Overview

Flying Info
Facilities
Contact Us

The Station

RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire provides the support to enable lodger units to deliver global operations.

 

Hardwork provides arms

Connect with RAF Henlow

Commander

Wing Commander Mark Concarr PgDip RAF

Wing Commander Mark Concarr joined the RAF in 1999. After Initial Officer Training and Supply Branch Officer Training, his first tour was in the Defence Logistics Organisation at RAF Wyton.

Following promotion to Squadron Leader, he completed further tours including Afghanistan and MOD Bicester before commanding the Logistics Squadron at RAF Waddington. As a Wing Commander he has completed tours at RAF Brize Norton and in the Support Force at RAF Wittering.

He assumed command of RAF Henlow in 2025.

Who's based here

Units

Forensic Exploitation Flight

Digital Forensics Team extract and analyse all digital data in a forensically sound manner to a standard accepted by the British judicial system. With exploitation of data stored on computers, mobile phones, tablets, Sat Navs and other storage devices, they provide digital forensics support to criminal and security investigations.

The Centre of Aviation Medicine consists of three Wings: Aviation Medicine Wing, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wing, and Support Wing. Aviation Medicine Wing conducts the valuation and testing of new aircrew clothing and equipment, modification of equipment and the evaluation of mid-life upgrades; accident investigation, which involves medical aspects of aircrew injuries, the evaluation of aircrew survival aids, ejection seats, parachutes, helmets and aircrew clothing. They also have three psychologists who look at the Human Factors involved in air accidents. The training section teaches aviation medicine topics to both aircrew and medical officers, while the aviation physiology section carries out operationally focused research.

The Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG) is the UK’s Arms Control Verification Agency and was formed in 1990 at RAF Scampton to implement the UK’s international arms control commitments and related agreements. The unit seeks to enhance security amongst nations by promoting confidence and openness in military matters. JACIG relocated to RAF Henlow in May 1996. JACIG personnel are drawn from the Army and the RAF. The majority are officers or SNCOs from a wide cross-section of professional disciplines. 

The Outreach Group has been a lodger unit at RAF Henlow since 2010.  The unit provides intelligence support to information activities by assisting 77 Brigade and wider Defence by building an understanding of the physical, virtual, and cognitive behaviours of audiences, actors, and adversaries. 

This is achieved through the delivery of Operational and Tactical Cultural Advisor, Human Terrain Analysis and Target Audience Analysis capabilities.

History

The RAF was only six weeks old when Lieutenant Colonel Robert Francis Stapleton-Cotton and a party of 40 airmen arrived from RAF Farnborough on 10 May 1918. 

The Lieutenant Colonel was to become the first CO of RAF Henlow in August 1918.  Although still under construction, the Depot had achieved a limited output of Bristol Fighters and De Havilland aircraft.

In the original list of RAF Stations for April 1918, Henlow counts among only five other stations which remain open as RAF stations today: Halton, Leuchars, Northolt, Waddington and Wittering. 

During the war years, RAF Henlow became one of the largest RAF Maintenance Units in the country and made an invaluable contribution to the war effort.  It is a proud part of our history that RAF Henlow contributed (albeit indirectly) to the Battle of Britain, repairing Hurricanes that were damaged during the Battle. 

After World War Two, a new role developed for the station, that of radio equipment calibration and signals development. 

Through the years RAF Henlow has been home to the Parachute Test Unit, the Royal Air Force Technical College, the RAF Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU) and the Officers’ Command School & Intermediate Command & Staff Course.