF
- No. 1425 Flight RAF
- No. 1527 Flight RAF became No. 1527 Flight RAF
- No. 1680 Flight RAF became No. 1680 Flight RAF
USAF 67th Air Rescue Squadron, later 67th Special Operations Squadron 7 November 1953-18 March 1960 and 18 June 1961-1966
Heritage
The station badge showed a Lion,, holding a shepherd's crook,, within a turret,.The station motto, Faire Agus Gliocas, is Scottish Gaelic for "Watchfulness and Wisdom".