About Us

Royal Air Force Odiham is situated in North Hampshire, 46 Miles south west of London . The nearest large town is Basingstoke 7 miles to the West. The working population of the Station is about 2,000, of which around 100 are civilians.

Royal Air Force Odiham operates three Support Helicopter (SH) squadrons and one Army Air Corps (AAC) Lynx squadron. A conversion flight is incorporated in one of SH squadrons. The flying units are supported by Forward Support Wing, which provides 2nd line aircraft & equipment support, and by Administration Wing, which manages the Station infrastructure. The Chinook Wing Headquarters is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of operational and logistic output and also manages the airfield services.

Nos 7, 18 (B) & 27 Squadrons, equipped with the Chinook HC2, and No 657 Squadron (AAC) with its Lynx AH7s, operate in support of NATO throughout Western Europe , and UK interests worldwide, providing direct support to the Army. The squadrons also meet regular detachment requirements in Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. No 18 (B) Squadron additionally operates a training flight to convert pilots and crewmen to fly the Chinook. The Joint Helicopter Support Unit is also based at RAF Odiham and deploys with the squadrons to provide specialist underslung load support and landing site management in the field.

In July 1968, Royal Air Force Odiham was granted the `Freedom of the Borough’ by the Borough of Basingstoke. This entitles personnel from RAF Odiham to march through the Borough with bands playing, drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed. In June 2000, the Odiham Parish Council awarded RAF Odiham 'The Title of Dignity' in recognition of the close ties between the two communities