39 Engineer Regiment Timeline In 1977 Headquarter Royal Engineer Airfields was renamed 39 Engineer Regiment. Within this buzzing village of pretty weird people is Waterbeach Barracks, home to 39 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers.. Two of its squadrons (34 Field Squadron and 53 Field Squadron) have become part of 39 Engineer Regiment and will move to RAF Kinloss. Kinloss Barracks-Wikipedia In Apr 1977 renamed to 60 Field Support Squadron and moved to Waterbeach (39 Engineer Regiment). By 1989, the brigade had a mix of regular and reserve units. 1966 – 2013 – 39 Royal Engineer Regiment (Airfields Air Support) 1982 – 2013 – 12 (Air Support) Brigade Group 1984 – First museum opened for RAF and RE in Building 3 10 November 2011 - Move of Royal Engineers from Waterbeach announced, as part of the Defence Rebasing Programme The main challenge was the repair of the huge craters caused by large bombs, particularly on the runways. Subsequently renamed the ‘Board of Ordnance’, it remained in being until 1855, and was the source of military engineering officers for engineering works in both peace and war. In its war establishment the Squadrons and Regimental HQ had considerable reinforcement from other Regular and Territorial Army (TA) units; for example, each Sqn took under command a Specialist Team (Bulk Petroleum). It was following this analysis, that the role of 39 Engineer Regiment was redefined as Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). As well as airfield operations, the Regiment was tasked with much other construction work overseas, such as road, school and other infrastructure projects like those carried out by 48 Field Squadron in Malawi, and in Kenya in 1983. [9], The site was subject to an MOD disposal process by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and in August 2014 Urban&Civic were appointed as Development Partners. road, school and other infrastructure projects like those carried out by 48 Field Squadron in Malawi, and in Kenya in 1983. Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum is devoted to preserving the history of the Waterbeach RAF Station from 1938 to 1966 and then 39 Engineer Regiment Barracks from 1966 to 2012 and those who were stationed there. In December 2012, a group of villagers set up a trust, Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum, and the Army has gifted the collection to this trust. [16], In 2011 John Hamlin, an aviation historian, and the museum curator wrote a book documenting the history of RAF Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks, to raise money for the museum. To provide emergency default-landing/take-off capability, sections of Motorways in the UK and in Western Europe were designated in case airfield operations could not be affected soon enough. [12] In December 2015 a community engagement report on the Open Days was published by David Lock Associates, for Urban&Civic, which includes the open day display boards. For example, for many years there was an inter-troop competition in combat engineering skills on the orders of the CO. One year, nine troops rotated on the airfield on eight tasks, the ninth task being to prepare the concrete bow-string bridge on the Stretham-Soham Road for simulated demolition, while keeping the road open. It was following this analysis, that the role of 39 Engineer Regiment was redefined as Airfield Damage Repair (ADR). Training on Waterbeach airfield and barracks, and in the wartime locations of the Squadrons, reflected this shift in emphasis; indeed, the organisation and staffing of the Squadrons and Regimental headquarters were accordingly enhanced by adding Officers, Warrant Officers, Senior NCOs and craftsman from electrical and mechanical backgrounds; a Fd Sqn Airfields had eight officers, including at least 5 majors/captains and a large number of Warrant/Senior non-, In 1984 there came a sudden order from BAOR, the British Army of the Rhine for all ‘medium-, Each ADR Squadron had an effective and close affiliation with its war-, In its war establishment the Squadrons and Regimental HQ had considerable reinforcement from other Regular and Territorial Army (TA) units; for example, each Sqn took under command a Specialist Team (Bulk Petroleum). [19][20], During 2015 the museum started the move back into its building at the barracks, and will be formally re-opened on 17 June 2017, thereafter it will open from 10 am - 4 pm on the first Sunday and first Wednesday of each month during the summer, it will also be open by appointment. [7] Their move was complete by September 2012. Waterbeach Barracks Denny End Road WaterbeachCambridgeCB25 9PA. [4] In November 2011 and March 2012 the Ministry of Defence announced that 39 Engineer Regiment would move to Kinloss Barracks in July 2012. A further announcement in November 2011 confirmed that 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) of the Royal Engineers would move from Waterbeach Barracks, near Cambridge, to Kinloss, in July 2012. The former airfield was used as a training area for troops, with occasional visits by helicopters and, in the past, by Harriers. Liaison with the RAF locally also remained very close: utill the closure of nearby RAF Oakington in the early 1970s, the main runway at Waterbeach remained active, along with its control tower, and was a relief landing ground for Varsity aircraft used in the advanced pilot training role; there was also use by helicopters and by Vertical/Short Take-off and Landing (VSTOL) Harriers. [17] In 2014 it was updated to include closure and contact information [18], In December 2012, a group of villagers set up a trust, the Waterbeach Military Heritage Museum, and the Army gifted the collection to it. On several occasions there was recovery of various crashed aircraft in UK. The f… 34 Fd Sqn deployed from December 1982 until May 1983, handing over to 48 Fd Sqn (Airfds) who were there from September 1983, working the rock quarry, among other tasks. In war and on training exercise, Regimental HQ command element went to HQ RAF (G) at Rheindahlen with the Commanding Officer on the staff of the commander of UK Air Forces in Germany. Deployed to the Gulf War Sep 90 – Mar 91. Waterbeach Barracks' is a former military installation in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. Airfield support was first known as Rapid Runway Repair (RRR). HQRE (Airfds) was formed in June 1966 in Waterbeach. Other Buildings: Many. The main body of 39 Engineer Regiment will rebase from Waterbeach Barracks to RAF Kinloss in July 2012. The engineer support for the Army is provided by the Corps of Royal Engineers (RE). 39th Airfield Damage Repair Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers Royal Engineer Squadrons are still serving tours in the Falklands. The barracks museum contents were stored outside the barracks. Each ADR Squadron had an effective and close affiliation with its war-time station in Germany as follows: at RAF Gutersloh supporting the Harrier force, 60 (later 48 Fd Sqn when that came under command of the Regiment); 51 Fd Sqn at RAF Laarbruch; 52 Fd Sqn at Bruggen and 53 Fd Sqn at RAF Wildenrath. RAF Waterbeach airfield. Scott 'Paddy' Patrick recommends 39 Engineer Regiment . In 1989 the brigade was under the command of the Eastern District, United Kingdom Land Forces and was headquartered at Waterbeach. The museum was set up by the Royal Engineers in 1985, to commemorate the men and women who served at RAF Waterbeach station from its opening until 1966 when 39 Engineer Regiment … In 1966 the RAF Waterbeach was transferred to the Royal Engineers, as Waterbeach Barracks. The main body of Headquarters 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, including Headquarters Works Group (Airfields) and 529 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Air Support), will rebase from Waterbeach Barracks to RAF Wittering in October 2012. In the early 1920’s, electrical and mechanical elements of the Royal Engineers, led by Major John Mizen of 39 Engineer Regiment, clearly showed how airfields could be put out of action by the destruction of electrical installations and circuitry, or by damage to major mechanical equipment, fuel pumps, fuel supply lines, or indeed key buildings such as the Combat Operations Centre. Then, in 1812, the Duke of Wellington, recognizing the importance of professional engineer support, set up in Chatham the ‘Royal Engineer Establishment’. A further announcement in November 2011 confirmed that 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) of the Royal Engineers would move from Waterbeach Barracks, near Cambridge, to Kinloss, in July 2012.