RAF Saint Athan

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RAF Saint Athan is a Royal Air Force station in the Vale of Glamorgan, southern Wales. It claims to be the largest RAF station (though several gunnery ranges such as RAF Spadeadam are larger in area).

RAF St Athan officially opened on 1 September 1938. The first unit to take up residence was No 4 School of Technical Training. In 1939, the stations activities were expanded with the arrival of a fighter group pool, the School of Air Navigation, and a Maintenance Unit. During World War II the station had over 14,000 personnel, and was used for training ground and air crew. At one time it was home to a large collection of historical aircraft.

Today St Athan is the major RAF maintenance base for Harrier, Tornado, Jaguar, Hawk, Dominie and VC10. It is also host to a mountain rescue team, the University of Wales University Air Squadron and No 634 Volunteer Gliding School. As of 2003 it is the home base of the Welsh Guards.

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