November 2026 marks 110 years of RAF Waddington, a milestone celebrating over a century of aviation history, operational excellence and the people who have served at the station.
Waddo is one of the RAF’s busiest Stations as the hub of UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and the main operating base for airborne intelligence aircraft and systems.
Around 3,500 Service personnel, civil servants and contractors work at the airbase, which is about to a £53 million refurbishment of its airfield infrastructure.
Air ISTAR is the RAF’s eyes and ears in the sky and provides British and NATO military commanders with critical information about activity on the ground, in the air, and at sea.
The Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington provides timely and contextual integrated mission support to front line commanders.
The Air Battlespace Training Centre also prepares service personnel through demanding and immersive training scenarios across land, sea, and air.
Around 3,500 Service personnel, civil servants and contractors work at the airbase, which was established in 1916 as a Royal Flying Corps training base initially training pilots in various aircraft.
The station briefly closed in 1920 before reopening in 1926 to host No 503 Squadron (County of Lincoln) Special Reserve Squadron. The 1930's saw significant expansion, with new facilities constructed to accommodate evolving aircraft technology.
During World War II, Waddington played a crucial role, operating Hampdens, Manchesters and notably, the first Avro Lancasters. It was here that Squadron Leader John Nettleton earned the Victoria Cross for his daring daylight raid on Augsburg in April 1942.
Post war, the station adapted to changing needs, hosting various squadrons before becoming home to the iconic Vulcan bombers in 1957. Waddington's 3 Vulcans gained fame during the Falklands conflict, participating in the Black Buck raids that bombed Argentine positions at Port Stanley airport and further supporting air-to-air refuelling operations.
KEY DATES
1916 RAF Waddington opened as a Royal Flying Corps training base.
1982 The Vulcan XM607 (the Black Buck) made an 8,000-mile round trip refuelling three times from Victor tankers.
1992 The E-3D was declared operational and has been involved in every major conflict since.
2012 XIII Squadron stood up at RAF Waddington.
2013 Remotely Piloted Air Systems fleet undertook concurrent operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The first RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft was delivered.
2021 Stand up of the ISTAR Air Wing at RAF Waddington.
2022 RAF Waddington became the new home to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows
2023 The Protector RG Mk1 remotely piloted along endurance aircraft took to the skies from RAF Waddington for the first time.
The picture above shows RAF Waddington celebrating its 100th anniversary, while below Hello Lincoln will use any excuse to post a picture of the Vulcan including this advert for the last night’s fireworks display at the base.
