RAF Odiham

Odiham , Hampshire , England

united kingdom United Kingdom










Satellite and aerial maps of RAF Odiham with nearby locations


Nearby locationsKmBearing
Lasham , England 7.8227EGHL
Pyestock , England 11.9064
Rushmore Arena , England 12.1076GBALD
Blackbushe , England 12.3035EGLK
Basingstoke and N Hants Hospital , England 12.6294EGA63
Bramley , England 12.8321



  RAF Odiham


1936 to present

51° 14' 4'' N     0° 56' 57'' W
6nm ESE of Basingstoke, Hampshire, Odiham, Hampshire, England
ICAO: EGVO IATA: ODH
Elevation: 405 feet


RAF Odiham
Originally a temporary Summer Landing Ground, Odiham opened in 1936 as an Army Co-operation base. Tactical reconnaissance and fighter roles followed before the base began an affiliation with Transport duties, particularly helicopters, that continues to this day. 
After 7 months care and maintenance, RAF Odiham re-opened in Feb 1960 as part of 38 Group Transport Command, and 225 Squadron was formed with the Sycamore and Whirlwind. The Belvedere Trials Unit introduced this radical helicopter into service from July 1960 with 66, 72 and 26 Squadrons all forming with the Belvedere at Odiham in Sep 1961 (from the Trials Unit), Nov 1961 and Jun 1962 respectively. Only 72 Squadron remained; 66 Squadron departed for the Far East in 1962 and 26 Squadron left initially for the Middle East in 1963.

Belvedere operations and overseas departures overlapped with the arrival of the Wessex HC.2, beginning with the establishment of the Wessex IFTU in Jul 1961 and the formation of 18 Squadron from it in Feb 1964 and the re-equipping of 72 Squadron in Aug 1964. 18 Squadron left for Germany in 1965, before yo-yoing briefly in 1969.

RAF Odiham was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Basingstoke in Jul 1968. In May 1971, Puma training began with the formation of a joint Puma / Wessex unit, the Air Training Squadron. Its important role was recognised by establishing 240 OCU in Dec 1971 to convert crews for the Puma and Wessex squadrons. 33 Squadron took up its Pumas in Jun 1971, followed by 230 Squadron some 6 months later.

By mid 1981, the Wessex had left for RAF Benson and RAF Odiham again hosted heavy lift helicopters, when their place was taken in 1982 by the Chinook HC.1. The OCU trained first 18 Squadron, which formed in Aug 1971 (before departing to Germany in May 1983) and in late 1982, 7 Squadron. The Chinooks of 7 Squadron and Pumas of 33 Squadron together with 240 OCU continued to operate at Odiham. During 1993/1994 the Chinook HC1 fleet was updated to the initially unreliable HC.2 version and 240 OCU was re-named 27(R) Squadron.

A major rethink of the UK Support Helicopter Force was implemented in 1997 and the Pumas moved out between mid 1997 and Feb 1998, while 18 Squadron returned from Germany leaving Odiham a Chinook-only base for a time. In Jul 2000 the Lynx of 657 Squadron, AAC moved in from RAF Dishforth.



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  RAF Odiham News


Q40 Defender Celebrates Chinook Anniversary

Q40 Defender Celebrates Chinook Anniversary

05-May-22 - TECNIQ, a British automotive design and manufacturing specialist, showcase Q40 Defender project celebrating 40th anniversary of the CH-47 Chinook in RAF service #Q40
UK Confirms New Chinook Order

UK Confirms New Chinook Order

13-May-21 - As we announced last month the UK Government has now confirmed the acquisition of 14 new generation Chinook helicopters valued £1.4-billion under a U.S. Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract #Chinook
RAF Chinook 40th Anniversary

RAF Chinook 40th Anniversary

01-Dec-20 - The Royal Air Force remembered the arrival at RAF Odiham on 22nd November 1980 of the first Chinook helicopter. The Chinook has been involved in every major conflict since then seeing action in the South Atlantic, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan
RAF 1310 Flight in Mali

RAF 1310 Flight in Mali

12-Aug-20 - Detachments from Royal Air Force 18 and 27 Squadrons from RAF Odiham rotate every 3 to 4 months to provide crews to CH-47 Chinook helicopters deployed in Mali under Operation Newcombe in support of the French anti-terrorist mission Operation Barkhane #Africa
RAF Chinook Personnel Volunteering in NHS

RAF Chinook Personnel Volunteering in NHS

21-May-20 - RAF Odiham personnel supporting the National Health Service (NHS) by volunteering as co-responders for the South Central Ambulance Service #coronavirus
RAF Chinook Recognized with Kossler Award

RAF Chinook Recognized with Kossler Award

11-Apr-20 - RAF Chinook crews from RAF Odiham wins the Vertical Flight Society Kossler Award for their job done at the Todbrook Reservoir to save the town of Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire during the 2019 rainfall. The helicopters flew 58 hours and laid 620 one-ton bags of aggregate to shore up the spillway #Kossler
Chinook Visits Historical RAF Germany Bases

Chinook Visits Historical RAF Germany Bases

27-Apr-18 - A RAF Chinook from Odiham’ 27 Squadron taking part at Berlin air show visited former RAF Germany bases of Geilenkirchen, Wildenrath, Brüggen and Laarbruch as part of RAF 100 years celebrations
Farewell to British Army’ Lynx

Farewell to British Army’ Lynx

05-Jan-18 - To mark the Lynx decommissioning, British Army last 5 Lynx will fly from RAF Odiham on a commemorative tour around England next Tuesday January 16th, 2018
RAF Chinook Mk.6 Simulators and Training System

RAF Chinook Mk.6 Simulators and Training System

02-Jun-15 - The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing £51 million in a new synthetic training system developed by Lockheed Martin for the Royal Air Force’s Chinook Mk6 helicopter.
RAF unveil new Mark 6 Chinook

RAF unveil new Mark 6 Chinook

16-Jun-14 - The first of the RAF’s fourteen new Chinook helicopters have been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, following its entry into service on time.





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