#1203 Sentinel R1, Rivet Joint, Reaper, Shadow R1, Sentry AEW1
Purchased products will not feature the Squadron Prints watermark
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. 1203 - Sentinel R1, Reaper, RC-135 Rivet Joint (Airseeker), Shadow R1, Sentrey AEW1 (E-3D), 14, 8, 5(AC), 39, 13, 54(R), and 51 Squadrons, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.
RAF Waddington opened as a flying training station in November 1916 teaching hundreds of pilots, including many from the US Army, to fly a plethora of aircraft until the station was put into care and maintenance in 1920. RAF Waddington\'s development began in 1934 as the RAF expanded and the station reopened as a bomber base on 12 March 1937 with squadrons flying the Bristol Blenheim, later superseded by Handley Page Hampdens. In 1941 the Avro Lancaster entered service with 44 Squadron at RAF Waddington. Post-war RAF Waddington hosted a variety of squadrons equipped with Lancasters and Avro Lincolns, and later Washingtons, before the station was again put into care and maintenance in 1953. In 1954 the Queen approved the RAF Waddington badge, incorporating the Towers of Lincoln cathedral and the station re-opened in 1955, with two Canberra squadrons moving in and the first Avro Vulcans arrived in 1957. On 25 April 1959 RAF Waddington was granted the Freedom of the City of Lincoln. By 1961 three squadrons of Vulcans were based at RAF Waddington, and remained until 1984. Indeed the RAF Waddington Vulcans participated in the high profile bombing of Port Stanley runway during the Falkland Islands conflict. Today RAF Waddington is the hub of UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), supporting British and NATO operations. To accomplish this 14 Squadron use the Shadow R1 to deliver enduring ISTAR effect in support of operations, 8 Squadron operates the E-3D Sentry in the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) role and 5(AC) Squadron operate the Sentinel R1 as the Airborne Stand-off Radar (ASTOR). Also parented by RAF Waddington is 39 Squadron which is the RAF\'s first Squadron equipped with the Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS). 13 Squadron are due to establish a UK based Reaper Squadron at RAF Waddington in 2012. Further units are 54 (R) Squadron ISTAR Training and Assurance Unit. 51 Squadron remains active at RAF Waddington and will re-equip with the RC135 Rivet Joint in early 2014. In the meantime 51 Squadron are manning USAF Rivet Joint aircraft in the USA and on deployed operations. RAF Waddington is also home to the Air Warfare Centre, 8 Force Protection Wing HQ and 2503 RAF Regiment Auxiliary Squadron.