In its early years, the British V bomber force relied on the concept of aircraft dispersal to escape the effects of an enemy attack on their main bases. There were 22 such bases in 1962, in addition to the ten main bases making a total of 32 bases available for the V bomber force.Force V: The history of Britain's airborne deterrent, by Andrew Brookes. Jane's Publishing Co Ltd; First Edition 1 Jan. 1982, , p.104.

In times of heightened international tension the V bomber force, already loaded with their nuclear weapons, could be flown to the dispersal bases where they could be kept at a few minutes readiness to take-off. The bases were situated around the United Kingdom in such a way that a nuclear strike by an attacking state could not be guaranteed to knock out all of Britain's ability to retaliate. However, except during exercises, the dispersal bases, capable of taking two to four aircraft each, were never used. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan declined to order the dispersal of the V-Force because he believed the Soviets would view this as provocative. The bombers were instead held at 15-minute readiness at their main bases.

The dispersal bases are mentioned in the opening titles of the 1965 Peter Watkins documentary The War Game.

Types

Dispersal types include:

Operational Readiness Platform (ORP): Usually a group of 4 aircraft pans attached to the runway where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug Dispersal Airfield: Group of 4 aircraft pans where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings Home Station "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft cannot taxi in and out without the use of a tug Home Station Looped "H": Group of 4 aircraft pans in the shape of the letter "H" where aircraft can taxi in and out without the use of a tug, usually with additional support buildings

Main bases

+ Base Location Co-ordinates Dispersal type Notes RAF Coningsby Lincolnshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" RAF Cottesmore Rutland, England ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H" RAF Finningley South Yorkshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H" RAF Gaydon Warwickshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" RAF Honington Suffolk, England ORP & Home Station Looped "H" RAF Marham Norfolk, England ORP & Home Station Looped "H" RAF Scampton Lincolnshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H" RAF Waddington Lincolnshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" RAF Wittering Cambridgeshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" (HQ RAF Bomber Command) RAF Wyton Cambridgeshire, England ORP & Home Station "H" & Home Station Looped "H"

Dispersal bases

Scotland + Base Location Co-ordinates Dispersal type Notes Prestwick Airport Ayrshire, Scotland 2 bay ORP RAF Machrihanish Argyll and Bute, Scotland 2 bay ORP RAF Kinloss Moray, Scotland 4 bay ORP RNAS Lossiemouth Moray, Scotland Dispersed Airfield & 2 bay ORP (later transferred to the RAF) RAF Leuchars Fife, Scotland 2 x 2 bay ORP

Northern Ireland + Base Location Co-ordinates Dispersal type Notes RAF Aldergrove Country Antrim, Northern Ireland Nil RAF Ballykelly County Londonderry, Northern Ireland 4 bay ORP

England

+ Base Location Co-ordinates Dispersal type Notes RAE Bedford Bedfordshire, England Dispersed Airfield A&AEE Boscombe Down Wiltshire, England Dispersed Airfield & ORP RAF Bruntingthorpe Leicestershire, England Nil RAF Burtonwood Cheshire, England 4 bay ORP RAF Carnaby East Riding of Yorkshire, England Nil RAF Cranwell Lincolnshire, England 2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield RAF Coltishall Norfolk, England 2 x 2 bay ORP RAF Elvington North Yorkshire, England Nil Filton Airport Gloucestershire, England Dispersed Airfield RAF Kemble Gloucestershire, England Nil RAF Leconfield East Riding of Yorkshire, England 2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield RAF Leeming North Yorkshire, England 1 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield RAF Lyneham Wiltshire, England Dispersed Airfield RAF Manston Kent, England Nil RAF Middleton St George County Durham, England 2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield RRE Pershore Worcestershire, England 2 x 2 bay ORP & Dispersed Airfield RAF Shawbury Shropshire, England Dispersed Airfield London Stansted Airport Essex, England Nil RAF St Mawgan Cornwall, England Nil RAF Tarrant Rushton Dorset, England Nil RAF Wattisham Suffolk, England 2 x 2 bay ORP RNAS Yeovilton Somerset, England 2 bay ORP

Wales + Base Location Co-ordinates Dispersal type Notes RNAS Brawdy Pembrokeshire, Wales 2 bay ORP (later transferred to RAF) RAE Llanbedr Gwynedd, Wales 2 bay ORP RAF Valley Anglesey, Wales 2 bay ORP

See also List of UK Thor missile bases List of Royal Air Force stations Four-minute warning

References Citations

Bibliography

Wynn, Humphrey - RAF Strategic Nuclear Deterrent Forces, their Origins, Roles and Deployment 1946-69 - HMSO London - 1994 - - p. 449