RAF Odiham

RAF Odiham
Near Odiham, Hampshire in England
RAF Chinook HC.6, based at Odiham
EGVO Shown within Hampshire
Coordinates	51°14′03″N 000°56′34″W / 51.23417°N 0.94278°W / 51.23417; -0.94278Coordinates: 51°14′03″N 000°56′34″W / 51.23417°N 0.94278°W / 51.23417; -0.94278
Type	Royal Air Force station
Site information
Owner	Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force
Site history
Built	1925 (1925)
In use	1925-Present
Garrison information
Current commander	Group Captain Philip J Robinson OBE DFC RAF
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: ODH, ICAO: EGVO
Elevation	123 metres (404 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 09/27 1,838 metres (6,030 ft) Asphalt
Approach 131.30 Mhz, Tower 119.225 Mhz.

Royal Air Force Odiham or more simply RAF Odiham (IATA: ODH, ICAO: EGVO) is a Royal Air Force station situated a little to the south of the historic village of Odiham in Hampshire, England. It is the home of the Royal Air Force's heavy lift helicopter, the Chinook HC2, HC2A and HC3. Its current station commander is Group Captain Philip J Robinson OBE DFC** MA RAF.

Aircraft operations began from the site in 1925 but it was not until October 1937 that it was opened as a permanent airfield, ironically by Erhard Milch, then the Chief of Staff for the Luftwaffe.

During the Second World War North American Mustangs and Hawker Typhoons were flown out of the base. After the Allied invasion of Europe the site became a prisoner of war camp.

Following the end of the War RAF Fighter Command assumed control of the base and operated Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hunters and Gloster Javelins. No. 54 Squadron RAF moved in 1949, flying de Havilland Vampires,i before being reequipped with Meteors The squadron once again re-formed, this time at RAF Odiham on 15 August 1954 as a night fighter unit equipped with Meteor NF12s and 14s. Training began almost immediately, but it took until the end of October for the squadron to reach a strength of 12 NF12 or 14s and one Meteor 7 for training and categorisation.