RAF Cottesmore

Author: Elizabeth Batt
Published on: Jan 14, 2000

This article is being entered into "The One That Got Away Event" here at Suite101.com. If you read the footnote at the bottom of this article, you'll discover that Rutland county regained Cottesmore and Leicestershire promptly lost it! We let a good piece get away folks!"

Within Leicestershire's borders,(PLease See Footnote) near the small town of Oakham in Rutland, sits a little village called Cottesmore. Tiny in size and population, it is a most unlikely place for a miltary installation, and yet at it's heart sits RAF Cottesmore.

RAF Cottesmore has and always will hold a special place in my memories. It is the place where I met my husband and the place where my brother dwelt for many years. Hence despite it's miltary status, I recall it often with fondness and pleasure. Quite a unique feat for a defence site!!

Today, I decided to put the pleasure aside and portray RAF Cottesmore as it was intended to be portrayed, as a base that defends England's shores amidst changing times.

Cottesmore during my visits, was always home to the Tornado, possibly one of the best flying machines that the British forces have. The Tornado sadly no longer flies the skies of Cottesmore, operations have moved elsewhere and as different accomplishments lie in Cottesmore's future, it's unique history cannot be changed.

Work began on RAF Cottesmore back in 1935. The first aircraft to take up stations there were No.s 35 and 207 Squadrons. These squadrons were replaced in 1939 by No. 185 Squadron and by Hereford & Anson Aircraft.

Naturally Cottesmore saw changes with the coming of World War II. 185 Squadron lost it's squadron status and became No. 14 Operational Training Unit, responsible for training bomber crews. Despite being a training establishment, aircraft from the station took part in special bomber operations, including many of the heavy attacks on Berlin and the famous Thousand Bomber Raids on Cologne, Essen and Bremen.

Then in 1943, Cottesmore was actually handed over to the United States Army Air Force and prepared for the arrival of the 316th Troop Carrier Group, which played a vital role in the initial "D" Day assaults. Ironically, when my brother was stationed at Cottesmore, he and some of his squadron came to the States on a fundraising tour. Purely by coincidence, his travels brought him into contact with one of those American soldiers based at Cottesmore during the war. There was a wealth of nostalgia recalled and a lot of drinks bought!!

In 1945, Cottesmore was handed back to the RAF and resumed it's training tasks. Since first opening, Cottesmore has always assumed, in some capacity, that of a training role for the Royal Air Force. In 1978, Cottesmore began to prepare to become a unique training establishment for a new Multi-Role Combat Aircraft - The Tornado.

Now after defending England against a German attack, Cottesmore was about to become a base that trained not only British Tornado pilots, but German and Italian too. The Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment, or the TTTE was formed and the first two RAF Tornado aircraft were delivered to Cottesmore on the 1st July 1980. The German Tornado aircraft arrived on the 2nd September and by April 1982, the Italian aircraft had been delivered.

The TTTE was the centre-piece of an international military project involving the NATO. Established on May 8th 1979 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the 3 nations involved, the TTTE officially opened on January 29th 1981.

RAF Cottesmore achieved many successes during it's TTTE role. In 1988, it was granted "Freedom of Entry" into the nearby town of Oakham. By 1991, 100,000 Tornado flying hours had been clocked and it's first female pilot graduated in 1994. It was to catalogue almost 19 years as a training base for Tornado pilots.

In 1999, the Ministry of Defence announced new future plans for RAF Cottesmore. TheRAF element of the TTTE was to be absorbed by another squadron. German and Italian elements would vacate the base and No.1 Squadron will move into Cottesmore and concentrate all front line Harrier units from there. Cottesmore's TTTE days were over.

For those of you more interested in the Tornado's capabilities, the plane was designed from the outset as a low-level supersonic aircraft. It is capable of carrying various conventional stores, including the Air-Launched Anti-Radar Missile or ALARM.
It is also capable of carrying Laser Guided Bombs and future plans include enabling it to carry the new Storm Shadow long-range stand-off missile and the Brimstone anti-armour missile system. During the Gulf War, five Tornados were successfully adapted to carry Thermal Imaging pods. In self-defence, the Tornado protects itself with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and it is fitted with twin internal 27mm cannons.

More information on the specifications of the Tornado, can be found at the RAF web site.

A book on the history of the TTTE became available in January of last year. For copies and or information please contact:

The Station Community Relations Officer,
RAF Cottesmore,
Oakham,
Rutland
Leicestershire.
LE15 7BL

I'd like to thank Mr John Uttley, who emailed me to inform me that two years ago, Rutland regained county status and that Cottesmore now lies outside of Leicestershire's borders. Seems to me, Leicestershire is losing all the good parts!!

Also, see these :)

Loughborough
Great Glen
20th Century Great Glen
Market Bosworth
Market Harborough
RAF Cottesmore
Braunstone Park Visitor Centre
Remembrances - A boy in war
Remembrances - Part Two
Remembrances - Part Three
Remembrances - Part Four
My Grandfather - Part One
My Grandfather - Part Two