Future of RAF Strike Command in question (From Bucks Free Press)

Future of RAF Strike Command in question

11:37am Friday 19th March 2004 in

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THE RAF is considering the future of RAF Strike Command in a move which could end decades of Wycombe's association with the RAF.

Air force chiefs want to co-locate the headquarters of Strike Command in Naphill together with RAF Personnel and Training Command, currently based at RAF in Gloucestershire.

The RAF base has been in High Wycombe for 60 years.

Options in the review include moving the headquarters of Strike Command to Gloucestershire or moving the headquarters of Personnel and Training Command to High Wycombe.

Alternatively, both could be located at a new base elsewhere as part of a bid to save money.

One RAF source said moving both commands to a new site was the preferred option.

Strike Command employs 2,000 staff of which 400 are civilians while RAF Innsworth employs more than 1,000. All posts would be transferred to the new site in the event of any move.

Should Strike Command move it is not clear if a new use would be found for the site at Naphill.

David Lidington, MP for Aylesbury, whose constituency includes Naphill, said: "There is certainly a question mark over the future of RAF High Wycombe now.

"It would be a heavy blow if the RAF were to leave. It has historic links to the Wycombe area and the RAF brings a lot of spending power into the local economy."

The Air Force Board is to receive recommendations of the review panel in November.

A spokesman said, if accepted, the recommendations would be implemented by 2008 or "possibly earlier if we can manage it."

RAF Daws Hill is already set to close.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris co-ordinated allied air raids on Germany from the Naphill base during the Second World War and the headquarters of Strike Command have been there since it was formed in 1968.

Wycombe's MP, Paul Goodman, said: "Anyone who goes to any civic occasion in the town is aware of the cultural part in the life of the town the RAF plays.

"We are about to lose Daws Hill and similarly we are about to lose Strike Command. We are used to seeing health facilities moving from the south of the county towards the middle. Maybe we are now seeing our defence facilities go elsewhere."