Satellite and aerial maps of AAC Wattisham with nearby locations
| Nearby locations | Km | Bearing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmsett , England | 6.0 | 165 | EGST |
| Windmill Cottage , England | 7.2 | 189 | |
| Benton End , England | 10.5 | 175 | |
| Abbey Oaks , England | 11.8 | 129 | |
 Ipswich Harbour , England | 16.6 | 122 | |
| Rougham , England | 18.4 | 316 |
AAC Wattisham |
1939 to present | ||
| 52° 7' 38'' N 0° 57' 23'' E | ||
| 8.5nm NW of Ipswich, Wattisham, Suffolk, England | ||
| ICAO: EGUW | IATA: | |
| Elevation: 284 feet | ||
Opened Mar 1939 with bomber and later, anti-shipping units. Handed over to USAAF in Sep 1942 as a fighter depot, when 3 concrete and tarmac runways were laid. Base reverted to the RAF as a jet fighter station after WWII, with a succession of Meteors, Hunters, Lightnings and Phantoms until 1992, when the base was put into maintenance. Re-activated as an Army base with new hangars added, to house units withdrawn from Germany. 
A Search and Rescue service, operated by RAF 22 Squadron B Flight from a 2 pad stand to the north east of the base is due to cease from 1 Jul 2015. The service (part of the new DfT/MCA 10 year UK SRR contract) will be provided from elsewhere, with cover divided between Manston and Humberside.
Situated off the B1078. Has one main asphalt runway of 2284m. The two shorter ones are now disused. Apron and main buildings to the south side. Remains a Diversion airfield.
List of units at AAC Wattisham |
| Years | Unit | |
|---|---|---|
| 2012/17 | NPAS | MD900 Explorer, EC135, EC145, EC135, |
| 2009/13 | Suffolk Police | EC135, |
| 2007- | 664 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache, |
| 2007- | 656 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache, |
| 1995/14 | 654 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache, SA341B Gazelle AH.1, |
| 1995/06 | 669 Squadron | |
| 1995/07 | 659 Squadron | Scout, |
| 1995- | 4 REGT | WAH-64 Apache, Lynx, |
| 1994/15 | 22 Squadron | Sea King, Wessex, |
| 1993- | 662 Sq | WAH-64 Apache, SA341B Gazelle AH.1, Lynx, |
| 1993- | 653 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache, |
| 1993- | 663 Squadron | WAH-64 Apache, SA341B Gazelle AH.1, |
| 1993- | 3 REGT | AH-64E Apache, |
AAC Wattisham News |
British Army AH-64E Apache Declared Ready for Duty
24-Oct-23 - The British Army declared ready for duty its first Regiment equipped with the new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. The 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (3 Regt AAC) completed 6-week training with AW159 Wildcats #Apache
British Army AH-64E Apache Enters Service
21-Jan-22 - 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (AAC), 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team at Wattisham is the first British unit to field the new AH-64E Apache Version 6. MoD signed long-term support contract with Boeing #Apache
