. . a Brief History

1942 - construction begins for RAF Butley as a RAF Bomber Command Base.
1943 - In Jan 1943, the base is renamed Bentwaters RAF Station.  The name is taken from two cottages                            "Bentwaters Cottages" that stood on the site of the main runway.
1944 - opened for operations in Apr 1944.
1944 - transfered to RAF Fighter Command 11th Group in December 1944:
  64 Squadron RAF - arrives Dec 29, 1944
118 Squadron RAF - arrives Dec 14, 1944 (P-51 Mustang III)
126 Squadron RAF - arrives Dec 30, 1944 (P-51 Mustang III)
129 Squadron RAF - arrives Nov 12, 1944
165 Squadron RAF - arrives Dec 15, 1944 (P-51 Mustang III)
234 Squadron RAF - arrives Dec 17, 1944 (P-51 Mustang IV)
1945 - U.S. Army Air Forces fly escort missions for the RAF Bomber Command from Bentwaters on May 4,                       1945.  Designated AAF-151, or Army Air Forces Station 151, the base was considered an emergency                    landing field by the U.S.
1949 - base closure on Aug 26, 1949.
1951 - U.S. Air Force assumes control of Bentwaters on Mar 16, 1951 with the 7506th Air Support Group:
9th Air Rescue Squadron - 1951 to 1952 (SB-29 "Super Dumbo")
7554th Target Tow Flight - 1951 ( Stinson L-5E & Douglas TB-26C)
1951 - In Sep 1951, the 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing becomes the new host unit for Bentwaters:
91st Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)
92nd Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)
116th Fighter Interceptor (F-86A Sabre)
1954 - re-designated 81st Fighter Bomber Wing in Oct 1954 & equipment changeover to F-84F                                           "Thunderstreaks".
1958 - designated the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing & re-equipped with McDonnell 101A/C "Voodoos".  The F-                     101s were capable of delivering a single nuclear weapon on a one-way trip to the Soviet Union. 
1965 - conversion to F-4C/D "Phantoms".  The F-4s continued the nuclear strike mission capability:
91st Tactical Fighter Squadron
92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
1979 - conversion to A-10 aircraft:
92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
510th Tactical Fighter Squadron
511th Tactical Fighter Squadron
1988 - 527th Agressor Squadron transfered to Bentwaters with F-16C Falcons until 1990.
1993 - the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing was deactivated on Jul 1, 1993.  Bentwaters was returned to the British                     Ministry of Defence & the base was closed.





 
            
 






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