RAF Hythe explained

RAF Hythe
Ensign:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:90px
Location:Located near Hythe in Hampshire
Map Type:Hampshire
Coordinates:50.8667°N -1.3924°W
Pushpin Label:RAF Hythe
Type:Factory
Used:1925–2006
Ownership:Air Ministry until 1964
Ministry of Defence
Controlledby:Royal Air Force

RAF Hythe was an RAF base situated in Hythe, Hampshire, 10miles south of Southampton on the western side of Southampton Water.

Hangars were first erected here by May-Harden-May Ltd and acquired by Supermarine in 1925. The site was used for the final assembly of marine aircraft. The site again changed hands in 1937, being acquired by Imperial Airways (later BOAC) who used the site for flying boat maintenance until November 1950. Later, from 1967, the facilities were used by the US Field Army Support Brigade/Combat Equipment Battalion-Hythe, mainly for small boat repairs. At this time, the base became known as RAF Hythe.[1]

The station, the last U.S. Army installation in the United Kingdom,[2] closed on 30 September 2006 after the American Army left following a cost-cutting exercise.[3] [4] The site was acquired by the South East England Development Agency in October 2007, and has since been developed into the Hythe Marine Park, home to a number of maritime and marine production facilities.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/ah1900/hm.html Hampshire Aviation Locations H to M
  2. Web site: RAF Hythe, Army's last U.K. post, slated to close its doors – News . Stripes . 10 June 2019.
  3. Web site: England | Hampshire | Workers bid farewell to RAF Hythe . BBC News . 29 September 2006 . 10 June 2019.
  4. Web site: DefenseLink News Release: DoD Announces Installation Realignment in United Kingdom . Defenselink.mil . 10 June 2019.
  5. Web site: Hythe Marine Park Information . Adamshendry.co.uk . 15 September 2014 . 10 June 2019.