Since Chepstow Squadron was set up it has always been active, sending many youngsters away on camps to RAF bases every year. Here are a few of the camp photos that have been found going back longer than most of the present squadron (Staff and Cadets) can remember.

If you are an ex-squadron member and have still got your old photographs of when you were in the corps then please get in touch with us (see contact information page). Otherwise we hope that these photographs bring back a few good memories for some of you. {Larger versions can be provided if you e-mail a request}

All information on this page for those RAF stations still active comes from the raf.mod.uk web site.

RAF Benson(2004)

Camp photo to come shortly Click for photos from the camp Opened in 1939 as part of the RAF's expansion programme, Benson was home to No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit throughout the Second World War. Post War, in 1946, the Station became the home of Royal flying, The Queen's Flight not moving to RAF Northolt until 1995. Currently the 15 Pumas of 33 Squadron, the Oxford University Air Squadron with Tutor T1s and No 6 Air Experience Flight are based at Benson. Two RAuxAF/RAF Reserve units are also located here in the form of the Helicopter Support Squadron and the Mobile Meteorological Unit. Benson is also the home of the first Merlin HC3s in RAF service. These are operated by No 28 Squadron.

RAF Uxbridge(2003)

Click for more photos

RAF Wittering(2002)

No Photo as of yet. Originally called Stamford, the base was used as a training airfield from 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. The Central Flying School was at Wittering until 1935, from which time it became a fighter base, the role it now fulfills. Known as "The Home of the Harrier", Wittering currently hosts just one squadron following the transfer of No1(F) to nearby Cottesmore. This is the Operational Conversion Unit for the Harrier, No 20 (Reserve) Squadron, equipped with 9 Harrier GR7s and 5 Harrier T10s.

RAF Coningsby(2001)

Originally a heavy bomber base as part of No 5 Group Bomber Command, Coningsby opened in 1940, and maintained its link with the heavy bomber force until 1964 when the Vulcan Squadrons based there moved to Cottesmore. Coningsby became the first RAF Station to operate the Air Defence Variant of the Tornado, the Tornado F2 and later F3. Preparations for the arrival of the first RAF Eurofighter Typhoons in 2004 meant that No 56(Reserve) Squadron, the Tornado F3 Operational Conversion Unit with its Tornado F3s moved north to Leuchars whilst the Tornado F3 Operational Evaluation Unit moved to nearby RAF Waddington. Still resident at Coniongsby are the world-famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which operates 5 Spitfires of various Marks, the only flying Lancaster in Europe, two Hurricanes, a Dakota and two Chipmunks.

RAF Cranwell(2000) Millennium Camp

Originally HMS Daedalus, a Royal Naval Air Service training and airship base, the site that is now RAF Cranwell was taken over by the RAF in 1918 for officer cadet training, a role it fulfills to this day at the famous RAF College. Currently based at Cranwell are No 3 Flying Training School who operate 10 Jetstream T1s (45(Reserve) Squadron), 8 Dominie T1s (55(Reserve) Squadron) and 16 Tutor T1s and carry out Basic Flying Training. Also based on the main airfield is the RAF College Air Squadron with Tutor T1s, and on the Cranwell North grass airfield is the Cranwell Gliding Club, part of the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA). The Air Warfare Centre is based at Cranwell, as is the Aerosystems Department, a specialist training division. Cranwell also has a satellite airfield, RAF Barkston Heath.

RAF Valley(2000)

Valley's position on the Isle of Anglesey made is ideally suited for its dual role of fighter base, protecting Liverpool and the North West, and ferry airfield, operating transport flights across the Atlantic. In 1957, Valley became a training base, and is now one of the most important. The largest unit based at Valley is No 4 Flying Training School, which operates 71 Hawk T1/T1A aircraft, and incorporates the Central Flying School Advanced Training Unit. Some aircraft of No 4 FTS can be seen in the colours of Nos 19 (Reserve) and 208 (Reserve) Squadrons. Valley is also home to "C" Flight of No 22 Squadron equipped with 2 Sea King HAR3s for Search and Rescue duties, and the Search and Rescue Training Unit, which operates 3 Griffin HT1s.

RAF Innsworth(1998)

RAF Innsworth in Gloucesterhire is home to RAF Headquarters Personnel & Training Command. Created on 1 April 1994 as a consequence of the RAF's restructuring programme, it embraces all aspects of recruiting, training, career management, welfare, conditions of service, resettlement and pensions for RAF regular and reserve forces world-wide. All RAF policy and implementation staffs involved in the full span of personnel functions are based at the Command's headquarters here at RAF Innsworth The Command employs 17,000 people, including 4,000 civilians, at more than 30 locations. It is responsible for over 500 training aircraft of which 150 are gliders. Headquarters staff number some 1500, of whom a half are civilian. The RAF Training Group Defence Agency, an integral part of the Command administered from Innsworth, has earned an international reputation for excellence in professional competence, customer service and cost-effectiveness. The Agency comprises nine RAF stations UK-wide with additional minor units elsewhere. It also has responsibility for administering the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, who have thrilled spectators world-wide for over 30 years.

RAF Cranwell(1997)

Originally HMS Daedalus, a Royal Naval Air Service training and airship base, the site that is now RAF Cranwell was taken over by the RAF in 1918 for officer cadet training, a role it fulfills to this day at the famous RAF College. Currently based at Cranwell are No 3 Flying Training School who operate 10 Jetstream T1s (45(Reserve) Squadron), 8 Dominie T1s (55(Reserve) Squadron) and 16 Tutor T1s and carry out Basic Flying Training. Also based on the main airfield is the RAF College Air Squadron with Tutor T1s, and on the Cranwell North grass airfield is the Cranwell Gliding Club, part of the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA). The Air Warfare Centre is based at Cranwell, as is the Aerosystems Department, a specialist training division. Cranwell also has a satellite airfield, RAF Barkston Heath.

RAF Honington(1996)

Originally opened in 1937 as a bomber base, Honington is now the RAF Regiment Depot, the last Aircraft leaving in 1993 when the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit moved to Lossiemouth.

RAF Benson(1995)

Opened in 1939 as part of the RAF's expansion programme, Benson was home to No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit throughout the Second World War. Post War, in 1946, the Station became the home of Royal flying, The Queen's Flight not moving to RAF Northolt until 1995. Currently the 15 Pumas of 33 Squadron, the Oxford University Air Squadron with Tutor T1s and No 6 Air Experience Flight are based at Benson. Two RAuxAF/RAF Reserve units are also located here in the form of the Helicopter Support Squadron and the Mobile Meteorological Unit. Benson is also the home of the first Merlin HC3s in RAF service. These are operated by No 28 Squadron.

RAF Portreath(1994)

CRP Portreath is parented by RAF St Mawgan and is located on the North Cornish coast. It comes under the title of a station of the United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System

RAF Lyneham(1993)

No Photo as of yet Initially a flying training base, Lyneham quickly became a centre for the role it is still famous for, Air Transport. The Station became the first RAF airfield to operate jet transports when the first Comet C2s arrived in 1956. Now the RAF's major tactical transport Station, the airfield is home to the Hercules C1/C3 aircraft operated by Nos 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons. The Hercules Operational Conversion Unit, No 57 (Reserve) Squadron operates 5 Hercules C1/C3s at Lyneham, which is also home to No 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, RAuxAF, and the UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron, responsible for establishing handling facilities at temporary bases. The original Hercules' are now being replaced by the second-generation C-130J in RAF service. This comes in two versions, the stretched Hercules C4 and the standard C5 version.

RAF Sealand(Summer 1992)

No Crest available Originally a civil airfield, the RFC took over Sealand in 1916, and the Station was used for training and later, maintenance, a role that continues today. No 30 Maintenance Unit first moved to Sealand in 1937, and today is responsible for the third line repair of airborne avionic equipment for all three Armed Services. No 631 Volunteer Gliding School operates Viking TX1s from the South Airfield.

RAF Locking(Easter - 1992)

No Photo as of yet. RAF Locking opened in 1939 as No 5 School of Technical Training for RAF and Navy electronics technical personnel. In 1950 the navy moved away and it became the home of the apprentice technician for the RAF in electronics trades. It was this year that it became the home of No 1 Radio School for ground and aircraft radio/radar training. In 1965 it became the sole training base for ground trades as aircraft trades moved to RAF Cosford. It continued as the main training base for ground electronics training up until its closure in 1999, when No 1 Radio School relocated to RAF Cosford.

RAF Wyton(1988)

RAF Wyton provides the principal home for Equipment Support (Air) (ES(Air)), the air pillar of the DLO. In addition, it houses Corporate Technical Services, another DLO element. The Station's active airfield has now re-opened and is the home of the University of London Air Squadron, the Cambridge University Air Squadron and No 5 AEF.

RAF Brawdy(1987)

Crest to come shortly No Photo yet No description as of yet

RAF Shawbury(1985)

No photo yet Shawbury has been a training airfield throughout its history, from when the first airfield opened there in 1917. Aside from flying training, Shawbury has also been home to the Central Air Traffic Control School since its earliest beginnings back in 1944. All of the flying training at Shawbury is now rotary winged, and was previously undertaken by No 2 Flying Training School. In April 1997, this became the tri-Service Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) operating Squirrel HT1 (660 and 705 Squadrons) and Griffin HT1 (60 (Reserve) Squadron) helicopters. The unit also includes the helicopter element of the Central Flying School which uses the DHFS aircraft.

RAF Lyneham(1984)

Initially a flying training base, Lyneham quickly became a centre for the role it is still famous for, Air Transport. The Station became the first RAF airfield to operate jet transports when the first Comet C2s arrived in 1956. Now the RAF's major tactical transport Station, the airfield is home to the Hercules C1/C3 aircraft operated by Nos 24, 30, 47 and 70 Squadrons. The Hercules Operational Conversion Unit, No 57 (Reserve) Squadron operates 5 Hercules C1/C3s at Lyneham, which is also home to No 4626 (County of Wiltshire) Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, RAuxAF, and the UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron, responsible for establishing handling facilities at temporary bases. The original Hercules' are now being replaced by the second-generation C-130J in RAF service. This comes in two versions, the stretched Hercules C4 and the standard C5 version.

RAF Brize Norton(1977)

The largest RAF Station in the UK, Brize Norton is the nerve centre of the RAF's air transport capabilities. Opened in 1937, the Station was used to train airborne forces, before being handed over to the USAF in 1950. Strategic Air Command based B-29 and B-47 bombers at Brize, before the RAF reclaimed the Station for use as a tanker and transport base. Currently based at Brize Norton are the 11 VC10 C1Ks of 10 Squadron, the 8 VC10 K3 and K4s of 101 Squadron, the 8 Tristar K1, KC1, C2 and C2As of 216 Squadron, the 4 C-17s of 99 Squadron and No 2624 (County of Oxford) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment Field Squadron and sister RAuxAF Squadron, No. 4624. Also based at Brize Norton is No 1 Parachute Training School, which includes the RAF Parachute Display Team, the Falcons.

RAF Cottesmore(1971)

A wartime expansion airfield with a very interesting history, Cottesmore has been used variously as a bomber, training, troop carrier and electronic counter measures base. In 1976, the Station was upgraded to operate the Interdictor Strike version of the Tornado in a unique way. For 20 years until April 1999, the major operational unit based at Cottesmore was the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE), with Tornado GR1s. TTTE carried out all the conversion training on the type for the RAF, Italian and German Air Forces. But with the decision to relocate Tornado training to member nations, the TTTE was disbanded. Within weeks however, flying returned to the Station when, in preparation for the station becoming the home to all front-line RAF Harrier squadrons, Nos. 3 and 4 Squadrons moved their 26 Harrier GR7s and T10s from RAF Laarbruch after it was closed. A few months later, No 1(F) Squadron left nearby Wittering after 31 years for Cottesmore bringing its 12 Harrier GR7s and 1 T10. Also based here is the Offensive Support Squadron manned by members of the RAuxAF.

RAF Little Risington(1968)

Crest unavailable Station description unavailable

RAF St Mawgan(1967)

Ferry Command was originally responsible for St Mawgan, and the base was initially used for ferry flights across the Atlantic. In 1951, the Station reopened as a Coastal Command base, and now operates largely as a Search and Rescue base. Nimrods and Tornados regularly detach to St Mawgan to exercise the defence of the South West Approaches. Currently based on the airfield is No 203 (Reserve) Squadron equipped with 3 Sea King HAR3s. All maintenance for the RAF Sea King fleet is carried out at St Mawgan, and the airfield is home to No 3 Maritime Headquarters Unit. Two Field Squadrons are also based here; No 1 Squadron RAF Regiment and No 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron, RAuxAF.

RAF St Athan (1964)

St Athan is the major RAF maintenance base for Harrier, Tornado, Jaguar, Hawk, Dominie and VC10, all of which is the responsibility of the Engineering Division. Other units are a Mountain Rescue Team, the University of Wales Air Squadron with Tutor T1s and No 634 Volunteer Gliding School with Viking TX1s.